Open Flames

By Jennifer Gordon-Sappleton

As an African woman, I search to find meaning in a space that often does not embrace my differences. Through pain and anguish, I learn how to really love myself. This book of poems hopes to capture the attention of people around the world who have endured hardship in all forms. Suffering and loss have worked to make me a better person. The poems are my journey songs that influence the ways I see relationships and people. I have experienced abandonment and rejection from individuals that I love but gained power through accepting the things I am not able to change. My poems reflect the ways in which I try to navigate my life in a world that is often unkind, unjust, and unfair.

These poems were written in times when I fell under tremendous pressures in life. They reflect how I view the social, religious, and political structures in our world. I beg to see a world that demands equality for all. My poems encourage my brothers and sisters to know themselves because acceptance must first come from within. They touch upon painful memories that lingers as we seek justice and equality for our community. These poems also speak to the condition of love and its ability to heal the world. The joy of knowing oneself must always be followed by the ability to know what we have endured in life and be ready to forgive those who trespass against us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514414194

Jennifer Gordon-Sappleton

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 30, 1967. I grew up with an aunt who adopted me when I was five years old. I never saw my biological mother again until I was eighteen years old. I endured hardship in life, but I also remember the joy of childhood days. I always loved to read and write poetry as a child. I had great dreams for my life even when the adults around me did not desire anything good for me. I migrated to Canada and earned an honor’s degree in sociology and a bachelor of education degree. I absolutely love children and enjoy spending time with them as they teach me about love, honesty, and forgiveness. I am the mother of three daughters, Ashley, Amber, and Atia, and the wife of Desmond Sappleton. My family are the most important people in my life. I look forward to one day going to Africa to reconnect to my roots.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Jennifer Gordon-Sappleton. 725709

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5144-1420-0

EBook 978-1-5144-1419-4

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.

Rev. date: 10/27/2015

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Dedication

I dedicate this book to Desmond Sappleton. Thank you for your love and for giving me the opportunity to rest my body and mind.

Without you I would have lost the ability to keep dreaming.

For my children, Ashley, Amber and Atia, you gave me three great reasons to live.

May your tomorrow be filled with love, laughter, good health and prosperity.

I would like to thank Paul John of Xlibris for believing in my work and for encouraging me to share my poems with the world

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Contents

Millennium Woman

Master Of The Universe

Words

How Did I End Up Here?

Irony

Cedjka

Sojourner

Who Am I

Tomorrow

Offspring

Open Flames

Warrior Queens 

No More

The Phoenix

Rasta Song

Scammer-man

We Are Africans

Broken

Marimba

Real Friendship

Frenemies

Hater

Back Off Judas

Inspire Me Jah

Love In Springtime

Daughter of Wisdom

Ghetto Boys

If Only

Beautiful and Black

Knowing

The Strength of Love

Sailing

Nature Whispers

I Love Me

Strike The Rock

God Within

Woman

Who is God?

Heart Break

Willow Song

Kindness

Darkness

MILLIENUM%20WOMAN.tif

Millennium Woman

I was born a boy but will never be a man

worked hard to merge a body and mind

lost in transition

determined not to be bludgeoned into submission

I exchange manhood for blossoming bosoms

who says I can’t be a beautiful woman?

The high pitch of my voice exhibits strong feelings

narrow-mind around me are ordered to expand

I demand a freedom that wasn’t promised to me

at birth

I am the one who came to change the earth

I am the new millennium woman

I create my own biological determination

exist in a space that gives me this freedom

with bloodshot eyes I stare into your fears

break down barriers that limits and define

my sexual orientation

I don’t care what you think,

so what if I am man made woman?

I am a lady at the brink of discovering my worth

male and female boundaries could not define

my work

I walk with a pep in my step,

I am determine to flirt

phenomenal free woman with the power of three

transvestite woman, powerful, that’s me

Watch how you look at me,

think about what you say about me

I am woman, divine woman,

just look at my image and you will see

a powerful woman, a desired woman,

a symbol of what it is to be free

I use to be a man now I am a woman with equal rights guarantee

the world is my doorway, I am the messenger,

I hold the master key

I wear a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

from the darkness I emerge

courage is in my gown, knowledge is my spectacle, confidence is my handle

I have the partnership of giants,

no one dares to silence me

I invent a new world as I spread my wings

across the sand of time

I am a woman,