Excerpt

We as humans are prone to live our lives seeking to define our mission, name, and purpose. However, too often this pursuit turns out to be a failed attempt. The reason for this is we must first accept ourselves and most of us never do. What I mean by this is we too often buy into the opinion, self-image, and ideas of others about who we are and what we should be rather than evolving into the person we were meant to be. Through self-acceptance we love who we are and discover why we are. Passover the Brink: A Book of Poems is a reference, a book to aid you in self-discovery and it is a positive affirmation in assisting you in fulfilling your dreams. As a Christian I believe the Creator made us free moral agents to choose what ambitions or aspirations we want to achieve. However, we are too easily influenced by group think to become less than our complete self. Once we learn to become independent thinkers we can and will achieve greater goals. Self-fulfillment is only accomplished when you know your purpose and complete it. The poem entitled The CocoonMy Renaissance is a poem that captures the moment of glory that occurs when you embrace yourself and cherish being you. Here are the words:

The CocoonMy Renaissance

Inside my chamber I am in a steady motion
I spin
Cares swirl about me.

My face is masked
All of my ideas have splattered upon my body as paint on a canvas.
I am layered from my lifestyle and my internal- emerging soul that reveals who and what I shall become.
My hands and feet have become motionless;
I bend to the wants and needs
I own to owe- my heart bleeds.

I remove the shell and protrude as a new me,
a genius of someone greater than I knew before.
I am Confident.
I cry aloud and spare not.
I have wings!
I am Beautiful; my soul dignifies my body!
I am Spiritual; my mind considers my Creator as the One Source of Life.
I have Poise,
I have Purpose; I am a true creation of Light!



In light of self-discovery embracing your culture is a means to an end. In other words, self-discovery is being content in your own skin. Once you know your heritage and appreciate it, you can then be understanding and open to others of another heritage. I believe the children are our future and when they have a positive perspective about themselves we have empowered a generation to empower themselves. In the poem entitled Mama Frans African Heritage Affirmation poem for children I place emphasis on the youth of African descent (like myself) knowing who they are and their ancestry as the precursor to knowing their self-worth and their destiny. Here are the words:

Mama Frans African Heritage Affirmation poem for children
(Recite to the tune of Im in the Lords Army!)

My Ancestors lived in Africa,
reigned in Africa,
built pyramids in Africa,
My Ancestors embraced Mother Africa; I am an African, Ash.

I am an African Ash.
I am an African Ash.
I will ever celebrate Africa for I am an African, Ash.

My Ancestors overcame adversity,
persevered through slavery,
fought and died for liberty,
My Ancestors are my legacy; I am an African, Ash.

I am an African Ash.
I am an African Ash.
I will ever celebrate Africa for I am an African, Ash.



The signature poem of the book is the theme. I define passing over the brink as becoming you, by being an independent thinker void of group think. In the poem entitled: Beyond the Brink, readers are granted insight into the key elements of living well: being the who you were created to be without apologizing for doing so. Here are the words:

Beyond the Brink

To think beyond group think,
to envision success;
to saddle it like a horse and to reside in its concourse,
Beyond the Brink is where I- must- think.
It is a territory
where wise people greet and meet to be discreet.
Beyond the Brink means to be refined,
to live beyond the shadows that the deceased left behind;
to be who you were meant to be by innate design.
Beyond the Brink is the one true ascent and upward climb.
To study your craft and to master it;
to make well your goings by purpose,
and to void all futile investments,
is the absolute link: Beyond the Brink.