Announcements, Book Announcements, poetry, writing

Ladder to the Top – Elizabeth O. Ogunmodede

Photo by Ricardo Esquivel on Pexels.com

I am blown away! Recently, we recently published 14 year old poet and writer Elizabeth O. Ogunmodede’s books “Ladder to the Top.” When I decided to publish Ogunmodede’s book I already knew about her exemplary writing skills. I also knew she is an up and coming video and graphics designer, who is always out creating me. But…that’s an aside. What I want to tell you is what a pleasure it has been to work with this young woman and help her realize her dreams.

Ogunmodede is a package deal. She comes into her talent naturally by the influence if her father, Richard. He reads and provides thoughtful feedback, but always leaves the final say to his daughter. Ogunmodede will tell you that he is her number one supporter. Her father is a writer, as well, also published.

When I read the manuscript for “Ladder to the Top” it was treated just like any other manuscript I read. There was no special privilege given for age. The truth of the matter is that I would not know this manuscript was written by someone younger than an adult. This author paid attention to her mentors, her coaches, her teachers…

When it came to editing, this manuscript was one of the easiest manuscripts to review. This writer knows what she is doing. And she is working on another manuscript. No dust settles on this young lady’s shoes.

Well, here comes the big announcement: On Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 1 p.m. EST we are having a Book Launch for Elizabeth O. Ogunmodede’s books and you are invited. Here is the Event Brite information. We hope to see you there. And, by the way, I am also sharing the podcast video we recorded recently. How about that!

Announcements, Book Announcements, non-fiction, poetry, Poets & Events

She Did It! Have a look & listen to the video – this was so much fun!

It is with great pleasure that we announce the release of Two Time-International Best-Selling Author Zaneta Varnado Johns latest book of poetry “After the Rainbow: Golden Poems.” A celebration was held on Sunday, February 27 at 4 p.m. EST

If you would like an autographed copy you can purchase on ZanExpressions

Also, for sale on many online stores. Barnes & Noble Amazon

Prolific Pulse Zan Johns Page

poetry

Treasures of Life

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Art Work by Kayla

Treasures of Life

Folklore and such regard the number 13 as cursed but I say it’s not.
Have you ever found anything justify this to be true?
We had to write an essay about Friday the 13th and this was a mystery.
My baby brother was born five years after me; Mom bought him a t-shirt with the number 13, so there you go.
He was never less than anybody.
He was my heartbeat and each day with him was a treasure.

May I tell you about this boy I treasure?
When he was born, they gave me a choice to go to kindergarten or not.
I made the best choice of anybody.
The thought of having my little baby brother all to myself brought me such joy.
Nowhere was where I wanted to go.
Why anybody would not want such pleasure would be a mystery.

Something happened after my baby brother was born and it is a mystery.
While it was one of those unknowns of nature, it only made us realize that life is a treasure.
He had to have an operation to survive and give life a go.
There never was a negative, doubt or belief in the word of: not.
We all celebrated this precious boy, brought to this world to bring us such joy.
We would have loved if he didn’t have challenges, not to be wished on anybody.

All I knew is that I was as fortunate as anybody.
Although it would remain for us to solve the mystery.
It was important to celebrate each joy.
You learn just how much to treasure.
And deny those things which mean not.
For all the things that give you the go, go, go.

Mother had limits on how she could go.
She did not want to trouble anybody.
Complain, never one time did she, not.
Somehow it all worked like a mystery.
She taught us to care for children was a treasure.
She sang when she cleaned house, keeping time with her flip flops, such joy.

They taught us that life and children brought joy.
We learned that if we wanted to be somewhere, we had to find a way to go.
To have a soul in our hands was a treasure.
We were role modeled not to complain or brag about our lives to anybody.
To live is to accept that life has many a mystery.
And to give up on life is a great big not.

To treasure your life is to know perfect joy.
To never hear not is to know it’s all a great go.
If you ask me now if I could ever love anybody I can tell you that love is a mystery.

—–

Today’s National Poetry Month prompt is from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides: for today’s prompt, write a lucky number poem. Some people have lucky numbers, some don’t. Wherever you fall on the lucky number spectrum, you can still write a poem about the phenomenon of lucky numbers and/or luck in general.

Inspired by Aruna Murumurthy and her lovely book of Sestina Poetry: Puppet Dolls, having participated in her Sestina workshop, I am trying to pen my first Sestina. To learn about Sestina you can go to Poetry Foundation or to Poetic Asides Each site has a slightly different point of view about the Sestina.