National Poetry Month Celebration
Bio: Sanjo Jendayi born Deserie Johnson is a speaker, author and spoken word artist. Readers and listeners alike are mesmerized, challenged and inspired by her unique way of speaking directly into their soul. She merges her street edge with her spiritual grounding leaving everyone on the verge of change. Her transparent style chips away at the proverbial elephants in the room. Deserie transitioned into her purposed name, Sanjo Jenday (African for “One who appreciates her past and gives thanks”) because it speaks to whom she has evolved into today.
Sanjo was born and raised in Washington, DC and she now resides in MD. Her most important titles are Mom and Grandmom. Sanjo has dedicated her life to inspiring women and young girls to rise above their circumstances, take responsibility and turn mistakes into lessons. Sanjo began motivational speaking that touched on the very obstacles that she, herself overcame. God has turned her mess into HIS message!
She is more than a conqueror! A survivor of lung cancer while continuing to battle Sarcoidosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Fibromyalgia. Sanjo is passionate about tapping into the little girl within all women to reach that sheer innocent place where they once believed anything were possible and resurrecting that belief.
Sanjo’s perseverance is evident in her powerful personal testimony of trials and tribulations that’s translated through her poetry in Black Butterfly…Soaring on the Wings of Poetry and her debut of listen2myheartspeak spoken word CD. A hospital scare birthed her most recent work, Girl, Get Empty a power-packed compact read empowering women to release all that God has placed in them. Her process of emptying also included the subsequent release of NyAashia’s Freedom Ride a children’s bedtime story that teaches pride in their heritage and themselves.
Currently, she is preparing a memoir for publication. Sanjo has been the voice of several local radio and television commercials. She also records professional outgoing voice messages for local corporations.
Sanjo was born and raised in Washington, DC and she now resides in MD. Her most important titles are Mom and Grandmom. Sanjo has dedicated her life to inspiring women and young girls to rise above their circumstances, take responsibility and turn mistakes into lessons. Sanjo began motivational speaking that touched on the very obstacles that she, herself overcame. God has turned her mess into HIS message!
She is more than a conqueror! A survivor of lung cancer while continuing to battle Sarcoidosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Fibromyalgia. Sanjo is passionate about tapping into the little girl within all women to reach that sheer innocent place where they once believed anything were possible and resurrecting that belief.
Sanjo’s perseverance is evident in her powerful personal testimony of trials and tribulations that’s translated through her poetry in Black Butterfly…Soaring on the Wings of Poetry and her debut of listen2myheartspeak spoken word CD. A hospital scare birthed her most recent work, Girl, Get Empty a power-packed compact read empowering women to release all that God has placed in them. Her process of emptying also included the subsequent release of NyAashia’s Freedom Ride a children’s bedtime story that teaches pride in their heritage and themselves.
Currently, she is preparing a memoir for publication. Sanjo has been the voice of several local radio and television commercials. She also records professional outgoing voice messages for local corporations.
As long as you have breath, you have a chance!
Here I am Lord...
Here I am Lord…
Arms wide open
Ears wide open
Soul exposed
Receptive
Ready for instruction
Eyes closed
Mind still
Ready to do your will
Here I am Lord…
Asking to hear a word from you
I need to know what to do
Sometimes, I can’t hear anything from you
I find myself longing for you
Singing songs for you
Trying to usher your Spirit into my presence
To feel your very essence
To learn my every lesson
So I can move on…
Speak to my heart Lord!
I need to hear your voice
Your Word said ask and it is yours
So here I am Lord
I’m asking
For wisdom, knowledge and understanding
So I can move on…
I know your word doesn’t come back void
So I begin clearing my head of this noise
When ….silence consumes me
I feel you in tune with me
Yes I’m ready to receive
Here I AM Lord!!!!!!
© 2001 Deserie Johnson
Arms wide open
Ears wide open
Soul exposed
Receptive
Ready for instruction
Eyes closed
Mind still
Ready to do your will
Here I am Lord…
Asking to hear a word from you
I need to know what to do
Sometimes, I can’t hear anything from you
I find myself longing for you
Singing songs for you
Trying to usher your Spirit into my presence
To feel your very essence
To learn my every lesson
So I can move on…
Speak to my heart Lord!
I need to hear your voice
Your Word said ask and it is yours
So here I am Lord
I’m asking
For wisdom, knowledge and understanding
So I can move on…
I know your word doesn’t come back void
So I begin clearing my head of this noise
When ….silence consumes me
I feel you in tune with me
Yes I’m ready to receive
Here I AM Lord!!!!!!
© 2001 Deserie Johnson
The Interview
Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry?
I draw inspiration from life experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly because there are lessons to be learned from everything. I like to write about it to release myself, it's freeing.
What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?
Poetry is nothing more than self-expression, it's an extension of you. Some write it in a journal for their own private release and others share it with the world and either way is entirely up to the writer. If you are a listener and you are threatened by poetry, I say just close your eyes and let it take you on a journey through your emotions. Poetry can be very seductive in that it draws the listener in...even when they say, "I don't like poetry".
What is an interesting fact about you?
I am shy. Believe it or not, I am as shy as they come. When I come off the stage, I am like a turtle climbing back in my shell.
Where are you from / Where do you live?
I was born and raised in S.E. Washington, DC and I now reside in Maryland.
Who is your favorite poet?
Maya Angelou, I love how she weaves words together.
I draw inspiration from life experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly because there are lessons to be learned from everything. I like to write about it to release myself, it's freeing.
What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?
Poetry is nothing more than self-expression, it's an extension of you. Some write it in a journal for their own private release and others share it with the world and either way is entirely up to the writer. If you are a listener and you are threatened by poetry, I say just close your eyes and let it take you on a journey through your emotions. Poetry can be very seductive in that it draws the listener in...even when they say, "I don't like poetry".
What is an interesting fact about you?
I am shy. Believe it or not, I am as shy as they come. When I come off the stage, I am like a turtle climbing back in my shell.
Where are you from / Where do you live?
I was born and raised in S.E. Washington, DC and I now reside in Maryland.
Who is your favorite poet?
Maya Angelou, I love how she weaves words together.
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