The Soul of a Woman Through Joy and Pain

About the Book

Look beyond the eyes and tell me what you see? I would like to take you on a journey to a woman’s soul. The poems I am sharing with you were written from personal experiences along with experiences from family and friends. I decided to share my poems with you because sometimes it’s good to know that you are not alone if you are going through heartache and pain. The joy is represented by the pictures to show that no matter what you are going through, you can always do something that makes you happy. Some poems will make you sad, but you will see it’s not the end. Each poem has a date to let you know when it was written. I hope you enjoy reading my poems. Thank you for your support.

About the Author

Anitra was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She lived in the St. Thomas Housing Projects with her mother and brother. Growing up in the projects was not always easy, and she knew she wanted a better life. She graduated from Warren Easton High School and Delgado Community College with an associate degree in general studies and a certificate in surgical technology. At twenty-seven years old, she purchased a brand-new house all by herself. This was quite an accomplishment for her. She could not have been more proud of herself, but on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in what was one of America’s worst natural disasters. Anitra and five of her family members stayed behind and witnessed their city under water. She and her family sought shelter in the superdome. It was five days of hell; she saw two people lose their lives. On September 1, 2005, Anitra’s eyes rolled in the back of her head, and she passed out from dehydration. Her body was given to the National Guards, and for twenty-four hours, her family did not know if she was dead or alive. While lying on the ground in water, there was no medical treatment given to her. A bright light appeared to Anitra, and she was ready to leave because, in her mind, she knew she was going to a better place. But the thought of leaving her family behind brought her back to life. As a means of coping with this traumatic event in her life, she started writing, and one poem lead to another one. Being given a second chance at life, Anitra lives each day to the fullest. To know Anitra is to love her. She is currently working as a certified surgical technologist in New Orleans, Louisiana, and she loves to travel. Anitra’s motto is live life, laugh often, and love more.