LISELLE POWDER

 

 

If Photos Could Speak

 

A photo can tell a thousand words, but what if it spoke to you.

I look at the picture of my mom and I said what was your thought.

Where were you going when you were in the spotlight?

Who took your picture?

Who saw your beauty and marveled at your grace.

Our conversations of kind words that brought

back memories of growing up.

You reminisced of the good old days.

Telling your story of your first love and what

made you attracted to him or he attracted to you.

Telling me of the births of my brothers and sisters

Telling me of your story of the let goes and the get goes.

Telling me of all the hard work you did.

But I knew this, and I would say, but mammy

I know this I was there with you in your struggle.

I was there with you at your side.

I was there when you think you can’t be there for yourself.

But I see you now and I tell you this.

Her eyes looking at me, they are tired now.

Her crusted hands can’t raise to give me a hug.

But I see the thin lines on her face leading to

the depth of her sadness.

Some lines led to nowhere,

which was a dead end of her thinking.

She saw what I saw and said, daughter

I can’t turn back the hands of time,

But I see you daughter, just like you see me, love you.

As she turned her head, as if waiting to be snapped again.

 

The Empty Room

 

Only the musty air scattered around empty spaces.

The painted walls wish for light to shine on it.

I remember a child, now grown, to her own path.

Her clothes, left behind for me to see.

But I washed them, smelt them, and caressed them.

Should I grieve?

The laughter of a missing daughter still echoed somewhere.

The movement of feet that I saw but is no more.

Where is the body that wore these clothes?

Wouldn’t they wither? Or cry a silent cry

because they are not wanted.

Just a dull shade that passed through,

as silence made friends with walls that said nothing.

But watched in pain as happiness left the room.

There’s no barriers to enter the room,

It’s longing to have a friend of comfort.

But I wouldn’t venture in, it’s not my space.

I will not be welcomed, as familiar spirits was already there.

But I will watch from afar, the outside looking in.

As I hold on to memories in my head of a child now adult.

I can’t complain if that’s all I can hold on too.

 

Is That Song You

 

When you hear the strum of guitar strings, plays your tune.

You sing your song till your voice is no more.

Is that song YOU

that your every footsteps thread lightly as if

toes became fingers that plays piano notes

touched lightly.

Is that song YOU.

When you listen, it knows your story, of humble beginnings.

Of the peace you tried to keep withing your soul.

Is that song YOU.

When you think you are not good enough.

That your kids just stare in hunger as

they eat the crumbs from the floor.

Is that song YOU

that wake up your soul to living waters.

and let your roots be quenched with a strong foundation

Is that song YOU

As you remember the aches and pains of hardship,

But the ancestors tells you to keep pushing.

Is that song YOU

When the hand raised to hit you and

your shadows cry in frustration, trying to pull you to run.

Is that song YOU

When your life is like a sea saw, and you

 are not sure if you are here today or gone tomorrow.

Is that song YOU

Hoping for something better for another day

as you swallow your tears that almost made you drown.

Is that song YOU?

 

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.