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Carrie Reed was a participant in the What is Home workshops. The experienced moved her to write this speech, which she gave at the What is Home book launch party Sept. 18.

This workshop changed my life.

Before last winter, I was floundering, a lost soul,
not knowing what to do with my future.
The writer in me, long buried and quite defeated,
couldn’t find the strength or the courage
to find a voice.
I felt incomplete.

With the help of a mentor,
I decided that it was time to
reawaken that writer.
As soon as I started to take steps on this path,
I saw a poster for the What Is Home workshop.
I took a chance, and got my application in
just in time.

I couldn’t believe my good fortune!
I found myself in Mark Decartaret’s group!
I was on the fast track in the “Po-Biz” world!
I had to read my very first poem to the whole group!
I was shaking like a leaf, still feeling like
I had nothing worthy to say.

But the other writers and their poems,
the processes they went through,
gave me inspiration, let me know
that there is room in this world
for all kinds of voices, all kinds of poems,
even mine.

And the kind support and encouragement,
along with the honest and helpful feedback that
flowed within our group, kept me focused, showed me
I didn’t need to become more like any other writer,
I just needed to trust and sharpen my own voice.

Some of us have continued to meet on our own
to keep the work-shopping alive.
We are the Sushi Poets! We enjoy good
sushi, fine poetry, and excellent company!
This group has given me the confidence
to put my words on paper and
to share them with others.

I now read my poems in public,
at hoots and other gatherings.
Most importantly,
I was able to write
a very personal poem to my grandmother,
and read it aloud at her funeral last week.
She deserved nothing less.

I came to the What Is Home workshop to learn
how to write, but I learned to be myself.
I discovered the poet in me,
and found my way home.
My sincere thanks to all of you.

— Carrie Reed,
What Is Home Participant