My Branch of Life

This book of poetry is about life; poems about me. We go through so much each day and from year to year that it can be exhausting; we are forever in search of who we are as we find our way on earth. We may not know who to turn to, what to do or how to live, but our destiny paves the path. My thoughts and the need to write them down began while I watched a tennis match. Maybe it was the quickness of the players as they moved around the court that lit a spark for me. I am in my fast lane; time is rushing pass me. All I know is that the spark caused me to reflect about my life. I realized that I am still in search of me. More than likely, this will be the case for the rest of my life. You may not know what you hold within yourself. There are treasures hidden in all of us; they are real for all to see at some point in our life.

Writing poetry about my life began as I watched a tennis match. It was January of 2018. Maybe it was the quickness of the players as they moved around the court. Maybe it was a signal going to my brain that I need to place more focus on being fit. It could have been my subconscious telling me that I am much older but that I have not come to grips with this fact. All I know is that words began to flood my mind. I grabbed paper and a pen to jot down my thoughts. My feelings were erupting; I had no idea why I felt the need to bare any part of what was going on in my life. These words were all about age. The spark inside of me was so real. My youthfulness was fading away. While I felt young in my heart and mind, my physical self was not the same. I had changed; it was then that I was able to connect with my aging self. When I completed the poem, "The Magic of Living," my niece and I talked about trees. It was her idea that led me on a trip to South Carolina in search of an Angel Oak tree. It was on John's Island where I found this grand tree. This tree is so full of life.  I just stood there and admired its beauty and long life.  My eyes moved up, down and around this tree; it took my breath away.   As I looked at that tree, the words in my poem became more meaningful to me.

Margaret J. Brinson, one of ten children, was born and raised in North Carolina. After serving her country in the military, she moved to Washington, DC, and served in the government for several years before marrying and moving to New York with her husband. She has traveled extensively, both within the United States and overseas. Her love of sports has taken her to numerous Olympic games. She and her husband have now retired and split their time enjoying the warmth of their Florida home as well as their timeshare in Aruba.