More Reflections Painted in Verse

By Malcolm C. Kirwan

Many of us face feelings of powerlessness, unable to determine our destiny because we are often victims of our negative thoughts.
Though we may be trapped in prisons of self-doubt, blind to the power of the possibilities within us, each of us is a work of art in progress,
empowered by our dreams and by our visions of what we can achieve.
More Reflections Painted in Verse seeks to offer proof that human beings, regardless of their callings in life, respond to the compelling power of the creative voice within them. It reveals poet Malcolm C. Kirwan’s personal perspective on various themes: the fantasies, passions, joys, pain, and
intrigue evoked by things romantic; the bonds of love that keep us united as families; the continuing search by persons of color for self-discovery; the power of the mind to define who we are; and the inspiration one can get
from looking beyond one’s limitations to one’s possibilities. These verses reflect Kirwan’s life experiences and his urge to contemplate and explore life’s mysteries, portraying a search for self-discovery through the lens of poetry. Inspiring and uplifting, this collection of poetry examines our place on earth, the greater meaning of life and death, and all that happens in between to shape our destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781532095719

Malcolm C. Kirwan

Malcolm C. Kirwan is a native of the island nation of St. Kitts-Nevis in the West Indies. He is an alumnus of the University of the Virgin Islands and the University of Connecticut and has served as a higher education executive, management professor, and business and training consultant. This is his second poetry collection. A father of three and grandfather of nine, he currently lives in Davenport, Florida.

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Copyright © 2020 Malcolm C. Kirwan.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-9572-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9571-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020910738

iUniverse rev. date: 07/10/2020

Dedicated to my mother, Hyacinth (now deceased),

in recognition of her strength,

her resilience, and her devotion to her family;

to my children, Janice, Malcolm Jr., and Kevin, for their love and support;

to my grandchildren, Takiyah, Curdel, Darrel, Amirah,

Elana, Sukura, Alexander, Kairo, and Teela,

for their innocence, openness, enthusiasm, and creative expression;

to my brothers, Ivan, Egbert (deceased) and Kevin and my sister Susan;

to my nephews and nieces;

to my special friend, Evelyne, who has been

steadfast in her love, care, and support

for many years; and

to all my other relatives for their commitment to

keeping us united in the bonds of family.

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Discovering the You That Could Be

My Tribute to You, My Son

Make Your Affirmations Real

I Never Dreamed

The You Revealed to Me

An Irresistible Fantasy

Beware of Dead People in Your Life

Little Things Mean a Lot

My Wish for You

Near and Dear

Our Destiny

Promise Me Faithfully

Emerging from the Shadow of Your Past

Beware of the Forbidden Thoughts We Think

A Journey of Enchantment

Tears from Eyes That Wept

Seduce Me

This Friendship Painted Deep

What Is?

Breaking Through

Things Ordained

What Fate Has Decreed

A Poetic Good Night

My Spirit Is Fine—Thankful for Life

Hey, Black Boy—Who Do You Think You Are?

To Know You

It Had to Be You

As You Come into View

Our Allotted Time

Knowing When Enough Is Enough

You Can Call Me Names

Call It What You Will

I Cannot Say Goodbye

A New Me

When Will We Cease Being Victims?

A Grief So Deep

Like Magic That Astounds

Don’t Weep for Me

Destined to Ascend

My Dear Mother, to Your Soul I Cry

My Light, My Valentine

Where Souls Unite

The Joy of Knowing You

Life Can Be Lived Meaningfully and Purposefully

So Dear to Me

Let’s Just Be Friends

The Gift of Being Black

The Lady in Blue

The Lions Code of Ethics in Verse

The Storm Called Life

Two Hearts Blending

What Does He Hope to Know?

When Beauty Was Created

When Two Hearts Are Perfectly Aligned

Who Are You Really?

You Made My Hope a Spark

Will It and Make It So

It All Started Yesterday

Ironies in Life—Lessons in Self-Delusion

Your Impression on Me

The Place You Deserve to Be

A Beautiful Black Pearl

Heartbreak

Hopes Forever Dimmed

A Chance to Start Anew

The Worth of Your Self-Worth

Amid the Shadows

Tomorrow Will Not Be Your Today Again

In the Womb of Time

You Are Sanctified

Nature Is God

A Man’s Rightful Place

Purchasing Recognition with a Lie

What Is Life?

Life Is for Living

When Understanding Is Not Experienced

A Drought Indeed

The Power of WE

Making a Positive Difference to Her

Gratitude for Our Blessings

At the Crossroads

Betwixt and Between

Time Is the Arbiter of Our Fate

If Only

Unchaste Flames

Signs of Something Going On

Conscience

Gyul, Weh Yuh Want de Finger Go

Son of ah Gun

Your Day of Reckoning

Life’s Full Measure

Preface

This second collection of my poems, More Reflections Painted in Verse, captures my imagination in flight as I journey with my musings.

More Reflections Painted in Verse reveals my personal perspective on the various themes the poems explore. These themes include the fantasies, passions, joys, pain, and intrigue evoked by things romantic; my fascination with the bonds of love that keep us united as families; the continuing search by persons of color for self-discovery; the power of the mind to define who we are; and the inspiration one can get from looking beyond one’s limitations to one’s possibilities.

Many of us are overcome by feelings of powerlessness to determine our own destiny. This is a reflection of the fact that we are often victims of our own negative thoughts. We are trapped in a prison of self-doubt, unable to see the power of the possibilities within us. The reader will see mirrored in many of these poems my unyielding faith and belief that who we are is not a statement of who we could become. Each of us is a work of