Reflections in Verse,: Volume 2, Unveiling the Unseen of Our Young Kings

By Khalilah H. Purnell

An anthology of powerful and thought-provoking poems that give voice to the young black male experience of trauma, anger, and hurt, ultimately leading to triumph and power. The poems are a raw and honest portrayal of young black men's struggles, from the loss of friends to gun violence to the absenteeism of a parent, an incarcerated father, fall

• Language: English
• Publisher: Khalilah Purnell
• Release date: Jul 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088111802

Book preview

REFLECTIONS IN VERSE

Volume 2

REFLECTIONS IN VERSE:

Volume 2

Unveiling the Unseen of Our Young Kings

KHALILAH H. PURNELL

Inked Solace, LLC

REFLECTIONS IN VERSE Volume 2, Unveiling the Unseen of Our Young Kings. Copyright @2023 by Khalilah H. Purnell. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Inked Solace, LLC, Newport News, VA. 23608.

Books by Khalilah H. Purnell may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the publisher/representative for the author at [e-mail]

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Designed by Amber M. Green

Copyedited by Nyla Publishing

Purnell, Khalilah H., author

Title: Reflections in Verse, Volume 2 / by Khalilah H. Purnell

Subtitle: Unveiling the Unseen

Description: Newport News, VA: Inked Solace, LLC [2023]

Identifiers: ISBN, Print 978-1-0881-1173-4  ISBN, E-book 978-1-0881-1180-2

Category: Young Adult/Poetry, Trauma

In memory of Tyhir Jaquil Barnes, a lover of basketball, music, family, and community, lost his life at the hands of parts of the community he loved, at the age of 15-years-old to gun violence in the City of Philadelphia after winning and leaving a basketball game, on July 12, 2016, at the hands of two other young men, a year older than him. Tyhir left behind siblings, and a mother who is one of the strongest Women I know, Tanisha Frankie Pratt. May God continue to comfort you and may your son’s name and memory continue to live on and inspire other youth lives. I pray that God heals the unresolved and dormant pains of trauma of those responsible for acting before they thought their actions out logically when they fired. Prayers for continuous healing on all sides.

In memory of Jasmine Aaliyah Lewis, 20, with a dream to become a WNBA player. Jasmine’s life was cut short on August 27, 2020, while driving in the Germantown Section of Philadelphia, when she was struck by a stray bullet. Jasmine succumbed to her injury a couple of days later. A pain that no mother should ever have to feel.

DEDICATIONS

To the young black kings affected by trauma on all levels and from every side of the fence, that need healing, forgiveness, understanding, while also offering awareness to many who many not understand or relate. The purpose is that our young kings and our communities get to see the triumph through it all. To the young kings afraid to show emotions because the world has been teaching that if men show any type of emotions, they are weak, or b******. I am here to tell you that you are not weak, you are human, and it is time to break this cycle of destruction of telling and teaching our young kings that they cannot show any emotion, which in turns ends up being grown men who have buried their emotions for too long, until it spirals out of control, or the silent screams break free loudly in ways that could hurt them, or someone else. Time to allow your voices to be heard and understood. Time to free yourselves and began your healing process.

This book is dedicated to you. Your strength and resilience in the face of adversity inspire us all.

The trauma that you have experienced is not your fault, and it does not define you. You are capable of healing and growth, and you have a bright future ahead of you.

May this book serve as a source to your voices being heard and understood, but also of hope and empowerment as you navigate through life's challenges. Remember that you are loved, valued, and worthy of all the goodness that life has to offer.

Stay strong, keep pushing forward, and know that you are not alone.

With love and admiration,

Khalilah H. Purnell

IN addition:

I also dedicate this book to my cousins, Imajanae’, but specifically Tyjae’, and Jabrae’, who were very young when they lost their mother to murder at the hands of individuals who labeled themselves "friends’ of my first cousin, and she trusted. No justice has been served 16 years later, and as they go on with their lives,