This is My Year
I closed my eyes to sleep
But my brain would not shut off
As ideas whirled around in my head,
And the number 22 floated across my eyelids.
I am convinced that this is
My year.
For there are new ideas
In my head daily,
To stretch me, to grow me,
To change the direction of my life.
And I pray for guidance that these
Are HIS ideas and not mine.
That this is HIS direction for my life and
Not my journey into self (again).
I am excited and giddy and restless
About all of the possibilities
That will shape this year and beyond.
So as the number 22 floats and I finally
Drift off to sleep -
I am convinced that this is
My year.
©Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
March 9, 2022
But my brain would not shut off
As ideas whirled around in my head,
And the number 22 floated across my eyelids.
I am convinced that this is
My year.
For there are new ideas
In my head daily,
To stretch me, to grow me,
To change the direction of my life.
And I pray for guidance that these
Are HIS ideas and not mine.
That this is HIS direction for my life and
Not my journey into self (again).
I am excited and giddy and restless
About all of the possibilities
That will shape this year and beyond.
So as the number 22 floats and I finally
Drift off to sleep -
I am convinced that this is
My year.
©Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
March 9, 2022
Only Together
Only together
Can we heal;
Only together
Shall we strive.
Those who sought to divide us
Shall not prevail;
Those who sought to weaken us
Shall not draw our strength.
For only together
Shall we survive.
And as we stumble to
The year’s end,
Sometimes falling along
The way,
Extend a hand; lift her up,
Leave no man behind.
We will rise not fall
Together.
Can we heal;
Only together
Shall we strive.
Those who sought to divide us
Shall not prevail;
Those who sought to weaken us
Shall not draw our strength.
For only together
Shall we survive.
And as we stumble to
The year’s end,
Sometimes falling along
The way,
Extend a hand; lift her up,
Leave no man behind.
We will rise not fall
Together.
Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
November 7, 2020
November 7, 2020
It took 4 years
It took 4 years
For us to forget that
All we needed to know to be a leader
We learned in elementary school.
For us to forget that
Fairness, integrity, and kindness
Is not weakness, but strength of character.
It took 4 years
For it to be okay to publicly
Demean and bully our colleagues,
Calling them disparaging names.
For public profanity by elected officials
To become elevated to normal speech,
Now accepted at the sacred dinner table.
It took 4 years
For the public to dismiss and disregard
Crying children and their parents,
Separated and caged
Because they look different,
They sound different;
Whose only crime was wanting more
for their families.
It took 4 years
For leaders to close their eyes as the land
Angrily burns out of control and
Fans choking winds from coast to coast,
For the leaders to watch as
Nature warms and spews wind and water
Across the land and sea in never seen
proportions.
And, for the leaders to blame the people
Turning a blind eye
To nature’s painful cries for help.
It took 4 years
For racism to become publicly cheered
and promoted by officials
Who demand respect by bullying and
seek acceptance
Through contempt for others who are different.
For all of our deep-seated divisions
To become mainstream politics,
Now played out in violent retribution at the cost of
Lives abandoned and families torn apart.
It took 4 years for our country
To turn against itself…
What will happen in the
Next 4 years?
For us to forget that
All we needed to know to be a leader
We learned in elementary school.
For us to forget that
Fairness, integrity, and kindness
Is not weakness, but strength of character.
It took 4 years
For it to be okay to publicly
Demean and bully our colleagues,
Calling them disparaging names.
For public profanity by elected officials
To become elevated to normal speech,
Now accepted at the sacred dinner table.
It took 4 years
For the public to dismiss and disregard
Crying children and their parents,
Separated and caged
Because they look different,
They sound different;
Whose only crime was wanting more
for their families.
It took 4 years
For leaders to close their eyes as the land
Angrily burns out of control and
Fans choking winds from coast to coast,
For the leaders to watch as
Nature warms and spews wind and water
Across the land and sea in never seen
proportions.
And, for the leaders to blame the people
Turning a blind eye
To nature’s painful cries for help.
It took 4 years
For racism to become publicly cheered
and promoted by officials
Who demand respect by bullying and
seek acceptance
Through contempt for others who are different.
For all of our deep-seated divisions
To become mainstream politics,
Now played out in violent retribution at the cost of
Lives abandoned and families torn apart.
It took 4 years for our country
To turn against itself…
What will happen in the
Next 4 years?
Vernet Clemons Nettles
October 5, 2020
October 5, 2020
No Worries - 2020
In January from across the waters
Were whispers of a silent Killer…
And No one knew how
But They said, “No worries.”
In March, the world closed
And Death hovered
Closer than ever before…
And They had no answers
But They said, “No worries.”
And as Death continued to hover,
They scrambled.
“Do this!” “Do nothing!”
“It will go away.”
Yet, Death continued
To collect more than 200,000 souls.
But… They said...,
“No worries.”
And as Thanksgiving approaches
I am thankful
For the many blessings and revelations
That God has shown us
In the midst of this pandemic.
Yet, Death continues
To ravage the land and its people,
So, now, I ask,
"When
Shall They begin
To worry?"
Were whispers of a silent Killer…
And No one knew how
But They said, “No worries.”
In March, the world closed
And Death hovered
Closer than ever before…
And They had no answers
But They said, “No worries.”
And as Death continued to hover,
They scrambled.
“Do this!” “Do nothing!”
“It will go away.”
Yet, Death continued
To collect more than 200,000 souls.
But… They said...,
“No worries.”
And as Thanksgiving approaches
I am thankful
For the many blessings and revelations
That God has shown us
In the midst of this pandemic.
Yet, Death continues
To ravage the land and its people,
So, now, I ask,
"When
Shall They begin
To worry?"
©Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
October 21, 2020
Draft 1
October 21, 2020
Draft 1
Autumn, Maybe?
How shall Autumn come,
When it is cold then hot, then
Cold again - this day?
Oh yeah, it’s Mother
Nature and Father Time. She
Can do what She likes.
When it is cold then hot, then
Cold again - this day?
Oh yeah, it’s Mother
Nature and Father Time. She
Can do what She likes.
Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
October 12, 2020
October 12, 2020
A Conversation
She listened intently to the words
That vomited forth.
Words, not of wisdom, but
Of life’s heart struggles.
Words of guidance,
Of stepping stones
To avoid land mines
That life hides in the valleys
Of trials, and even
On the hilltops of success.
Years from now she will
Think of these words fondly
And the time spent with love.
But, today, it's just a
Conversation from the heart..
That vomited forth.
Words, not of wisdom, but
Of life’s heart struggles.
Words of guidance,
Of stepping stones
To avoid land mines
That life hides in the valleys
Of trials, and even
On the hilltops of success.
Years from now she will
Think of these words fondly
And the time spent with love.
But, today, it's just a
Conversation from the heart..
Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
October 12, 2020
October 12, 2020
Once Upon A Time
It is my sadness
That you are apart from me
Marking time in
Someone else’s symphony
Yet, I am grateful for the cup
Of joy that you shared with me…
Once upon a time.
That you are apart from me
Marking time in
Someone else’s symphony
Yet, I am grateful for the cup
Of joy that you shared with me…
Once upon a time.
Vernet Clemons Nettles, EdD
July 30, 2020
July 30, 2020
The Buzz
Whispered Prayers
Whispered prayers
Seeking purpose
Dreaming visions of “What if?”
Muddled thoughts
Of discontent
Clouding truths of “What is.”
Quiet words
On wings of dove
Shifting shadows to “What is to come!”
Praising Him
For what is to come…
Promises beyond measure.
Amen.
Seeking purpose
Dreaming visions of “What if?”
Muddled thoughts
Of discontent
Clouding truths of “What is.”
Quiet words
On wings of dove
Shifting shadows to “What is to come!”
Praising Him
For what is to come…
Promises beyond measure.
Amen.
Vernet Clemons Nettles, Ed.D.
November 12, 2018
November 12, 2018
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