May Slam Spotlight

April's Slam Night winner was the lovely and talented Jill Medina. Now, this author holds no bias. Even if she were to, our randomly assigned judges and active audience influences would more than keep any in check. However, it was rather unsurprising Ms. Medina held a first place triumph at some point. Jill Medina has been an active participant of our poetry slam competitions at The Hometown Olathe Family Farm since we began! Way back when we hosted as guests, and primarily functioned in open mics. But even then, we predicted she would be a winner.

Her poetry continued to be passionate and inspirational, the true roots of slam poetry. Her vigor and story telling transported the audience to her mind's eye. The only explanation we saw? There was always a dark horse! Someone we had never seen before would come in and swept the competition away! If this sport were televised we'd be continually announcing as Jill Medina, the one to beat!

This last month her consistency and talent had its day in the sun with a resounding applause and agreement. It is with great joy and honor I present this month's Slam Winner: Jill Medina, congratulations!

Jill Medina age 41 lives Urich, Mo currently pursuing a career in psychology as a student at Drury University, her writing is primarily poetry based on aspects of her personal experiences, topics including PTSD, weaponized religious trauma and abuse, and writing a nonfiction piece as well pursuing a web presence on Substack. Her work can be found on the platforms below:

Instagram: jill_medina_author

Substack: jillmedina.substack.com

Matriarch’s Truth

By Jill Medina

Single mom, raising five kids

In a system of oppression, it gives me depression

This capitalism and patriarchy

We should bring back the matriarchy

Lost in the bottle and the

System, I hit rock bottom

Tears streaming like it’s a

Netflix debut

No one asks me, “Hey, Jill, how are you?”

They just watch you struggle,

Refusing to lend a hand

We forgot about our sense of community

Lost our ways and identity

Traded our power for disunity

People be lost out here,

Forgetting who they are

Single mother working overtime,

Never committed any crimes

Still it feels like a prison and I’m doing time.

Women are sacred,

Start treating us as such

Life givers close to Creator

All these bitch ass boys take what they want

Feeling entitled to our bodies then ghost

Instead of cherishing us the most

Motherfucking cowards, yeah,

You heard what I said

All you wanna do is see if you

Can get me in your bed

Tryna get in my head?

How ‘bout I pump you full of lead?

You see the beauty but you

Don’t see the hooves

Better watch your step and

Watch your moves

Deer Woman energy

I’m the shadow in the trees

Bringing motherfuckers like you

Straight to their knees

The struggle is real

Sometimes I don’t know how to deal

All these emotions all mixed up inside

But when I think about my ancestors,

All I feel is pride

We descend from warriors and strong matriarchs

Don’t try and start with me

I’m reconnecting to who I was

Created to be

Go back to treating each other sacred

Stop destroying the land

And being mistreated

My elders teach Adagesdi*

And that’s how I’m trying to be.

*Adagesdi is the Cherokee word for love and care for all people.