- If you put me in a box, it'll be a very heavy cross for you to carry on your lifelong journey.

The process of writing, it can be so soothing.

It can be eye-opening.

- [RaeAnn] Michaelle Martial, the Caribbean Nightingale, found her love for words and poetry in Haiti as a teenager.

As her path unfolded, it led her to the U.S. where her passion for writing continued.

- I'm not your shiny toy.

Though I'm here to bring Black joy.

- [RaeAnn] But as the demands of life took over, her poetic expressions gradually dwindled away.

- Sometimes as women, we tend to forget ourselves easily, you know, for the sake of the family or for the kids.

- [RaeAnn] Her disconnection from her creative self stemmed not only from the demands of motherhood, but also from the emergence of an abusive relationship.

- It wasn't something that happened overnight.

It was a slow process until you don't recognize yourself anymore.

- [RaeAnn] Michaelle says she felt very isolated and believed her voice would be unheard by those around her.

- I remember thinking clearly, "Who would believe that so and so is being verbally abusive to me or hit me that one time?

Who would believe that?"

I didn't feel the support, so I was like, "Okay, then maybe I'll just stick it, you know, make it work."

- [RaeAnn] Unfortunately, she says it was a heart-wrenching tragedy that served as her wake up call.

- When my youngest daughter passed away in her sleep, it gave me a new perspective on life.

And I remember thinking, "I don't have to put up with this anymore.

Life is not meant to be this hard."

I'm not going to fit in it just because it's lit in it.

- [RaeAnn] Michaelle found solace in poetry once again, using its power to navigate the challenging times, including breaking free from an unhealthy relationship.

- That's the way that my brain could cope with that heavy loss and grief.

I'm not a toy you can play with.

And it helped me open up to myself to the point where I could open up to a professional therapist, you know, a counselor.

Poetry helped me get there.

- [RaeAnn] Now a published author, poet, and skilled cook, Michaelle's aspirations are to help others who may be struggling with their own challenges.

Her upcoming venture, Poetry on Main, is set to open this summer, and it's a unique gift shop and poetry lounge that aims to showcase BIPOC and LGBTQ artists and artisans.

- It is a safe space, especially for those populations, but everyone is welcome.

- [RaeAnn] She also hopes her story will help others develop a deeper understanding for those dealing with domestic violence.

- If I come up to you and say, "Hey, I don't feel right about this," or, "My spouse did this, it doesn't feel quite right," don't dismiss it.

First, listen before giving advice because sometimes that's all we need, you know, to be validated and feel like we matter because all day long, what we hear is we don't matter.

I create art that transcends borders and heals hearts needing mending at last.