Cause ima poet, im forever lookin for profound, unusual, and breathtakingly beautiful ways to use words and so as the first part of this sentence illustrates, I am constantly exploring, playing with, bending and shaping words to communicate in new and “mo” better ways. The seasons of summer and autumn stimulate my creativity the most. I bask in golden summer days, and enjoying writing outside in the natural light until almost 9 p.m. Vibrant colored autumn with its cool self settles contentment in my bones. I set my heart to deeply enjoy this summer and autumn in particular because I knew way back in January that this was going to be a "tough tittie" year. I began the arduous tussle at the beginning of 2010 by making a vow that this year would be a breakthrough year. I would break through procrastination, hindrances, disappointments, and any one and anything keeping me from fulfilling my God given destiny in my personal life, my poetry and my ministry to children. Readers, you know when you make a declaration like that to yourself; you are in for a fight. On the one hand, it is as if everything evil in the universe moves against you. You slap back with scripture, reach deep down for strong character, dust off integrity and repeat to yourself, "Black women stand, Black women stand, and we only run when we know where we are running." There have been a few times over the past months, when I imagined myself running hard from Madison and my current circumstances to anywhere warm in the world and to peaceful creativity. I envisioned myself running during the day and I dreamt of myself running during the night. After all, I didn't win the HGTV Green Home again. Can you believe it? After faithfully entering the competition, longing for a home that was green inside and out, I wasn't chosen to write poetry on that gorgeous chaise lounge inside, or to compose on that lovely swing outside. I can still hear the squeak of the swing going back and forth in the East coast breeze with several sheets of my poetry fluttering. Never-the-less, I am wrapping myself in the light of summer with eyes that look forward to the deep colored autumn. I am writing from another place in my life, the freedom to be happy in the ways that I need. I am writing with the sure understanding that although I have suffered through dry times and drier people, I have broken through that suffering into refreshed, replenished health of spirit, mind, body and soul. I am riding my poetry through the last four months of 2010 into a glorious, new future. More testifying in October!

This blog changes quarterly. See you in October.