the Center

A Portrait & A Poem

Rachel Leeke

Apr 23, 2024

Welcome to, from the desk of Rachel Leeke!

I share weekly on love + travel, including tidbits for the adventurous life you deserve.

You can read my last piece, a letter to my Godson here, or the entirety of my work here.

Self-portrait. (Harlem, NYC, April 21st, 2024)

I want to take a moment to ground.

It’s 12:07 p.m. the day before you’ll receive this. I’m drafting and will be into tomorrow night. The tea in front of me was room temperature an hour ago, and I’m mostly staring out the window as cars pass by.

The sky is overcast—a bright sheet of white—like the whole city has been stuffed inside the drawer of a copy machine. The air is crisp, and I see it’ll be another week before I can comfortably wear sandals outside. The radiator’s hiss reminds me heat is on the way.

I am home. I feel good.

Since my first post, I’ve been clear on why I write. I want to savor the goodness around me. This is a way to keep a record and capture life itself on the page. It takes intention, presence, immersion in the world, a willingness to seek, and the courage to share. In doing so, I’ve connected with people who want the same thing—a reminder of love’s potency and a jump-off point for adventure. It’s a privilege to know these offerings resonate.

It’s coming up on one year of writing for myself, and I feel I am hitting my stride. The more I show up, the less doubt I have. It’s a wonderful tradeoff. I’m in a season of not having to search for motivation or belief in myself.

It’s there.

Writing is fun, and knowing you choose to read along is pretty cool.

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I sat down to write an essay, and a poem jumped out.

Today’s offering is in response to

Tobi

- thanks for making me think!

If you also have a question for me, drop it in the comments.

—

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

The center is the spotlight. 
the affirmative I 
exist

It's looking at myself 
and liking what I see 


I stand 
brow to brow
with who I know 
I'm meant to be 
It's squaring 
A match 
limb to limb 

an exam
ination 

the jewel above the head 

My senses are up too 
in the center 
I hear 
what you say 
and not my 
doubts

It’s a hovering above, a seeing of all sides. 

It’s the taking of 
no opinion
the abandoning of 
a stance. 

It's both 
soft 
and ridgid 

I am flesh
I am steel 
-

Til next week,