The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis

By Barbara Dumas Francis

The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis capture a rich life told in concise but vivid snippets. This crisp volume is remarkable in its breath, encompassing the effects of the Great Migration, separation from mother, the thrill of first flight, family tradition, and the black church. Romantic and sensual, sage and sapient, the narrative is also poetic, particularly in its painting of the rich example of the writers loving aunts, as well as the budding promise of her grandchildren. The genius of writings simplicity is evident in an instructional narrative about caregiving of a terminally-ill loved one, which is conveyed so deceptively matter of fact that its poignance enthralls the reader unawares. In its highlights, the book offers the reader a capital life tour as this world-wise author learns to reconcile lifes inimitable joys and its inevitable sorrows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496970688

Barbara Dumas Francis

Barbara-Jean Covington Dumas Francis was born July 26, 1931, at Harlem Hospital in New York City. She grew up in New York City and spent most of her summers in Rockingham, North Carolina. As a child, Barbara liked to play with dolls, pick fruit off trees, and make mud cakes. It was a childhood filled with imagination, made-up stories, and play. Barbara’s love of reading began at about the age of ten. Her grandmother was very strict, and Barbara found an escape through the landscapes, characters, and adventures in the many stories that she read. One Rockingham summer was to bring into Barbara’s life a handsome next-door neighbor to her grandmother, Datus Dumas. He quickly nicknamed her his summer girlfriend. They eventually married and moved to New York, where they were blessed with three children: Marie Antoinette, Mildred Joyce, and Datus Jr. Despite the demands of her career as union representative, Barbara, who had always been an avid reader, began taking writing classes at the College of New Rochelle. She had always enjoyed writing stories and poetry, and the writing class encouraged this interest and helped Barbara take her writing to the next level. Barbara’s writing has been spirited by her rich family history and the inspiration of her children and grandchildren. Barbara continues to indulge her literary and creative talents. She regularly takes writing classes, creating new short stories and poems. She is an avid reader and member of a book club.

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© 2015 Barbara Dumas Francis. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/27/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7067-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7068-8 (e)

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To Mildred and January,

Thank you for making my dreams come true

Contents

A Fruit That Reminds You of a Person

Alfred Charles Jones II

An Eventful Day in My Life

Are Women Equal to Men?

A Tight Spot, What I Learned About Myself

Be Sure, My Love

Beyond the Mourners’ Bench

Cold

Describe A Place

Hattie

He Smelled My Roses

It

My Earliest Memory

Once a Man, Twice a Child

On September 28, 07

Pink Slip

Poem

Spun Fun

Verbal Intercourse

Catherine’s Secret

You Did Not See

Hands That Change Darkness To Light

My Silent Love

Recipe For Life

Black•Ness

Love?

Who Am I?

A Fruit That Reminds You of a Person

The pineapple is hard on the outside, but sweet and juicy on the inside. Robin can be tough on the outside but can be as sweet as the sweetest pineapple.

The pineapple is unpredictable. You may think you have purchased a sweet one, but you didn’t. Robin can be unpredictable; she lives in Greensboro, NC, but will pop up to NY any time. She drove cross-county, California, Mexico, and Arizona by herself. She can be an angel one minute and a jalapeno pepper the next.

The pineapple color varies, green to yellow, small and large sizes. Robin loves vibrant colors and is a size 3 herself. The pineapple has sprouting leaves at the top; the end are pointed and sharp. Robin’s hair is locks, what she says are her antennas to God, and represents her touchstone to life. If you touch her locks without her permission, the seeds of the jalapeno pepper explode.

The pineapple has a core that is hard. Robin has a hard protective shell around her; once you break through, she will do anything for you. The top of the pineapple can be planted and will become a beautiful plant. Robin is always trying to plant positive seeds