Embracing life's complexity: A journey to the depths of a poetic mind

Friday, October 18

Breajee McMillan is a passionate poet that shares her artistic journey, revealing the profound sources of her inspiration and the themes she explores in her work. Reflecting on her creative process, she emphasizes that her poetry is deeply rooted in the experiences of life—both her own and those of others. “It’s just kind of like absorbing everything that I’m actually seeing and feeling in life,” she explains, acknowledging that both personal encounters and the emotions of friends significantly influence her writing.
McMillan delves into themes that many might find daunting, such as death, loss, and depression. “I talk about death a lot, loss, um, depression,” she notes, clarifying that she is not preoccupied with these subjects. Instead, she seeks to articulate the complexities of questions without definitive answers, aiming for ambiguity that allows readers to interpret her work in their own ways.
However, she is mindful of the potential toll that these weighty topics can have on her mental health. “I literally check in with myself and it's like, is this going to be helpful? Or sometimes I try it and I'm not feeling it and I'll just put it away because I'm not going to force it. ,” she shares. Yet, at times, these themes become therapeutic, providing her a necessary outlet.
When it comes to her style, she prefers free verse because feeling it allows her the freedom to express herself without the constraints of  solid structures. While she has experimented with various forms, McMillan feels that free verse best captures her voice. “Typically it's free verse. I've taken classes and done my own research on different styles of writing. And I've always felt it kind of boxes me in.” she explains.
Her journey into poetry began in her youth, stemming from a desire to journal her thoughts in a more artistic way. “I realized I would like to be, for lack of better words, poetic with it,” she recalls, attributing her early love for writing to a fear of others reading her journals. Encouraged by positive feedback from teachers and family, she developed her skills and confidence over the years.
Despite her growing body of work, she admits to being “stingy” with her poetry. This reluctance stems from her focus on heavier topics, which can make readers uncomfortable. “Not everybody likes talking about death or sex or loss,” she acknowledges, recognizing how this creates insecurity regarding how her work might be perceived.
Her writing has evolved alongside her perspective on life, shifting from frustration and confusion to a more observational and accepting outlook. “Confusion about the world around me just turned into more like I'm observing it's simply an observation, or even if it's something that upsets me. Accept the things you can't change, change the things you can't accept kind of outlook.” she reflects, emphasizing the importance of acceptance in her creative process.
As she continues her poetic journey, she hopes to inspire her readers to interpret her work in their own unique ways. “If I can do that and if they can interpret it in all those multitudes of ways, I love it,” she concludes, underscoring the beauty of poetry as a shared experience.
Through her poetry,  McMillan invites us all to ponder life’s complexities, encouraging us to reflect on our experiences and interpretations—one verse at a time.