For fifth-year student Tanesha Douglas, poetry isn’t simply rhythm and rhyme; it is a spiritual expression of her innermost being.

And Douglas has decided to share her intimate writings by publishing a book of poetry called “Old vs. New: The Chronicles of Growth.”

The book is divided into two sections: the first section follows Douglas’s poetic expression from the time she started writing at age seven until her freshman year at the University; the second gives insight into her growth as a poet from November 2008 to February 2009.

Douglas received the idea of creating a book of poetry, or “chap book” as she called it, from her mentor who had achieved the goal herself.

“I wanted to do an intro publication [showing] what I used to do when I was younger and now when I’m older,” Douglas said.

As her book illustrates, Douglas’s love for poetry goes back to her childhood, when she used writing as a personal outlet.

“I was an only child,” Douglas said. “My family moved around a lot ,and I never made consistent friends. I just needed to write to vent my problems and feelings.”

Douglas, who went through stages of depression during adolescence and survived a suicide attempt, was once a rapper signed under Animosity Records. After deciding the hip-hop industry was not for her, she turned to writing poetry.

But her style as a rapper occasionally resurfaces as she recites poetry.

“When I’m excited, people can tell by my gestures and how I perform that I used to be a rapper,” she said. “I never really just sit down and write. Most of [my poems] come straight off my head.”

Douglas writes poetry based off of her life experiences but also finds inspiration through other artists.

“I’m really heavy on this group called ‘We Are The Unreal.’ I’ve been listening to this CD all day, every day, lately,” she said, adding that her inspiration has changed over time as she has met new poets.

Douglas explained how she had to overcome several challenges when she decided to publish her poetry. She particularly struggled with letting readers in on her personal triumphs and tragedies, she said.

“To put the limelight on that part of my life and expose it to the world, worrying about how they will judge it, accept it .that’s what brings about that level of vulnerability,” Douglas said.

But Douglas said the struggle was worth it – she has sold more than 200 copies of her book and has received positive reactions from many readers, including University students.

“People can take my story and my feelings and be inspired to do what they are doing and realize that life isn’t over even when you are going through things,” she said.

Douglas has performed her poetry at the Apache Café in Atlanta and various other venues including several state universities.

She calls her on-stage experiences her “15 minutes of heaven” and hopes to turn her passion for poetry into a long-term career.

Though enrolled in the University as a Health Promotion and Behavior major, Douglas entertains ideas of opening her own poetry café.

“It’s something I want to keep doing and maybe it will turn into a career so I can be a full-time poet,” she said.

“Performing across the world and sharing my poems . that’s the goal.”