Brampton-based emerging poet Toks Ayinla aims to empower youth in her short vignettes

For the fifth edition of Poetic License, we decided to celebrate short poems from poets across Canada. In these illustrated videos, you will hear from emerging talent, award-winning poets and poets laureate, plus the three Canadians on the Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist — the world's largest international prize for a first-edition single collection of poetry written in or translated into English.

Brampton, Ont.-based emerging poet Fatimat "Toks" Ayinla is a poet and speaker with a focus on empowering youth and millennials through her work. Her debut book of poetry, Through my Brown Eyes, is a collection of short vignettes about life, love, Nigerian culture and self. She also hosts a weekly show called the Toks Talks Podcast, featuring interviews about business, relationships and personal development.

Listen to Toks Ayinla perform Best Hopes in the video above and read the poem below.

Best Hopes

I want a life
that will move me to tears
because my passion and purpose
have connected so effortlessly
so tightly
that I overflow with greatness

See more from Poetic License.