LISELLE POWDER

 

I Know This Time Will Come

 

I was told years ago that once your children grows,

they leave you.

You will get old and miserable, and life will pass you by.

You will find yourself looking like the house.

You may find yourself talking to no one,

but yourself.

You will wish that that the children never left.

You will be sweeping the same room more than once a day.

Finding things to do that was already done.

But they left and I didn’t look like the house.

Looking out the window, thinking they will come home.

Praying day and night to see them.

But I am alone, sometimes lonely.

Back then as I remembered.

I was alone to share jokes and wipe their mouths.

To give baths and here them say where it hurts.

I was alone to do homework and be there for every meetings.

Drop them off to the nursery and pick them up.

I was alone to carry them to doctor visits and

the dentists for toothache.

Every bruise and fall I was alone.

I was alone to read bedtime stories and tuck them in,

making sure their clothes was washed and they had

clean clothes and cooked meals.

I was alone for the good or bad reports.

I was alone for the puberty exchange to womanhood.

To the boyfriends, being mother and father,

two different personalities.

Now that you both are gone, who

comforts me?

Just my prayers for long life and not to be alone.

 

The Father I thought I knew

 

When did it all started, was it just yesterday you bid farewell?

Conversations lasted, as words of assurance made life easy.

We spoke of the ups and downs of life and gave hope.

Hope that rest assured of comfort.

The separation came so suttle like a thief.

It’s not my fault you choose another path.

A side of you came out I never knew.

Rejection is my portion, alone and confused.

I guess I am grown now, looking for that daddy to talk to me.

I never found him, instead I found grief and pain.

I had to learn the hard way, the lonely part of life.

A father never thought me how to choose the right man.

A mother that left this earth so young

and a daughter lost with no love.

But I tried daddy, to mend to the gap.

But silence in the dark.

 

The Separation

 

After my separation it was a life so strange to me.

I never felt so lonely. I would’ve done anything to

get him back. I tried over and over.

I cried tears and wish things was made right.

I was so vulnerable and stupid that my emotions

got the best of me.

I ran to help him and made sure all was well with him.

I couldn’t see myself properly.

I was lost, alone and afraid.

Didn’t know how to face reality.

I curled up like inside a cocoon for years.

I ran from myself and hide.

Hide from the enemy, hide from the world.

I had to try and start over.

Creep like a baby and learn how to walk again.

I fell down many times because I had no one.

But I took courage and stand strong.

I said I must survive as the tears roll

down my cheeks.

The mirror faced me all alone.

I spoke to self and self-spoke back.

She said, you are not alone,

it’s just your imagination.

 

LISELLE POWDER

 

LISELLE POWDER was born in the small Caribbean Island of Trinidad and Tobago. Born to Edwina Warner (deceased) and Bindley Powder. She is the last of six siblings. She is divorced and a mother of two daughters and a granddaughter. Having migrated to the US in 2014, she decided to write poetry about her experiences coming to America. She met with Edna White an Author, and the rest was history. Liselle has written in Edna’s book “No Sweet Meat Tell Me the Truth” and contribute to the school newspaper where she works. Liselle held her first poetry show on July 10th, 2021, she also writes in Ms. Edna’s Magazine called “SPEAK MAGAZINE.” and wrote her first short story titled “Teenage Mom” and her poetry book titled “Still Overcoming”. Her short story “Teenage Mom” together with other short stories, is a combination by different authors coming together for the Anthology “Women Write Now” which was launched in November in 2022. With her continuous writing, she was entered in an Anthology for the months of June, July and November of 2020, also June and July of 2021, and for July 2022. Liselle was awarded the Cheryl R Canton Incentive and the Willie Henry Riddick Memorial Award in June 2021, for winning an essay competition placing first. Liselle wrote another book entitled “Welcome to America,” which is on Amazon. Liselle is also an artist and has also sold some of her work. Liselle was honored and one of her poems was chosen for Black Poetry Day, in October 2022., and the reviews was excellent. Liselle will be honored in August and September at a gala ceremony for her contribution to writing. One of Liselle painting was accepted for an open call from the East Islip Council Gallery, the exhibit was in March and ended on the 14th of April. Another painting form Liselle was also accepted in an open Call to be posted on social media for the month of April, it was posted on Lisa D’Amico Arts platform and social media. Liselle also recited two of her poems at the Juneteenth celebrations 2023, in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, as she was a guest of honor sponsored by the Writers Workshop curated by Nathaniel Gadsden. Liselle hopes one day to have her first Art Show soon. Liselle has come a long way and she strives to be the best of top poets and artist the world is yet to see.