Tough Cotton

By Gordona Bloe

Presenting a new series of thoughts and experiences expressed in poetry, lyrics, and short stories, author Gordona Bloe (pronounced “bloo”) offers a collection that is open, honest, and unfiltered.
Bloe’s writing focuses on seeking answers and exploring a wide range of emotions. It highlights her refusal to succumb to the disasters that would prevent her from reaching her true identity—Tough Cotton. “Earth” considers how life begins and moves forward. “Cotton Seeds” provides a voice to the youth—and perhaps others who have been found, lost, or even forgotten. “Bloeming” is a recognition of who Tough Cotton is becoming or choosing not to become. “Ginned” delves into the underworld of drugs and prison. “Storms and Thorns” reflects on the troubles of life, while “Wrinkled Sheets” are where passion, heat, and comfort exist.
Intense and inspirational, this collection shares the raw experiences of life—love, chaos, anger, regret, acceptance—with a stirring and unflinching voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jul 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483433943

Book preview

Bloe

Copyright © 2015 Gordona Bloe.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3393-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3395-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3394-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015910166

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 7/15/2015

Contents

Introduction

PART 1

CHAPTER 1   Earth

It’s Okay to Love

To Be You

Purpose

My Prayer

Word

Strong

Ripped Label

The Angels

CHAPTER 2   Cotton Seeds

Precious Metals

Upcoming Queen

Queen

The King’s Code

To My Young

On My Way with the Kids

This Generation

Learned Helplessness

In Memory of the Lost Babies

CHAPTER 3   Bloeming

Before the Beginning

The Entertainer

Lightening

Beautifully Dangerous

Sexy

Never Catch Me Desperate

Conflicts of Interest

Media Scream

Sleep

CHAPTER 4   Ginned

Prayers for Sons

Bubble World

Dream Catchers

That Chick

The Feds and Effects

Greatest Gift to the Mistress

Him

Ex Fool

Mighty Powers

Idolism

CHAPTER 5   Storms and Thorns

A Thought

The Sin

Granted: Her vs Him

No Conversation

Face-to-Face

The Dirty Truth

When He Took Off His Ring

Get ’Em, Miss ’Em, Forget ’Em

Red Line

Soul Shock

Transformation

Dream Sounds

Heart Island

Bloed on the Sand

Mad

Bad Girls Don’t Get the Bloes

Marathon

PART 2

WRINKLED SHEETS

THE LOVE INSPIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE GORDONA BLOE COLLECTION.

Daredevil

Papa Passion

Various Rewards

Chief Angel

Up Close and Personal

Boy Crazy Like Girl Crazy Like

Awww Man All Man

Diamond Kiss Thoughts

Sweet Dirty Secrets

Body Diamond

I Really Love You

I Need You to Fight for Me

Jungle Boy

Oil Spill

Love Grains of Sand

Tan Bands

Wanted Magic

Sculptures

A Story for Our Souls

Lady

Thank You

This is for my prince, my sons, my precious metals, Zephaniah and SanDemetri. This is for my sisters and mainly Judith, who has been there for me through so much. This is for my nieces and nephews. I would like to thank my parents, especially my mother, and God for giving me life and the opportunity to experience it. I would like to thank my friend Aliaune T. for always telling me that I should publish my work from the first time I shared my material with him. Thank you, Dwan J., for your understanding and knowing how to use the right language to communicate honestly and effectively with me. Thank you for your unshaking stability and patience. Thanks to all of my nonbloed sisters and brothers for their positive feedback. RIP to my grandmother Mary; Novella (aka Cousin Boo); and my father, Phil. I love all of you.

Introduction

Have you ever been overwhelmed by life? Where were you supposed to go when it was all falling apart? Did people turn their backs on you when you thought that they would always be there? Do you have secrets that you are ashamed of or feel guilty about? Are you angry at someone? Did you do something about that anger, or did you keep it to yourself? Do you have regrets? Do you wish people would accept you for you? Have you ever lost someone you loved? Have you ever been in love? This book of poetry, lyrics, and stories contains raw experiences of those situations. It digs deep inside a wide variety of emotions and thoughts. I only ask that you stay open to love. There is another day to make your life better. Start at this very moment, even if it’s little by little, to be happy no matter what you are going through or have gone through. This book will empathize, understand, and encourage you to keep growing as a seed through the dirt, storms, passion, and chaos until you become your own version of

Tough Cotton.

Special Note: The word blue and is intentionally spelled bloe throughout the book because of how part of my last name is pronounced and spelled. Therefore, it is linked this way. The spelling is native to the Netherlands and its former territories, such as the Dutch West Indies, where some of my ancestors migrated from when they came to the United States of America.

Also, blood is referred to as bloed within the book.

Bloom is spelled as bloem.

Part 1

Chapter 1

Earth

It’s Okay to Love

Everybody should have somebody to love. Love is the strongest bond. And if you don’t have somebody to love, then I hope that doesn’t last long. I love you so much. Open up and accept it before it’s gone. The euphoria of love is so strong. Some people would do anything for the people they love.

Let’s start with our mothers. Perfect or not, none of us would be here without them. Everybody has a different story. We may not understand everything about their ways, but because of them, we all have birthdays to celebrate. Our fathers may or may not have been around, but that’s how the match worked out. It’s okay to love your grandparents, if you’re lucky to have them and they are still alive. They come with rich histories and unique stories that could change your life. You are blessed if you have taken the opportunity to find out before they leave. Talk to, hug, hold, and just love our people. It’s okay to love our people.

We forget to stop and think about what we’re doing to others. We’re only concerned with ourselves. It’s okay to love ourselves, but we have to give up love for someone else. It’s okay to love our people today. It’s okay to love our kids, parents, and others who take care of them. Know what this love is. When they go to school, it’s okay to ask what they did. It’s okay to be interested, whether you are around a lot or not. It’s okay to let them know you love them. It’s okay to love our brothers and sisters—brothers and sisters who are like our friends, and our friends who are like our brothers and sisters. It’s okay to love our cousins—cousins who are like our