Lisa Ann Bailey
The Poetry Diary of One Black Woman is a collection of poetry expressing the author's personal introspection on the dilemmas within society, the black community and the criminal justice system.
Several poems in this collection have been previously published: 'Thank you' The Afro Times Newspaper Brooklyn, N.Y.. 'My Mind' The Poetry Guild anthology Poetic Spirit. 'Stop Thief' The National Library of Poetry anthology Last Good-Byes. 'The Depression' The International Library of Poetry anthology The Luminescent Night. 'Liar' The International Library of Poetry's forthcoming anthology. 'Stop Thief', 'The Depression' and 'Liar' are also recorded on The International Library of Poetry cassette tapes The Sound of Poetry.
Lisa Ann Bailey was born and raised in Queens, New York. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, N.Y., and received her B.S. in Criminal Justice in 1987. She has been employed as a civil servant within the criminal justice system in New York City for eleven years. As a black woman facing the blatant reality of the dilemmas within society, the black community and the criminal justice system, she began writing poetry to bring the problems to light and to build strength and self esteem. She is a distinguished member of the International Society of Poets and is the recipient of two Editor's Choice Awards from the International Library of Poetry.
MY MIND
My mind is hungry.
My mind is thirsty.
I need to feed my mind.
I get desperate and depressed.
Power surges of my imagination
help me to cope.
Then I am lifted.
But reality sets in
and I plummet to Earth.
I think I know me.
I can take care of me.
But I need help.
My mind needs food.
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My mind needs nourishment.
THANKYOU
Thankyou
My image, my idol,
my mother, my sister
my role model.
For bearing the weather of the storm at hand.
For holding, pushing, striving and praying.
For building a foundation with little help from your man.
For teaching the children, not leaving, but staving.
For facing the music,
the hatred, the scorn.
For wanting respect from those who abused it.
For taking care of the children from the day they were born
When I was a child looking for direction.
You believed in me and my dream.
Giving me inspiration and hope.
There are no words for what I really mean,
Your strength helped me to keep going.
Moving on, moving trough, moving higher.
Working day and night for my food and clothing.
Picking me up when you were tired.
Forever I will cherish your nurturing.
Holdfast to your guidance.
Utilize your teachings.
To become self reliant.
Thankyou for thinking of me.
For making the road more smooth.
For building an image on strength and endurance.
Causing me to believe I can do anything I choose.
