This work was first published in Spread the Word’s Young Writers Collective Anthology, 2025. This anthology stands as a testament to the courage, creativity, and growth of a remarkable group of young poets who have spent seven months exploring the power of language and self-expression. The anthology is more than a collection of poems—it is a celebration of emerging voices, of stories told with boldness and vulnerability.
All of the poems can be read here on our website, or you can download the Young Writer’s Collective Anthology to read as a PDF.
Scarce within the generation by Precious Ogunlowo
I am unique, vibrant. my kind is scarce within the generation.
I don’t feel the need to follow social trends.
No, I’d rather be the shepherd than the sheep.
At peace with the world, but at war with yourself
why do you walk as though you are asleep?
Snapchat, Instagram
got us watching but not listening.
Impressive falsity over authentic reality.
You’re not seeing the vanity of this world
but being blinded by the whirlwind.
Why should I be fixated on materialistic things?
Listen. The deadliest illness is the one we don’t know we’re suffering.
Choose to see the good in people,
to me that’s not feeble,
it’s what it means to be a disciple.
I believe that what you give in this world, is what you get out of it.
Every cause has an effect
So be mindful the impudent words you eject and the people you disrespect.
Be true to your word and loyal to all.
When you stand for nothing, to anything you’ll fall.
For me, my word is my bond.
Yes I’m quick to listen
and even when it’s hard, I’m slow to respond.
In the face of adversity, still I persevere.
God is my light and only Him shall I fear.
Irrepressible – my faith knows no limits, and sees no boundaries.
I soar and I leap
there is no end in sight for me.
I make my own choices and stick by them.
You can say what you want, but the Lord’s my confidant.
Leaning not on my own understanding, but a heavenly guidance.
What would happen if you chose to view your failures as just another
stepping-stone to your success
something that no one will ever be able to suppress
and let every fibre of your being protest
to all those who want to see you down and depressed.
I choose to see the glass half full, rather than half empty.
Don’t be fooled. The devil has tried, and tried again to tempt me
but Jesus Christ is my exemplary.
No label placed upon me will ever stop me from reaching my full potential.
About Precious Ogunlowo
Precious Ogunlowo is a highly commended SLAMbassadors poet, known for her exploration of love, identity, and self-exploration. She holds a BA in Politics and History from LSE, with her work featured in Young Writers anthologies and published on the LSE website. Precious has also worked as a Unit Stills Photographer on a BFI-funded film, and her passion for storytelling extends beyond poetry into visual arts and media.