DENISE KINGDOM GRIER

WHAT IS YOUR ADOPTION EXPERIENCE?

My mother died when I was born. I spent my first five years in foster care and was officially adopted at 7. I have been a foster parent and even foster /adoption worker for three years.  

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HOW HAS THE ADOPTION EXPERIENCE AFFECTED YOUR POETRY?

Even as an adult there lingers a longing and question that I can only locate in my identity as an orphan. I often write from that place. 

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PLEASE SHARE A SAMPLE POEM(S) ADDRESSING (IN PART) ADOPTION:

For Waiting Children

Why am I hanging still---on---

Hanging singing that same ole song

from the days of love long gone

momma, daddy-- so shady

for the love of and want of the like of me--maybe

so here i am just hanging on

To love as a thought as a concept

sometimes touch and hug and nothing less

than second or third

i heard

 you look at self and your wealth

and your own health 

while I still hang

out the window of hope do you see me dangling

umbilical cord I'm wrangling

away from my neck like a rope

choking like smoke

my throat my soul

fingertip and heart string cold 

from hanging here

waiting to be chosen

thawed un frozen

by hands, blood, veins

the change from smiling grinning

pretending--

with you prophesying and lying

trying to wax eloquent 

when God really sent you to

to repent--

for leaving me hanging

still.  

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ABOUT THE POET:

Rev. Denise Kingdom Grier is a native of New York City.  Her mother, a single parent, died shortly after giving birth, leaving both Denise and her older brother permanent wards of the New York City court.  She spent five years in foster care after which time she was adopted by a childless couple. Rev. Grier moved to North Carolina as a teen and endured many emotional struggles, which fueled her desire to help struggling children.  She went on to attend Shaw University in Raleigh, NC where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Shortly after graduating from college she worked as a Habilitation Technician for children with severe disabilities.  She later went on to become a Housing Supervisor and Case Manager for homeless women and children.  In 1998 she moved to Michigan where she was a child welfare specialist at Bethany Christian Services in Holland. Her job included foster care, adoptions, licensing, foster parent training and post adoption support services. Since leaving Bethany she has completed her Master of Divinity and has been ordained and installed as senior pastor at Maple Avenue Church and Ministries in Holland, MI.

Denise and her husband Chris are licensed foster parents with the state of Michigan where they specialize in older children and permanent state wards.  In their thirteen years of marriage they have parented 13 children ,most of which were non-foster care placements. Denise is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., a mentor and community advocate for parents and children, as well as the biological mother of two biological children ages 6 and 9.