Simplicity of Words

As a child, I was inspired by my mother to express my thoughts and feelings through
poetry. Over the years, this was a deeply personal practice, resulting in 52 poems in
11 unpublished collections. The decision to publish was a professional one, following
a publishing course with GBP after becoming a first-time author with another
company. Through that training and with encouragement from Sush, one of the
founders of GBP, I was inspired to revisit my lifetime of work. It was in compiling 365
of these poems that the vision for Simplicity of Words was born, offering a collection
that brings together years of personal and spiritual contemplation.

Ultimately, I hope readers gain a sense of quiet strength and delight from this book.
My goal is for the poems to be more than just words on a page, but a tool for
personal, mental, physical, and spiritual contemplation. Through simple and
accessible forms, readers will be invited to become active co-creators of meaning,
tailoring each reflection to their own journey. For those who may feel intimidated by
more complex poetic forms, this book offers a welcoming entry point into the world of
thoughtful verse. In turn, I hope it offers a renewed sense of hope, insight, and
inspiration for everyone.

The unique quotient for Simplicity of Words is its role as a poetry collection designed
to be a daily companion, offering a distinct and enriching experience to uplift the
soul. It’s more than just a poetry book; it’s a companion offering “Poems to Pause,
Reflect, and Feel,” designed to provide support on their personal journey.

Becoming an author was not the initial goal; rather, it has become a powerful way to
serve my ultimate purpose. All of my writing, both published and unpublished, is
driven by two main objectives: first, to generate revenue in support of our children
and youth nonprofit, Ebony Sonshine, Inc.; and second, to leave behind a legacy of
work that creates meaningful impact in people’s lives. In this way, authorship has
allowed me to turn my lifelong passion for writing into a tangible asset for a cause I
deeply believe in.

My future plans as an author focus on continuing the work I have already begun. I
am currently working on finishing Volume 2 of my Twenty-One Days of Spiritual
Meditations, which will include books 3 and 4. I also plan to continue my ongoing
project of writing collections of 52 poems, with my 12th collection currently in
progress. My goal is to continue using my writing to serve my deeper mission and
support Ebony Sonshine Inc.

What I learned from writing Simplicity of Words:

1. That everyone has challenges in life, thus we are not alone in our
challenges: Through the process of writing honestly about my own
thoughts and reflections, I came to a powerful realization that everyone
faces personal challenges. This book taught me that vulnerability can create
a sense of shared humanity and that we can all find some comfort in our
common experiences.

2. To quiet my mind and tune into my own inner thoughts, feeling, and
relationship: The writing and compilation of these poems was a meditative
practice in itself. It taught me to find inner peace when things became rocky
and challenging. This process became a pathway to greater self-awareness
and understanding.

3. To overcome my own poetry creative fear within my head: Writing can
be an intimidating and vulnerable act. This project helped me move past the
fear of the unknown that I held about my writing of poems. By committing to
the project, I learned to trust my instincts and embrace my creative voice in
this poetry world.