Four Pieces of a Silver Coin: Includes Thought Provoking and Inspiring Poetry

By Shirley G. Steverson

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462853953

Shirley G. Steverson

In my first year at De Montfort University in Great Britain, I took poetry and creative writing classes and enjoyed it immensely due to the passion of my teachers. My take away from that time of my life, was that I achieved something that I truly thought was impossible. Based on my past experiences, I had every reason in the world to not achieve it. I currently work for the University of Phoenix as a counselor in Northern California. I have met many students who limit themselves based on their past experiences. This limiting belief holds them back from achieving their personal goals. In the process of doing this job I am learning how to continue to keep moving forward. Setting goals, meeting and exceeding them are an ongoing learning process, because if you don’t keep moving forward you simply stand still. Moving forward is imperative to becoming a participant in your own life. Some of the events in this book may make you wonder how I learnt how to forgive and forget. Well I believe that you can allow the past to continue to hurt and harm you or you can use it as a catalyst to forge ahead. I choose to do the latter.

Book preview

Four Pieces of a

Silver Coin

Includes thought provoking

and inspiring poetry

Shirley G. Steverson

Copyright © 2011 by Shirley G. Steverson.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011905629

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4628-5394-6

ISBN: Softcover      978-1-4628-5393-9

ISBN: Ebook          978-1-4628-5395-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Piano Man

Misguided

Desert playboy

Daddy Dearest

What kind of love is this?

Friday’s child

Sons and daughters

Friday night in the Ghetto

Mommy dearest

The master thief

Desk Arrangements

The Lion’s Den

Final thoughts

Acknowledgements

My beautiful children who traveled some of this journey with me, Sophie and Darryll.

♥

My darling sisters, who all played a part in my discovery.

♥

My dear grandmother, Florence Jordan, affectionately known as Daaa, for instilling in me a desire to learn and the love of words.

♥

Gregory Steward II, my colleague, without whom this project would not have started. Thank you for encouraging me to set a plan in motion to accomplish a lifelong dream.

♥

W.N. Jr, Thank you for giving me time to pursue my passion, It took time away from us, but you completely understood and gave me space to flourish.

You own my heart.

Introduction

Life experiences are a combination of the things that happen to us and the things we allow to happen. Every situation we encounter is an opportunity to learn. Sometimes the lesson is a matter of life or death.

When we come into this world we have no direction, goals or aspirations. It is the responsibility of our parents, and caretakers, to instill in us principles, ethics, and values. These should govern how we act, live and treat each other. We need to be taught as children, how to say no and mean it. How to value who we are, and not allow another human being to make us feel unworthy.

My grandmother, a tall elegant woman, was the first influential person in my life. She taught me how to be polite and kind.

She was an avid reader of the bible and other books. She encouraged me to write poetry to recite at church. She made me practice until I mastered perfect delivery.

To quote her;

You want people to stand up and clap when you’re finished. If they don’t, then you’ve failed

She was loving, warm and most important, a teacher. Because of her, education became part of my psyche. Teaching and sharing knowledge are at the core of me. I enjoy helping others in anyway. Whether it’s giving the man on the corner a dollar, or simply treating others how I want to be treated. Growing up in a small British town to the east of London, I was a quiet, timid child, who smiled a lot. I come from a big family of girls, and for three years I was the baby of the family. My grandmother gave me lots of hugs, attention, even dressed me up like a doll. She taught me that I was precious.

I do not look back on my life and feel sad. Other than some of the harrowing moments in this book, I had a good life, enjoying everything around me. I think it’s because I have this uncanny ability to store multiple events, deep in my mind, giving myself permission to retrieve them one at a time. This skill allowed me to go on living day to day. I also believe that God had other things in store for me. He gave me the gift of seeing the best aspects of a situation. Otherwise I should have