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When you look at yourself in the mirror what do you see? Are you happy with your own uniqueness or do you desperately wish to be in someone else’s shoes? We all have a tendency, at one point or another, to doubt our own value or significance here on earth. After all, life is both deceptively simple and overwhelmingly complex. We strive to find harmony and our place in this world so we may better enjoy all that it has to offer.
The Kaleidoscope of Color is a collection of poems I began compiling in Jamaica when I was only fifteen years old. In it, I have attempted to capture aspects of the human experience with which we may be, to varying degrees, familiar. This is a collection of poems about us and the world in which we live. It is a celebration of life, love, nature and diversity. I decided to use this title for the collection because I felt it most effectively conveyed my own views on life. I believe what makes us truly spectacular is the fact that every single human being offers something different to the world. Certainly, it is in our nature to stereotype various groups based on factors such as ethnicity, class and gender. But, once we start looking past these stereotypes to uncover the beauty in all cultures, we have truly begun to grasp the depth of the human experience. We complement each other. Some of us may never fathom how, but we do.
If there is one thing I would truly like all my readers to take away from The Kaleidoscope of Color, it is that you are unique for a very special reason. A kaleidoscope is only complete if it has a myriad of colors. Without this, it is not a kaleidoscope. There will always be pessimists and naysayers who will attempt to immobilize your dreams and steal your sense of purpose. Hold steadfast in your pursuits. You are the greatest weapon in the fight against ignorance, prejudice and injustice. Do not be consumed by these forces; overcome them. Remember, a kaleidoscope is ever shifting. In order to overcome you must be able to shift with time. Without this ability, you will ultimately be ensnared in the quagmire of stagnation.
I sincerely hope you will enjoy reading The Kaleidoscope of Color as much as I have delighted in its creation. Though rhyming poetry has always been a favorite of mine, there are a variety of poems in this collection that should appeal to a wide range of readers. The people who have had the most profound influence on my life have been women of exceptional caliber. As such, my usage of goddesses in this text is a reflection on and testament to the strength and beauty of women everywhere. My dream is that anyone who buys this collection will find at least one poem he or she truly enjoys. If this occurs, then I will have accomplished my purpose. I am an eternal optimist and it is this disposition that has kept me afloat and focused over time. Remember, the power to effect change is in us so never let your dreams go astray.
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