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McKenzie Jemmett M.S., CCC-SLP, COM TM is an individual who stutters and currently works as a School Speech Language Pathologist in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been involved with the stuttering community for numerous years and serves as a host for Stutter Social. She enjoys teaching Zumba, trying new recipes, exploring new outdoor adventures and connecting with others from around the world. |
I love to fly free but scared I will fall.
With faith I jump in but just cower and crawl.
I hope against hope that this time is the last,
The last that the trust in myself falls dead flat.
With bravery I dare and deliberately seek,
The descended reality, dark and bleak.
How simple it is to feel so alone.
Like no one can see you, yourself to atone.
But did you forget that all of us sink?
That we all find despair in the bitter dark deep?
We all have our pit, feeling no one is there.
Unending it seems, the pain of despair.
Remember, remember, we all feel that pain,
Unfiltered, unsheltered and full of disdain.
But when we recall that we all feel the same,
We find warriors, our heroes, our path to reclaim.
Trying,
Keep trying,
Try again one time more.
We’re here and we see you,
Rising up from the floor.
Connection is power and power is light.
Don’t forget your team here,
Helping you to take flight.
Hi McKenzie,
I’m glad you wrote a poem for the conference! I’m quite the lover of poetry. “Connection is power and power is light.” What a great line!
Rob Dellinger
Thank you Rob! Something about a verse to speak your feelings 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it!
McKenzie,
I am thankful you wrote for the conference. Your poem was very well said and very enlightening I would imagine for someone who stutters, and giving them hope. Stand together and rise up. Thanks again!
Chloe Kendra
Thank you!!
McKenzie,
This is such a lovely poem and well spoken about overcoming and never giving up. My favorite line is “connection is power and power is light”. That speaks volumes because, especially as an SLP we must collaborate and work together as a team. We always meet and connect with new people almost daily. The way we connect to others in our field or share the same characteristics like stuttering, that connection and link is power. Connections can be strengthening and together it forms a light that can be shared and shown to all. Also, it is always nice to be reminded to keep trying! I love the positive vibes. Thanks for sharing.
Hello McKenzie,
I very much enjoyed reading you poem. Your poem provided me with a better understanding of a day in the life of a person who stutters. I could not imagine all the emotions one feels when trying to communicate publicly with a stuttering disorder. I hope others read your prom and benefit from the message you conveyed.
Samantha
Thank you for your insights!
Thanks McKenzie, for expressing the thoughts in our minds in such an eloquent way. I too write poetry and love your way of making the poem dance. This for sure is a journey, because there’s always a moment where we feel we lost our wings and can’t fly, but we keep on trying again. That’s what makes us Superheroes. 🙂
Stay safe and keep sharing your creativity
Anita
I like your phrase “making the poem dance”! And yes we are superheros!
McKenzie,
I am so thankful that you wrote for the conference, what a wonderful poem you have composed! Thank you so much for sharing your piece of art with the world!
Taryn
Thank you!
Hi McKenzie
Thank you so much for your poem, and your powerful message of resilience. It is sometimes a challenge to remember that we are not alone, but when we do, when we keep that thought that we are, in fact, not alone, the “flying free” becomes possible.
Thank you
Hanan
Thank you for your comments 🙂
McKenzie,
What an amazing image. I appreciate you being open with us! This poem really provides insight to the resilience demonstrated by people who stutter, and what emotions may be present in communication that others take for granted.
Thank you!
Casey
Thank you for reading!
Hi McKenzie,
This poem was beautiful. As a person who does not stutter, the imagery you created was so powerful and allowed me to gain a better grasp of the everyday life of people who stutter. While I will never truly understand, thank you for providing insight on your experiences. I am currently a student in speech language pathology and plan on sharing your poem with my future fluency clients.
Have a wonderful day!
Alexis Berry
Hi McKenzie!
I found your poem to be a great way to express your feelings. It is a very strong written piece of work. I, personally, am not a person with a stutter, but this poem made me feel for those that do more than I already have. My favorite line from this was, “Trying, Keep trying, Try again one time more. We’re here and we see you.” It is reassuring that those have such a strong support system.
Chloe Pieniazek
Hi McKenzie,
I really enjoyed the poem! As an individual who does not stutter, this poem really allowed me to imagine what it would be like as a person who does stutter with the emotion that was put into it! Thank you for sharing this!
Your words were powerful. What a beautiful interpretation of what it feels like to be a person who stutters. I see you and I hear you. You are important and your trials have only made you a better advocate. Providing hope and light for other’s who have gone through the same thing. I will be sharing this poem with others, it is beautiful and paints a vivid picture. I appreciate your vulnerability in what you have been through. Many thanks!
Hi Mckenzie!
Thank you so much for sharing! What a powerful poem! This poem really gives clarity to how much pain an individual that stutters may experience. However, it is still vital to remain strong and resilient!
Thank you!
Damien
Mckenzie,
I appreciate your words and your message so much. As a person who does not stutter, I cannot pretend to understand the feelings and emotions of those who do stutter. However, your poem gives me some insight to what this might be like.
What I appreciate most about reading this poem, is that after reading it- I do not feel bad or pitiful towards persons who stutter. Instead, I gained more respect and admiration for persons who stutter. The message that I took from this poem is, Like people who stutter, we all have our own hardships and struggles- and we all should choose to rise above and overcome the mental, physical and emotional challenges that we may encounter. No matter the struggle, keep trying, and find freedom in who you are.
Thank you,
Nicole
Hi McKenzie!
I am currently a student pursuing a masters degree in speech-lanuage pathology. I loved having the opportuinity to read your poem. I am a person who does not stutter, so I cannot sit here and pretend to know how people who stutter feel. However, reading your poem truly opened my eyes.
I currently only have on client who stutters, and he is 6. He does not seem to know why he is in therapy, and to a certain point that makes me happy. It makes me happy that he is not sad or others have not bullied him for his stutter. I will remind him and any other client, that no matter how hard the struggle is, to keep flying freely, that they are unique and amazing.
Thank you so much for your insight.
Janeth.