She was the angel on my shoulder, while the devil was surrounding me, persuading me to engage in everything she asked me, “Not” to do.

Her life experience and seasoned maturity spoke through her voice of care and concern for me, but usually the devil in  me won.

She stayed on her knees praying her pleas to the all mighty, that I wouldn’t turn up missing, or dead. She prayed f…or stability so I would keep a healthy mind and not flirt with insanity.
She also prayed I would be in good bodily health, and for some reason her prays NEVER fell on deaf ears. The Lord willingly agreed to her terms because I am still alive.

Love was the language often spoke from her lips, along with a couple curse words from time to time ,when a situation presented itself.
Phrases like, “Lawd, have mercy!” or “God don’t like ugly!” Followed by maybe a lil of “ Baby you gotta get tougher skin!” Rang in my ears. Melodies of correction to get myself together.

It must have been difficult to carry the weight of others, especially when she had more compassion for others than they did for themselves.

She was a living book who’s title was,“Virtue."The pages of her life was knowledge and applied knowledge, wisdom. Each line on her face was written with praise. The sun sparkled in her eyes.

She owned the hard substance of, "I don’t give a damn,” she wore on the outside, with the soft substance of faith in the interior. This I bet, made it easier for her to maneuver through life’s ups and downs.

She always seemed to know what to do, when I didn’t know what to do. Sometimes when she didn’t really know what to do, was when she went to God and she knew he knew what to do. That’s what she did.

She held an awesome position in the family and in my heart.

I hope where she is, she is radiant with pride ,knowing I am not the finished product and also knowing
One day I will be joining her in glory.

arrested development part 2 no way out

 Grown Woman or trapped 
Adult girl in times past, unfair was her world
Death is inside 
masked behind a smile where she hides…
Run Run little girl!  
To what end? 
The peace in your head was lost
Found insecurities within
Who robbed you? 
Who were the thieves ? 
The pressure around you heart no one sees, 
but you see 
You can feel the squeeze
You are observant and you learned 
you gained what you never deserved 
Come out from your hiding
find happiness
Allow peace to flood in
Open the blinds
 allow the sun rays in

daddy issues

Poem title: Daddy Issues
Written by: Luchetta (Cookee) Manus ©2015

Broken bottle glass once filled with valuable purpose, now sparingly cover the side walk surfaces, along with shatter dreams and lost identity.

No reconciliation for what was lost and never found. No recollection of what love and living life really means.

Its like a beautiful garment torn at the seams . What's torn can be stitched back together perfectly.

A small part of me left empty. Void of fond memories everyone can recall but me.

One moment at a time until they become hours, and days praying for the Phase for complete healing to take place.

The Father filling the void of a father

wannabes

Title: wannabes

Written by: Luchetta Cookee Manus 2015

everybody wanna be kings

I don't think they know what that means

heavy is the head that wears the crown

man up or be another man down

Ever woman wants to be a queen

yet demining herself herself

placing her value on on a shelf

everybody wanna be God

but nobody wanna see God

scared to look Him in his eyes

we all want truth

but everybody tellin' lies

keep your eyes on the prize

wanna go to heaven but nobody wanna die

we on the road to heaven but nobody wanna ride

we got the that livin water but nobody wanna dive

we wanna drinking from the well that never dries

wolves in sheep's clothing

the devil in disguise

we 'bout to take to another level in the skies

God is alive

the devil is lie

debra

Title: Debra Debbie Manus-Allen

written by: Luchetta Manus 2015

She was my mother

But everyone called her Debbie

Debbie’s name was

Debbie got angry when people called her Deborah

She would say” That’s not my name!”

It wasn’t even spelled the same

She was my mother

But everyone called her Debbie

Debbie’s name was Debra

She rocked bright colored hair and stilettos

Little did people know?

She was a great grandmother

She didn’t look her age though

She was my mother

But everyone called her Debbie

Debbie’s name was Debra

“Debbie!”

I yelled through the phone

Frustrated at my mom

As she was saying “Yes, ok uh huh”

When I didn’t say anything

That’s what she did

When by her standards

the conversation got boring

oh that was annoying

She was my mother

But everyone called her Debbie

Called her lil’ Deb

I guess to distinguish her from a big Deb

Called her nana

Called her The grandmother

Aunt Debbie

As my mother died

I called her

mom