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It was his first time on stage to read a poem. As the eyes of the crowd peered at him, his palms became clammy and his throat dry. He gazed nervously back at the crowd then began to speak. A moment later, stage fright completely consumed him. He left the stage --- without finishing his poem.
Yeoman 3rd Class Shane D. Morgan, Jr., assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s deck department, has come a long way from that moment.
“I’ve been writing poetry for about seven years,” said Morgan. “At first it was forced on me in school. The feedback I got from teachers made me start doing poetry outside of class.”
The newfound art form quickly became an outlet for Morgan.
“I started using metaphors and finding other ways to express myself,” said Morgan. “I would pick a subject and intertwine that subject with my thoughts, experiences, and the different struggles in life that people go through.”
Not only did Morgan find a muse within his experiences, but he also used the experiences of those around him.
One of those poems in which he used another person’s experiences was one that has already gotten Morgan recognition on the ship. In April 2015, Morgan’s poem “Shattered Dreams” was used on Ford’s command Facebook page in correlation with a command drug and alcohol prevention advocate (DAPA) effort.
“I reached out to DAPA to see their interest in my poem and they wanted me to go full steam ahead,” said Morgan. “People didn’t believe I wrote it, but I just wanted people to understand the dangers of drinking and driving.”
Morgan outgrew his childhood nerves and now frequently shares his poetry on stage.
“Morgan is very confident when he approaches his challenges and delivers a solid performance each time he performs,” said Chief Yeoman Berwyn Tinnion, one of Morgan’s mentors.
Morgan’s reach extends beyond the crowd; he is now a published author of the book “Poetry From a Young Mind.”
“I see myself publishing another book in the future,” said Morgan. “I’m also writing new poems and finding other ways to express myself.”
Morgan flourishes in many aspects of self-expression. Not only is he a poet, but Morgan is also an avid Native American flutist.
Being Navajo and Choctaw, Morgan and his great-grandfather would visit reservations when he was growing up. That is where he was introduced to the flute.
“My first experience with flute, all I can remember is the sound was intriguing,” said Morgan.
His intrigue led to lessons and the lessons led to another way for Morgan to express himself.
“I fell in love with the flute and being able to express different emotions with sound,” said Morgan.
Others on ship have found interest and comfort in Morgan’s music as well.
“I have heard Morgan play his flute and that too is very different from any other rendition played,” said Tinnion. “He has a vast majority of talents he loves to display and I appreciate him sharing with those of us on the Ford.”
Another Sailor who appreciates his artwork is Yeoman 2nd Class Stefan Roberson, friend and community relations coordinator of Ford’s Multi-Cultural Heritage Committee (MCHC).
“It is very hard finding Sailors of native ethnicity because you cannot tell from first look,” said Roberson. “I appreciate him and his willingness to share with us his heritage.”
Morgan has performed at multiple venues on ship and you can also find him playing in his spare time.
“No matter what I am doing, when I hear him playing the flute, it soothes my soul every time,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Stefan Roberson.
Morgan says playing the flute helps him stay connected to his Native American roots without many reservations near by.
The flute proves to be a connection to self for Morgan along with his poetry, in that they are both a form of self-expression.
Morgan’s experiences led him from being the nervous boy who walked off stage to being one that can command attention on stage like he has done in numerous command functions. Whether it is the stroke of a pen or a melodic tune, Morgan’s outlets seem to resonate with those around him.
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.02.2018 11:10 |
| Story ID: | 264451 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Poetic Melodies of Expression, by PO2 Elizabeth Thompson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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