Jasmine Mans is the author of two books of published poetry. Her latest, "Black Girl, Call Home, is a collection reflecting on her experience as a queer Black woman, growing up in Newark, and coming out.

She spoke with WNYC's Michael Hill about her own start as a poet, and why poetry resonates in moments like the present one. 

She says, "I hope that poets are gathering their minds and their spirits to engage in the truth, and then to recite it."

And we want YOUR poems. Our theme this month is emergence. We want you to write a poem—in any form you like—on the theme of emergence, whatever that means to you.

You can submit through Twitter @wnyc, or email them to wnycpoetry@gmail.com. We may read your poem on the air.