17. Poems by JEM

Weeks before my 17th birthday, my father encouraged me to publish a book of poetry to have yet another platform of sharing my work. I did just that. At the age of 16, I published “17.” Poems by JEM, a book comprised of 17 original poems written throughout various stages in my life. The book had been writing itself my whole life as it explores different experiences I had up until my 17th birthday.