[it's All Coming Back ] Poem by Cheryl Butler

Thinking, truly,
Mama knows best,
thoughts twirling,
around, on my inside, nest.

I think, sitting, over by,
The water at Hudson's Bay.

Reminiscing,
how I got here today.
Sitting,
as the past,
goes past,
in, the present day.

'I wasn't gonna be 'nuthin''.
'I was a hood rat! '.
I was too stupid!
most would say!
Most wouldn't,
think,
I would be writing poems today!


Most didn't think,
I would,
be here,
alive and jail free!
My history of, being, a little 'ruffin' you see'.
I love life,
having fun!
But,
discipline.
and hard work won!

I think back to those years,
lots of tears for fears.
I was scared,
when it rained,
but,
in it was
' the joy of pain'.

I look back on those years,
of when I was' weak'.
I look now,
back on those days,
as,
a poetess with strength as I 'speak'.