JOY! Another Book of Poetry

Love - the word describing a thing everybody wants!

Joy - a word describing what love brings!

Hate, distrust, and uncertainty permeate today's society. Regrettably, the three are seen as acceptable behavior by many!

I cannot lie; hate, distrust, and uncertainty have infiltrated my poetry. But, at the close of 2023, I had made a conscious decision for my writing going forward to contain more joy because containing only joy was neither a reality nor an option!

JOY! Another Book of Poetry was written with a commitment to pursue and find JOY! in every facet of my life. While I may not be able to affect JOY into others' lives, I know I have control to affect JOY into my own.

When I started composing poems for this book, I resolved ...

• to move forward with words of positivity!
• to resist the temptation of negativity in my thoughts and in my deeds!
• to surround myself with positive people!
• to find joy and honor the truth!
• to find joy and make lemonade out of lemons even in the most negative of situations!
• to make decisions based on my thoughts and research, not the thoughts and research of others!
• to not allow others to steal or derail my joy!
• to be a better person in this year of my celebrating 70 revolutions around the sun!

The inclusion of INSPIRATIONS is an outcome of my reading "THE 1619 PROJECT." For those unfamiliar with 1619, each chapter is preceded by a poem or work of fiction which hints at the succeeding historical and fact-filled text. I liked the concept and decided to incorporate INSPIRATIONS, which provide insight into the thoughts and observations which led me to writing the subsequent poems.

Those familiar with my writing, know I consider my poems and books to be my literary children. Like most loving and caring parents, I occasionally "correct" or edit them. I AM HERE BECAUSE ... was first written in 2008 as a √ off of my bucket list. It was intended to be an illustrated historical fiction about slavery for young children. Seven-years later, the poem - still unpublished - was edited for older readers and published, without illustrations, in my fourth literary child, "KEEPING IT REAL!" (c)2015.

After "speed-dating" with a literary agent at the inaugural Women & Words (March 2024) event held at New York's Penguin/RandomHouse/StoreHouse in a Box, I AM HERE BECAUSE ... was edited again for teen and adult readers. However, it still maintains youthful elements for those wishing to kick-off discussions of slavery with young readers.

"Reaching and teaching through poetry!"

Embrace and share my ... Joy!