strange & dark waters

I recently saw a writing prompt that asked, “This year, what are you grateful for?” I had actually written something on gratitude a few years ago; I revised it just slightly to read…

the first breath I am gifted each morning 

signaling a new day of my life has begun.

the music of morning whispering in my ears, 

lifting me on to my path for the day regardless 

of the uncertainty outside my door.

the thoughts waking up in my meditative mind 

that eventually find their way to paper. 

the pulse of abundant creativity rushing through my soul,

allowing a new, more relevant voice to emerge.

the benevolence, love and genuine concern for others 

that lives in my spirit no matter what is going on in the world.

As we continue to navigate strange and dark waters, add some gratitude to your compass. Now more than ever…

keep your peepers open! 

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souls of BLACK folks

I was 10 during the riots of ’68. We lived just one town over from Plainfield, NJ, close enough to hear the unrest, the sounds of gunfire, to see the sky lit up from blazing fires. I wedged myself between my bed and the wall each night, wondering when and if rage would cross the bridge, descend into the park and arrive at our cul-de-sac of seven homes, all but one occupied by Black families. Fearful that our homes would be destroyed, not knowing  if a bullet might come through the window, night would sometimes turn into a day when sleep depravation silenced my anxiety. Though our block went untouched and life moved on, a part of me never got back in my bed. 

My full essay, souls of BLACK folks, can be found on the online blog published by SOLSTICE, a (literary) magazine of diverse voices.

In the words of John Lewis, find some “good trouble” to get into; stay safe, stay informed and…

keep your peepers open!

https://solsticelitmag.org/blog/souls-of-black-folks/

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #wearewomenwriting #blackwomenwriting #photographer #photo #photograph #equityforall #photography#outdoorphotograph #GeorgeFloyd #icantbreathe #BLM #enoughisenough #justice #equity #socialconscious #goodtrouble #johnlewis