There's a force within us that fuels the fire and passion to fight, to speak up instead of implode. This stems from pain and suffering, for relief and release of the shackles that enslave us, the passion to right wrong, and the desire to have the shade that dims our light removed; the fight to survive despite our shadows.

We all have a story and in this book of poetic expressions. It is told from the writer's and other's perspective. The pieces stem from a place of pain, of beauty despite the ugliness of life, of success despite failures; of peace and forgiveness, of timeliness and patience and of love and endurance. These words are birthed from the effects of hypocrisy, of racism, imperfections, failed relations, inadequacy and fear; but of hope in the midst of despair.

Finding strength to survive, to learn from mistakes, to show love, to enact change and stand up for justice and humanity is the spark that will lighten the darkness and outshine the shadows of life. Life will never be perfect, but knowing that our spark, (God) the one who overshadows us and keeps our light burning, makes life worth living.