Butterfly, fly!: poems that touch on racial trauma, mental health, and spirituality

By Angela Y Brooks

Butterfly, Fly! is a book of poetry that shares personal perspectives about the impact that divisive social constructs and racial trauma can have on life outcomes. This booklet of poetry also touches on mental illness, spirituality, and the pursuit towards trusting a power higher than self, as a means to overcoming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angela Y Brooks
• Release date: Dec 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781736326114

Angela Y Brooks

Angela Y. Brooks is a faith-driven wife and mother of two, a native Washingtonian, and a librarian by profession. Butterfly, Fly! is her first contribution to the literary world. Additionally, Angela is the creator and owner of ITM Creative Solutions, an up and coming writing services company based in Washington, DC.

Book preview

Butterfly, fly!

Butterfly, fly!

Butterfly, fly!

poems that touch on racial trauma, mental health, and spirituality

Angela Y. Brooks

publisher logo

ITM Creative Solutions

Butterfly, Fly!

© 2020, Angela Y. Brooks

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic methods without the prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published in the United States of America 

ITM Creative Solutions, LLC

Washington, DC

Cover Image

Adrian Johnson, Ad-Rain Illustrations

Printed by

IngramSpark (Lightning Source LLC)

Identifiers:

ISBN 978-1-7363261-0-7 (hardback)

ISBN 978-1-7363261-1-4 (epub)

First Printing, December 2021

This collection of poetry is dedicated to the dreamers of this world (especially my two little dreamers). If you can dream it, you can have it-- after rolling up your sleeves, of course! Whether tangible possession or strong imagery; both can be satisfying and both are worth the hard work.

To my amazing boys: mommy loves you forever and a day! To my optimistic and quite charming husband: it's been a journey... I thank you and I love you! The three of you inspire me to continue dreaming and pressing forward.

To my parents, siblings, family, and friends: thank you for your love and support over the years and for encouraging me to go after my dreams.

Contents

Foreword: Azeb Kinder, EdD

Foreword: Ashley McSwain, LGSW, MSOD

Preface

Introduction

Cover Image

I Innocence

Just a black girl from Southeast, DC

Dilemma

Tim!

Could it be?

FLY

II Questioning Humanity, Self, & The System

When

Envy

118

The System

A reason to be afraid

This Gum

notes

Tranquil or Oppressed

Prison Industrial Complex

Dear Mr. Officers,

Freedom

III About Spirituality

Broken

Help my unbelief

Longing for you

I am what I speak

Remember

Grab hold

I Am

Dear God...about surrendering

Can I see like you?

God's plan

Waiting on you

Spiritual warfare

The fight

The Armor of God: a perspective

The rock

Change

Literally

Heart cry

Peace is supreme

In reality

IV Reflections while away

Lonely

The day of departure

Why?

People watching

Mental illness, a perspective

Observing my day

Untitled

I recall

The day of discharge

And then there was Psalms 23

Afterthoughts

V It gets better

Embrace Peace

Mountain Called Life

Breaking Free

Believe

I'll call it victory

Press

A dream that comforted

Clear

My Reason

Vision

Works Cited

Acknowledgments

Foreword: Azeb Kinder, EdD

In 2019, I had the pleasure of facilitating a dialogue group about race and racism with Angela and other parents at her child’s school. As a racial equity consultant, it was both timely and impactful to engage in these discussions, with none of us having the slightest clue that we would soon be experiencing dual pandemics – racism and COVID-19 - that would change the world as we knew it.

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that self-care is a priority, not a privilege. Your mental health has to come first. If you are going to support friends and family in their time of need, you have to have a strong base. For many people – especially those of us who identify as people of color - that base has been tested during this past year. People of