I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found

By Renee' Drummond-Brown and Nancy Ndeke

After years of soul searching, both author Renee’ Drummond-Brown and Nancy Ndeke connect to their lost lineage to identify with their culture’s complex roots, historical backgrounds, and finally come to terms with confronting their own fears of forgiveness. Because slavery was anything but a figment of imagination, both author Drummond-Brown and Ndeke use their literary voice poetically from across the globe to face those fears. Stepping out on faith by accepting the things they cannot change and having the wisdom to know the difference, the authors’ accept the challenge of taking big risk, comforting a long overdue topic that some would refer to as taboo, and marvelously weave love while casting light onto profound shadows throughout this book. I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found provides the reader with a truer understanding of amazing grace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781678013783

Renee' Drummond-Brown

Renee Drummond-Brown, is an accomplished poetess/writer. She is a graduate of Geneva College of Western Pennsylvania and The Center for Urban Biblical Ministry (CUBM) with experience in creative writing. She has continued on the path of furthering her educational pursuit while working on her seventh book. Drummond-Brown has numerous works published globally which can be seen in cubm.org/news, KWEE Magazine (Liberian L. Review), Leaves of Ink Magazine, New Pittsburgh Courier, Raven Cage Poetry and Prose Ezine Magazine, Realistic Poetry International, Scarlet Leaf Publishing House, SickLit Magazine, The Metro Gazette Publishing Company, Inc., Tuck, and Whispers Magazine just to name a few. Her love for creative writing is undoubtedly displayed through her very unique style of poetry. Renee’ is inspired by non-other than Dr. Maya Angelou and because of her, Renee’ posits “Still I write, I write, and I’ll write!”

Book preview

I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found

I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found

Portugal, Planisphere, Map, World, Africa, African

"And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships,

by the way whereof I spake unto thee,

Thou shalt see it no more again:

and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen,

and no man shall buy you"

Deuteronomy 28:68 (KJV).

Let Bygones Be Bygones

By: Author Reneé Drummond-Brown

African, Women, Africa, Girls, Sisters, Culture, Smile

The black gal

looks at the African,

and suddenly realize, they’re

echoed images of the best of friends.

Dedicated to: Sister Nancy Ndeke, like Nettie and Celie, you and me were torn apart nonetheless, you and me ‘us’, have one heart. Contrary to what has been said and/or believed, I’ve always loved you from afar. Let bygones be bygones, and let’s just be friends again. Hail to the real Queens’…Reneé Drummond-Brown.

A RocDeeRay Production

Author Nancy Ndeke dedicates this book to: Kevin Murerwa Mugambi

Lion, Man, Water, Sea, Sculpture, Orpheus, Trainer

My son, gift from the most high,

If tears could erase a time,

An act and a silence,

If the clock, could unstrike that hour,

If that phone call could be unrung,

But it can't, and it won't,

So, for those thirty years,

Of play, pray and dizzy joy,

Fights and make ups galore,

Dependability and responsibility,

Courage and bravery in duty,

Son! Gratitude is to the giver of life,

LOVE like I never knew,

But this I know,

Love never dies,

For even in your silence,

Love bubbles afresh every day,

And that beautiful gift you left us,

Glows with the rising sun daily,

A tribute from the Lord God Almighty,

AMEN to LOVE and the GIFTS of LOVE.

AMEN to motherhood and son-hood,

AMEN to the spirit of the universe,

That connects the here and the there.

AMEN!

In memory of my son.

CONTENTS:

I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found (Eponymous) Poem (Drummond-Brown)

Oceanic Blues:

AMERICA WAS RAISED ON ‘MY’ BREAST (Drummond-Brown)

BUCKET (Ndeke)

HOW DID WE GET HERE? (Ndeke)

Jaws (dun ta dun ta dun ta dun) (Drummond-Brown)

Negro HAND Me Downs and BRASS feet JUST Like Mine (Drummond-Brown)

Ocean Blue, What color are you? (Drummond-Brown)

Plight (Drummond-Brown)

SLAVERY Recipe (Drummond-Brown)

WINGLESS ONES (Ndeke)

Rivers Run Deep:

BATHE (Ndeke)

It isn’t Me (Ndeke)

SHE IS HE. (Ndeke)

‘SUM RIVERS RUN DEEP (Drummond-Brown)

The Negro River Cries (Drummond-Brown)

Wade in the Water (Drummond-Brown)

Hidden Treasures (in plain sight):

BLACK PANTHER (Drummond-Brown)

ENTERPRISE (Ndeke)

GORILLA COUNTRY (Ndeke)

‘OFF THE MARKERS' (Ndeke)

PILGRIMS (Ndeke)

‘THE’ Project (Drummond-Brown)

THIS PATH (Ndeke)

Lost and Found:

Africa! Afrika! (Drummond-Brown)

BEYOND THE HILLS (Ndeke)

INSIDE (Ndeke)

MARKED (Ndeke)

Now Your Eyes Lie (Drummond-Brown)

PRESSURED PLEASURE (Ndeke)

Stream of Conscious (Drummond-Brown)

Tell em (Drummond-Brown)

this LOVE (Ndeke)

Forward by: Denise Boozer

In this cesspool we call world that is almost totally devoid of like, love and/or compassion, Authors Reneé Drummond-Brown and Nancy Ndeke gives us an in-depth tour