Poem: In Preparation

In Preparation

By: Joi Maree Brown

Goodbye was never said

To confirm our end

Only the ticking of time's ending drawing near to our final seconds together

We questioned not

Because we understood

The reason

That forever was never meant for us

Just the moments that we created with each other

And the lessons we learned 

That prepared us for 

The love destined for us to have 

With others

And not each other

Poem: Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning

By: Joi Maree Brown

Early sounds of laughter filled with joy

Surprised faces of little girls and boys

Admiration of Fathers and Mothers

As they watch their young open their gifts

Waffles

Eggs

Bacon

And grits

Breakfast is served

Prayer is said

Followed by

Amen

Songs of the season in recognition of this day

Play on the background

Moments captured by photographed

To be placed in memory's album

On this early

Christmas morning

Poem: The I That I Am

The I That I Am

By: Joi Maree Brown

I rise when uplifted

I fall when I break

I cry when I am hurt

I laugh when I am tickled

I live life

One day at a time

I plan for tomorrow

Even though into it I am not sure if I'll arrive

I thank my past

For delivering me to my present

I am thankful just to be

Anything else added I count it as a blessing

At times

I judge others

Although it's wrong

I criticize others

But hate when they criticize me

I am not perfect

So don't expect me to be

I am me

Not you nor they

And me

Is who I can only be

I despise liars

I really do

Although at times

I have been guilty of being one too

I like to help others

Without receiving a reward

My joy is in giving

And am content if my name to it is written as unknown

At times

I act on my heart

Instead of thinking with my mind

Which has cause me to get

Hurt

More than a few times

I love myself

Though it took some time

I truly do love me whether or not someone else does

I am becoming

As I have already been

Better than my yesterdays

A day away from my greatness

I am I

Poem: No Return Home Yet

No Return Home Yet

By: Joi Maree Brown

I want to go home

But it hasn't called me to come back

Been walking the same path

Back and forth

Forth and back

Looking

And

Searching

For the reason

Of the meaning

Of the purpose

Of why I first left

But it doesn't seem my way of thinking was correct at the time

When I made the choice to go

My way never seems to go right

I should have listened to that soft voice of reason

When it told me to be still

But instead I rebelled and moved

Now I'm stuck in the middle of the circle

I formed in my travels

And must stop and be still

And pray

As I am ready to now listen to God's Voice

And abide by His instructions

If it is not too late

For with His lead

Home won't seem so far away to return to