ocd & me: a contrapuntal

Written by Inez Odom, Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

Little did I know that when I sat down with senior, Mia Davis ’23, to discuss her spoken word poetry, that I would conclude our meeting deeply moved. Mia’s talent as a writer is only superseded by her sincerity in using her art form to bring awareness and expression to a frequently misunderstood condition, OCD {Obsessive Compulsive Disorder}. She does so with passion, compassion and articulate authority. Her poem challenges the way in which we see and talk about OCD as a society. Her word choice is crisp, insightful, moody and multi-dimensional.

Mia’s work was recognized as a Finalist in the YoungArts competition, moving her on to present her spoken word poetry at the National YoungArts Week in Florida this January 2023. Out of 7,000 submissions, only 700 writers are selected as award winners in general, which includes honorable mention, merit and finalists. Mia was selected as one of the 150 finalists in the nation putting her in the ranks of YoungArts alumni poet laureate and activist Amanda Gorman, actress and activist Viola Davis, and many more.

“I’ve been writing since I was really little, I’d say, as long as I can remember. When I was in 7th grade, I wrote a novel and just always enjoyed telling stories and sharing myself through words. In high school, I started focusing a lot more on poetry, specifically, and over

ocd & me: a contrapuntal

(This poem is in the form of the contrapuntal. The two columns can be read separately as well as together from left to right.)

ocd & me draw near, darling... listen to my obsessions: dormant lies & flames licking skeletons framed by weak bones of frail innocence, now cremated truth. i am elusive, guilt and its ashes. pouring through trembling fingers your tarnished being - imprisoned allow me with perpetual anxiety to find sanctuary in intertwining hands your destructive palms. of delicacy (i’m sorry). don’t read into my apologies for suffering; i assure you, such apologizing is life. my sixteenth consecutive apology. used as a descriptor i cannot help but shatter the universe, yet i am a deceptor - an earthquake swallowing certainty or am i reality? i would do anything to break this cycle. the past few years I’ve been submitting to competitions, publishing my work and just trying to get myself out there. I’ve won a few scholastic art and writing awards and attended the 2022 Sewanee Writers Conference which was a two week-long intensive writing program for high school writers across the country.”

The beauty of spoken word poetry is explained by Mia as being the relationship of the artist to the words that have been authored. While poetry is depicted through the artistry and emotion of words on the page, spoken word takes it to another level. “It gives it a 3D element. It provides the verbal and audible aspect. In spoken word, you get to hear what the author’s trying to convey and you get to follow along and it can capture {your} attention in amazing ways.”

She acknowledges that being diagnosed with OCD was a complex outcome, yet she was able to channel her journey into her poetry. She hopes that the piece conveys that OCD is more than just a label. Her advice to others would be,

“whatever it is for you, go for it. Take hold of the opportunities you see. And even if you don’t think that you’re good enough or that you are ready…just try. That is already the bravest thing you can do.”