Many good things have occurred since my last blog. In July 2018, I entered a poetry contest sponsored by the United Poets Laureate International (UPLI). I entered the poem in my last blog, As I Rise, and it was awarded third place in the Free Verse category. My poem, Casualties of War, received third place in the Open Forum category. The highest honor was that my poem, My Best Friend, was awarded Best Overall in the Open Forum category. This…..
There are few things in life that can be as pure as the love we share with our significant other. Our ability to love is one of the greatest gifts God bestowed on us. This month marks fifteen years since my parents transitioned to their everlasting life with Our Lord. My father passed first and mother passed away eight days later in church a few minutes before his funeral was to begin. I remember watching what I later came to…..
To continue celebrating Women’s History Month, I am sharing a poem I wrote in 2000 that honors the strength, integrity and humanity women bring to the world. I believe that acknowledging and understanding our self-worth allows us to successfully face life’s challenges and achieve the goals we set. As I Rise I am the first breeze passing through the aroma of a Spring after-rain no longer encumbered by your misconception of my self-worth. I am a blazed trail sprouting…..
I am very fortunate that my late partner was from Trinidad. With her, I was able to visit a beautiful country filled with wonderful historical-based traditions and festive celebrations. I met people who knew how to enjoy life as well as welcome visitors in such manner that they would feel that Trinidad was also their home. As a way of thanking the many people from Trinidad and Tobago who liked my Reflections of the Heart Facebook page; I share a…..
I believe our ability to give love to others and accept love from others are two of the most precious gifts we received from God. Expressing your love for another and accepting that it is alright to love yourself are some of the most challenging and courageous responsibilities we face in life. In the poem Gospel of The Heart from my book Reflections of the Heart, I use waterfalls and rainbows to explain my vision of the beauty and power…..
Below is a poem from Reflections of the Heart, after reading it, please take a few moments to share your answers to the following questions: Do you remember when you truly understood what it means to be a child of God? How did that revelation make you feel? How has that revelation affected your life and those you hold close? Does my poem assist in remembering the benefits we enjoy as children of God? Thank you for taking…..
Dear Jeffrey, As you are about to experience your future, I will share some thoughts to help anchor your mind for the journey of life on which you are about to embark. Retain the integrity and honor your parents instilled in the forefront of all decisions you make and actions you take throughout life. Allow your faith and your parent’s lessons to guide you through the tough decisions you will have to make. The friendships you cultivate in college will…..
Today, I will share the backstory for writing the poem, No Time For The Blues, which earned me the title, 1999 Poet of the Year, from the International Society of Poets. I had been retired from the USAF about eight months and still adjusting to my transition to civilian life when the poem started to materialize in my thoughts. I grabbed a pen and pad and began writing about the different scenes that came to mind. I always write the…..
If you were given the opportunity to inspire and motivate others by sharing significant emotional events in your life, would you? That is the question I answered, yes, as I began developing Reflections of the Heart in 2007 just after publishing my fifth book poetry. It took another nine years before I believed it was ready for publication. I was given the gift of inspiring, encouraging and enlightening others through poetic thought. Therefore, I wanted to bring together a collection…..
I believe we are given a variety of gifts and talents in life. Whether we reject them or incorporate them into our life’s journey may define the level of our personal growth as well as the positive influence we have on others. I never imagined that I would be writing poetry and yet here I am six books and over 500 poems later I am still amazed that I write poetry. My first poem was written for my father when…..