The Cleansing of Me by T. L. Barnette

This is a collection of poetry and prose cultivated from the foundation of my personal experiences, of everyday life, and the thoughts and feelings surrounding all of them. The poems and prose in this collection are brushstrokes of vibrant and, at times, dark colors that have come together to make the perfect picture to help inspire and encourage others to embrace the truth of their experiences as I've had to do. With my writings, I aspire to uplift, encourage, and help others see how liberating the truth can be. Whether I am talking about a painful childhood experience in "Memories Still Linger", dealing with something we all face in "Fear", or honoring my spirituality in "The Kingdom Within," these words are me. They are my source of inner strength and confidence. I wish for them to be the same for others.

The above paragraph is what you'll find on the back of my book, The Cleansing of Me, published by PublishAmerica.com in Summer 2007. This book was easily put together due to the fact that I had many poems with one common thread - a sense of spirituality. Throughout my early thirties, I've learned to see God in everything and everyone. I've learned to see the innate spiritual essence of every situation, even in the poem titled, "Washing the Dishes." I say:

not my favorite task

and on those special

occasions when I actually

muster up enough

energy to do it - I am

pleased because I

have practiced patience

Patience is definitely a virtue that is learned throughout life by the many situations and circumstances I face on a regular basis. It's one lesson I asked for guidance with and even in the smallest of tasks like washing the dishes, I can see the lesson being taught in it.

My background, which has been illustrated in other articles here on Associated Content, involves childhood sexual abuse, codependency, and a lifetime of feeling lost and abandoned until my early to mid-thirties when I started to find myself. I speak of this in my poem, "Lost."

wandering

through

the

wilderness

of my mind

there

I lost myself

...and it was in my heart

that I was found

I've been writing since I was a child of 7 or 8 years old. Ever since I started writing creatively, my goal has been to find myself, find peace, and find understanding. And no matter what I've gone through in life, one thing remains the same, "Change."

From page 25:

"Haiku #555"

change, I said, is truth

wouldn't you agree, the tree said,

I'm testimony.

The Cleansing of Me by T. L. Barnette

Publisher: Publish America (www.publishamerica.com)

ISBN: 1-4241-8889-X