Poems of the Fire

The campfire that started on November 8, 2018, burned the town of Paradise, California. It was California’s deadliest forest fire, leaving thousands of people homeless with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Not only did it destroy my home, but most of my town. I escaped with my life, and that is what inspired my poems. These poems helped me to express my feelings deeply on paper.

There were so many people trying to leave town at the same time, and it was bumper to bumper. The fire was moving so fast that several people were burned in their cars. People were abandoning their cars and running down the street on foot. This fire brought many people closer together than ever before. We all had to start over again with nothing.

The reason you are reading these poems is that I woke up much earlier than usual on the morning of the fire and wandered down the hall to the kitchen. The clock said 7:00 am, and I never get up that early. I felt so good I decided to stay up, make some coffee, and enjoy the early morning, which I never do. When the phone rang, the voice on the other end said to ‘Evacuate now!’ These poems will take you on a journey as I found new hope and a new beginning. I hope you enjoy what I have composed.

Poem

Meet Fantasia, a small-town girl born in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 15th, 1986. She has found solace in writing, which has helped her cope with a lifetime of trauma. In this collection of poems, she shares her innermost thoughts and feelings, touching on topics that will leave you wondering and inspired.

With her powerful words, Fantasia speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves, conveying the importance of speaking the truth and finding the courage to express oneself. She reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay and encourages us to take a moment to reflect on our day, step back, and take a deep breath. Ultimately, she encourages us to trust in God, who knows when to shine a light on our darkest days.

Whether you’re looking for comfort or inspiration, Fantasia’s poetry will help you find the words you need to express yourself and face life’s challenges with renewed strength and courage.

Please, Adopt Me, America

Please, Adopt Me, America is an enlightening conversation about oppression, disruption, and dispossession. Starting with the personal and corporate struggle for the space of freedom and survival, the author/poet weaves her akuko iho, or enlightening conversations through the fast-changing terrains entwined with the harrowing landscapes.

From personal life to corporate experiences, to the scalding landmarks of history, the author and poet breaks away from her ‘foster’ country, Nigeria, to merge with her people and ancestors who are a vital part of America. Proclaiming her right to reject the raging ‘japa’ syndrome as an all-comers affair, she reveals a veiled tapestry of dark histories and decapitating politics. She embodies the spirit of cultural renaissance and freedom, rolling on wheels of hope to a land of promise. Please, Adopt Me, America, is a touching, penetrating perspective on the deep struggles of finding one’s own space in life – Of leaving home to find it!

Pins and Roses

Autumn Seeley’s debut collection of poetry, Pins and Roses, is a deeply moving and heartfelt work that captures the raw and intense emotions of the human experience. With a deft touch, Seeley explores themes of triumph and understanding, evoking powerful feelings of connection and empathy in her readers. Whether you are a longtime fan of poetry or simply looking for a powerful and inspiring read, Pins and Roses is a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the complex emotions that define our lives. With its breathtakingly beautiful language and profound insights into the human heart, this collection is sure to resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Perfectly Placed

This is a collection of poems and journal entries written over the span of seven years that tell most of the story of some of Michael’s most formative years. After trying to grieve the loss of his best friend, deal with the addictions his mother suffers, as well as navigating many young love romances, Michael, turns to his old journals and starts collecting the poetry he’s written.

For the sake of clarity, the Him parts are written to be about one great love but he is made of a combination of many. Despite promising himself to be the one to break his family’s generational legacy of trauma and addiction, while alone at a low point, he disappoints himself and proves himself wrong.

Michael must now build himself back up from the ground before the dirt can fill his grave with him in it. He must remind himself that everything happens for a reason and that there is no such thing as the wrong person, place, or time because all of those things made him who he is.

Out Of My Skin

A collection of poetry for the artists, the hopeless romantics, the philosophers, the hurt and the healing, the dreamers, the wild and the timid. An alternative and edgy collection sure to keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat for what’s next to come. Each poem is unique and designed with all of the senses in mind to give you an escape to a new world all your own. Poetry that pushes the bounds of the cosmos, and with fierce intensity all while flirting with whimsy. Each verse its own adventure with its own story however you choose to interpret. Inspirational and endearing, honest and bold. Whether you need a little pick me up, or someone to relate to, a friend, a dream, or just a little magic, this book will be right for you. Take my hand and open the page; adventure awaits. With lots of love from my soul to yours.

Of the Sun Fire

Moonlight glints and winks with a soft hum as girls in soft satin dresses dance around the fire. I can taste notes of empty forests and flowers smeared with blood on my tongue. Different reasons of their betrayal plague my mind. I opt to scream inward and swallow the lump in my throat. I see the candles lighting the wooden staircases of the haunted castle as I step in. The sight reminds me of when I was a child and held bears made of cotton tightly out of fear when I was left alone. I look down at my feet to see pictures of old loved ones crushed under them like worthless blossoms. Do I feel happy? Sad? Gloomy? Maybe all of them at once. I guess that’s the life of a dandelion girl.

The poems and pictures in this book represent the struggles I felt as an outcast and how I learned to find an exit for myself in the wonders of the world. I tried to capture the feeling of being rejected and later accepted into a new world in the poems and pictures I gathered. I hope people with similar experiences can read my book and feel a little less alone than they did before. I hope they realize things will get better. Your wings of fire will emerge.

Not My Life's Story

Not My Life’s Story is a poignant anthology of poetry, capturing the essence of transition from the brink of childhood through the turbulence of teenage years to the thresholds of young adulthood. Crafted over several years, this collection is an emotive journey, not bound by chronology, but rather woven through the myriad experiences and milestones that define growing up.

Within these pages, the poems traverse a diverse landscape of themes. They delve into the profound and often challenging process of coming out, the bewildering onset of puberty, and the complex feelings surrounding body image and dysmorphia. Relationships, in their many forms, are explored with raw honesty, alongside the poignant experience of leaving home and stepping into the unknown.

No Lost Tears

This collection offers an intimate glimpse into a life weathered by adversity yet renewed by purpose. The candid verses inside reflect the mind and heart of a writer who has suffered yet chooses to share the lessons and hope gleaned along the way.

With grit-edged honesty and tenderness, the poems mine the profound human experiences that forge us: love and loss, joy and grief. They chronicle the search for meaning amidst the hellish trials of life, while celebrating the saving graces of beauty, redemption, healing.

My Mistakes and You

She grew up with a desire for her words to be read, unconcerned about whether others could relate to what she had to say.

She yearned to pour out her soul, even if it meant her cup would overflow.

She sought acceptance despite her flaws and mistakes.

Her words were written in the hope that others would understand the reasons behind her tears, which gave birth to rivers and lakes.

This book is for those who do understand.

Here is My Mistake and You.

Mustard Earring

In Mustard Earring, emotions and logic intertwine as the book delves into the themes of personal values, inner struggles, anxieties, and unfortunate circumstances. While the narrative primarily takes place in the past, it also sheds light on hidden truths and realities, making for a sensitive and thought-provoking read. The book explores the search for happiness and comfort in a world filled with injustice and unaccountable actions. Through the author’s perspective, readers will gain insight into the objects of desire that shape our lives and the way we perceive the world around us.

Mirror of Time

Thomas Roop has been fortunate enough to travel widely through his life, learning from a wide variety of cultures, traditions, and religions. These encounters inculcated and developed a love for humankind. While travelling through Denmark, he encountered and fell in love with the work of the 19^th century poet, novelist, and playwright Hans Christian Anderson. The literature of T. S. Eliot, Carl Sandburg, Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, and others are all evident influences on Roop’s own work. All of these encounters inspired him to share his own ideas, reflections, and insights in this anthology of poetry.