The Spotlight Verse: Sean Jesse Illuminates the Stage with “Two Pair”
- Lukumi Arlota
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
October 18th was more than just a night of poetry—it was a convergence of celebrations, creativity, and emotion. As the LMNT Poetry community gathered for its final showcase of the year, the air buzzed with the energy of a pre-Halloween celebration and the anticipation of crowning one final Spotlight Verse poet. That honor went to none other than Sean Jesse, a familiar and beloved voice on the LMNT Poetry stage.
Though Sean has graced the microphone many times before, this night carried something special. His presence radiated a calm confidence, a sense of ease that drew the audience in before he even spoke. When he finally took the stage, it was clear that he wasn’t just performing—he was opening his heart. Each word, each pause, and each image in his poem “Two Pair” felt like an offering of truth and reflection.
“Music masks the hard times and hid me from the pain. Garage nights get archived while Nelly does his thing…” Sean began, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. The poem unfolded like a cinematic memory—one that blended the innocence of childhood with the sharp edges of loss. In “Two Pair,” Sean revisits moments of his youth, connecting personal grief to cultural touchstones like Nelly’s Country Grammar and the echoes of hip-hop and R&B legends who helped shape his identity.
He weaves nostalgia and pain with lyrical precision:
Being locked in the garage while your father’s dying makes you question every loving statement. He bought me my first pair of Jordans while I was screaming, Give me two pairs…
Lines like these silenced the room. There’s vulnerability in his storytelling—an honesty that reminds listeners of the power of art to both heal and reveal. Yet, Sean doesn’t dwell in despair. The poem evolves into a meditation on legacy, creativity, and resilience. Through the guidance of musical mentors—both literal and lyrical—he finds purpose and affirmation:
He taught me how to tie my shoes and now Mac always tells me don’t trip. It’s hanging on the wall along with the other musicians that taught me this.
By the time Sean closes with, “If the moon ever got jealous of the sunshine, we call that an eclipse,” the audience has traveled with him through darkness and light, pain and passion, loss and growth.
On this final poetry night of the year, Sean Jesse didn’t just perform—he transformed the stage into a sacred space of memory and meaning. His poem “Two Pair” reminded everyone present that poetry is not only about words, but about witnessing—ourselves, our stories, and the moments that make us who we are.
As LMNT Poetry wrapped up its 2024 season, Sean’s voice lingered like an echo—raw, rhythmic, and real. A fitting close to a year of verse, and a powerful reminder of why we gather to share in the beauty of the spoken word.
Congratulations to Sean Jesse—The Spotlight Verse poet of the night, and a shining voice in the ever-growing LMNT Poetry community.
Lukumi Arlota – Contributing Writer
Lukumi Arlota is a mental health advocate, black empowerment activist, public speaker, and business owner.
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