Keisha Molby-Baez - Writing Through Fire, Healing Through Poetry

## When Poetry Becomes a Lifeline There are poets you remember long after you've read them. Keisha Molby-Baez—Coco—is one of those, not just for her words, but for the depth her writing holds. Keisha's poetry is genuine, rooted in truth, endurance, family, struggle, survival, strength, and love. Reading her work is stepping into lived experience, transformed and offered back with intention. She is a poet, author, illustrator, motivational speaker, workshop facilitator, community activist, veteran, mother, wife, chef, and above all, a passion-filled writer. Each role she has stepped into shapes her voice, which is dedicated to creating meaningful change. ## A Writer Who Turned Pain Into Purpose  What has always stood out to me about Keisha is how deeply connected her writing is to her healing journey. After being diagnosed with multiple diseases and facing the reality of being allergic to medications that could ease her pain, she had to find another way forward. And she did. Through poetry, discipline, and through mastering what she calls mind over matter. Her ability to transform pain into purpose is felt throughout her work. This philosophy inspired her to create the *Passion Filled Writers: Mind Over Matter Edition*, a workshop series that guides people in building mental safe spaces and turning daily negatives into lifelong positives. Her love of poetry is not surface-level. It is deeply personal. It is how she survives. ## Tears Laced With Fire: Where Survival Speaks  Her debut collection, *Tears Laced With Fire*, is one of those books that does not ask for your attention; it commands it through honesty. Each poem is a true story. Each piece reveals why her tears are “laced with fire” and how those very tears became the source of her survival. This collection takes you through her deepest thoughts, her inner feelings, and the realities of facing life-changing obstacles and health challenges that could break anyone emotionally, physically, and mentally. But what makes this book powerful is not just the pain; it is the perseverance woven into every line. > Some things seem obvious. The sun shines after the rain. The clouds will come again, and yet some days all else remains uncertain. Will my heart heal to end its pain and suffering? Tears Laced with Fire resolves to always know it’s here with great purpose; to inspire, uplift, and give a gift in owning its truth. This sets a precedent in serving to empower beyond self to all whose hand it lies at rest in. You are not alone. Thank you, Keisha Molby-Baez, for sharing your soul. You’re beautiful. You can feel her passion for writing in this work. You can feel how it keeps her grounded, keeps her moving, and how it keeps her filled with love even in the midst of struggle. ## A Little Bit of Sugar: Choosing Love in the Middle of It All  If *Tears Laced With Fire* introduces us to her trials, then *A Little Bit of Sugar* shows us how she continues to live through them. This collection reflects how Keisha copes with her ongoing challenges, her health journey, and the emotional weight that comes with both. But it also highlights something just as important, the sweetness she intentionally creates in her life. > This book was phenomenal! The author takes you into the innermost depths of her heart, mind, and soul, and reminds us that Love is the greatest medicine there IS. I finished the book wanting more, and was so inspired by the words that were pinned. Five stars, and a highly recommended read if you need a 'bit of sugar' in your life! This is the book where you see her balance. Where you see her choosing love, choosing joy, and finding light even when life feels heavy. She reminds us that healing is not about escaping hardship; it is about learning how to live with it, grow through it, and still find moments of peace within it. ## Building Community Through Poetry and Workshops Keisha's work does not stop at the page. What she has built through her workshops and community efforts is just as impactful as what she writes. Through her *Passion Filled Writers: Mind Over Matter Edition*, Keisha Molby-Baez has created workshops rooted in a clear and powerful purpose: to help people transform their inner world. These spaces are designed to guide individuals in processing their emotions, understanding their experiences, and reshaping the way they respond to life's challenges. Through writing, participants learn to build mental and emotional safe spaces, equipping them with the tools to turn pain into perspective and daily struggles into personal strength. She encourages participants to turn their daily negatives into lifelong positives, guiding them through writing, drawing, and open dialogue. Her workshops bring people from different backgrounds together, allowing them to share their values, perspectives, and stories, fostering understanding and connection. In addition to her workshops, she has curated and hosted poetry events through her platform, *Coco’s Delight Poetry Showcase*, creating opportunities for both emerging and established voices to be heard. Her presence in the spoken word community has always been rooted in inclusivity, intention, and love. ## Recognition, Features, and Presence in the Spoken Word Community  While Keisha's work is deeply grassroots, her impact has not gone unnoticed. She has been **nominated for a Pushcart Prize**, a recognition that speaks to the literary weight of her writing. Her poetry has been featured in literary publications such as *Mom Egg Review* and in multiple anthologies like *Inside The Panic Room*. Her readings and showcases throughout the New York poetry scene are still highly discussed. Whether performing, hosting, or supporting, she has consistently shown up for the culture. What stands out most is not just where she has been featured, but how intentionally she cultivates community within those spaces. She shows up not only as a performer but as someone committed to building and nurturing environments where others can grow, share, and be heard. By creating platforms for fellow artists, she ensures that poetry remains accessible, collaborative, and rooted in connection, allowing the culture to thrive beyond any single voice. Even as she has moved from The Bronx to Florida, her connection to the New York poetry community remains active, and her presence will always be beloved. Her voice, her work, and her presence continue to resonate beyond geography. ## What Readers Receive From Her Work Keisha writes with the intention to give. She shares everything because she has experienced so much, and she understands that someone, somewhere, needs to know they are not alone. Her poetry offers readers a place to land. A place where emotions are valid, where pain is acknowledged, and where healing feels possible. There is something deeply affirming about her work. People are drawn to it because it is real, and they stay because they find pieces of their own story reflected to them. Within her lines, there is a kind of healing that does not feel forced. It feels lived. It feels earned. And that matters. ## Why Her Books Belong in Your Hands  There are books you read and move on from, and then there are books that stay with you, that speak to you at different stages of your life. Keisha's work falls into the latter. Supporting her books means supporting a writer who is not just creating for the sake of art, but for the sake of impact. It means investing in stories that are rooted in truth and delivered with purpose. Her books are for anyone navigating pain, searching for strength, or learning how to hold both struggle and joy at the same time. They are reminders that even in the most difficult seasons, there is still something within us worth nurturing. ## Final Thoughts: Poetry as a Healing Resource Keisha Molby-Baez's work is more than poetry; it is a healing resource. What she offers through her writing is something that cannot be taught in a traditional sense. It is the ability to sit with your truth, to face it, to process it, and to transform it into something that helps. Her journey shows us that healing is not about having all the answers. It is about continuing, even when things feel uncertain. It is about finding your own way to carry what life has given you. And through her words, she permits others to do the same. No matter where someone is on their journey, there is something in Keisha's work for them. Whether they are just beginning to process their pain or learning how to live alongside it, her poetry meets them where they are. Because at its core, her work reminds us of this: * We are allowed to heal. * We are allowed to grow. * And we are never alone in the process. To find Keisha Molby-Baez's poetry books, click [here](http://www.cocosdelight.com/). To stay connected to her for inspiration and daily affirmations, visit her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cocosdelight_1111/).