Meet Sunshyn Whittington (Baltimore, Maryland)

Mommy....Mommy

How as a mother can you see your child cry.....Hurting from not understanding why people pushed us aside....Looking for answers Mommy can't provide....As she tries to hide the hurt in her eyes.....Mommy, mommy why can't I lay in my own bed, watch tv or play with my games....eat the food that you used to cook......lay down when I am tired or just read my book......brush my teeth or even comb my hair.....take a hot shower before I go to bed......Mommy, mommy I just don't understand.....why are we sleeping in a room with so many fams.......Why do you mommy have a curfew....they make you do chores and clean up the room.....They tell you when to sleep and when to awake......Mommy, mommy what is this place......You lay in a bunk bed just like I do but that is not daddy laying next to you.....And how can you sleep with all that noise....the smell of scents too strong to ignore......Mommy, mommy can we get away....I am so sick of being in this place...#shelterlife


Sunshyn is a woman who loves to express herself through her writings. She believes that she can't effectively write about something that she has not personally came across in her life. In her writing poetry or even in her fictional books, she wants to not only open up people's eyes to certain situations but their hearts too.

UBAWA: When did you first realize your attraction to poetry?
Sunshyn: I have to say it started when I was in middle school but for me it started through listening to the words in songs. I wanted to be able to express myself like the song writers did and have people feeling what I was feeling.

UBAWA: Tell us about the very first poem you have ever written
Sunshyn: The first poem I remember writing was called "A Rose." I was in middle school and I remember reading it to some of my friends. I would doodle here and there but never really considered myself as ever being a published author.

UBAWA: Do you have a favorite poet? If so, who is he/she?
Sunshyn: I could name so many of them....Girl Scott Heron, Maya Angelo, Nikki Giovanni, and Rumi are just a couple that I can name....all different styles all touch my heart one way or another.

UBAWA: When you’re writing poetry, do you think in terms of genre? 
Sunshyn: No, when I am writing I never try to put myself in any category. I don't want to limit myself.

UBAWA: Some people say writing poetry is like writing a rap or love song. Do you agree? Why/why not?
Sunshyn: I agree because they are many ways of expressing. Writing a rap or love song is no different than writing poetry, you are just adding music to them.

UBAWA: Are there certain styles/techniques/rules of poetry you adhere to in your writing? Tell us about your writing style. 
Sunshyn: I don't follow any rules or techniques when I am writing. My style is just that my style and I write how I am feeling that day. 

UBAWA: What poetry books have you written? 
Sunshyn: I have written two poetry books; Something So Beautiful and Chasing After You.....Chasing After Me. I am now working on my third book, #Shelterlife #90DaysIn

UBAWA: Have you performed any of your poetry pieces on stage? If so, please share your experience(s) with us. 
Sunshyn: I was able to read one of my poems "God Did Not Create Me" at a church function. I have to admit I was a little nervous but they made me feel welcomed.

UBAWA: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of love? 
Sunshyn: Peace.

UBAWA: Are you currently dating someone, married, or single? 
Sunshyn: I am currently single.

UBAWA: Do you think success is a matter of chance or a matter of choice?
Sunshyn: A little bit of both....if you don't choose to get yourself out there than the chance of you meeting people that can help you is very limited

UBAWA: Inspiration for a new poem can come from the strangest places. What inspired you to write your most recent poem?
Sunshyn: Living in a shelter.

UBAWA: If you could go back and “right” any past wrong in your life, which one would it be and why? 
Sunshyn: I have thought about this a lot and I have to say there is nothing, not because I have not done any wrong but because of the lessons I learned from going through it. I would not be who I am becoming had I not did the things I have done.

UBAWA: When you’re not writing, what are you doing? 
Sunshyn: Thinking, reading and listening to music. Oh and don't forget cooking.

UBAWA: There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a poet’s life, fill us in on what one typical day for you is like.
Sunshyn: A typical day for me.....when I had my own home, I would get my son off to school ( we would have prayer time before he would leave), get out what I was going to cook for dinner and if I did not have a doctor's appointment or any other thing to do outside of the house, I would be on my Facebook page and or Twitter, while writing poetry or my fictional book. I am not a phone person so most of the time the phone was off

UBAWA: If you could create the “perfect day,” what would it be like?
Sunshyn: A peaceful day where I could just write and listen to music on a porch in the country while the wind was gently blowing and the birds were singing softly

UBAWA: What do you do on the weekends? 
Sunshyn: Rest, spend time with the kids and either watch movies or go out.

UBAWA: Do you hang out or go to clubs?
Sunshyn: Nay.....I prefer to be home

UBAWA: If you could visit any other country in the world and take one other person with you, where would you go and who would you take?
Sunshyne: I would love to go to Australia and if I could only take one other person with me I would take Sticky Fingaz with me......why.....I think he would keep things interesting and fun (hey don't judge my secret crush)

UBAWA: Tell us about one challenge in life that you had to overcome. What was the challenge and how did you get through it?
Sunshyn: Low self-esteem, watching people like Oprah and listening to others that have dealt with self esteem issues helped a lot. Plus praying and learning that God created me and I am beautifully and wonderfully made

UBAWA: Before you leave, tell us one thing about yourself that we may not know.
Sunshyn: That I am not only a survivor but a warrior too!!!

UBAWA: Do you host contests or giveaways?
Sunshyne: Never been asked but I would.

UBAWA: Any upcoming events that we should know about?
Sunshyne: Have some things brewing in 2014, will get back to you when they are definite.

Facebook?
www.facebook.com/sunshynpoet

Twitter?
sunshyn42