I spent a lifetime lurking in the shadows in a world created
by racism, sexism, poverty, and the internalization of
 these oppressions.Nurtured only by my fears and
 insecurities, I built a fortress within the darkness.
In this dark world, pain was a constant companion.

Anger has been my constant companion and has
 been with me through the ages.
Anger helped me build this fortress and was my
only and best friend in this dark world.
It was akin to two souls BOUND by my dark realities.
I wore self-confidence as a shield to prevent others
who share this world with me from knowing who
I really was.  I learned to speak the language of happiness,
 peace and contentment. But these words did not reflect
what I felt inside.   But one day, I ventured beyond the
 edges of darkness and beheld the light of truth. 

This truth came to me through information, and thence
 I started my journey into lightness.  My sojourn into the
 light was blinding and I retreated into the comfort of the shadows.
No longer satisfied with the limitations of this darkness,
I tucked my fears and insecurities deep within my soul
and ventured into the light once more.

Once into a world of bright sunshine, I found hope.  I found myself!  No longer can fear, pain and shame keep  me bound to a world of darkness and I celebrate the day  I rushed into the light exclaiming at the top of my voice, from the depths of my soul, 

WA TCH OUT WORLD, I HAVE COME

 OUT OF THE SHADOWS!”

© Dr. Pearlie Jones, Summer 04, Jacksonville, NC