I sat in the pantry holding my knees tightly as I tried to fight back the tears. I didn't kw what to do. I wasn't even old eugh to fully understand what was going on. All I could hear was my younger sister, who was already older even though she was four years younger asking where I was. I stayed there, held prisoner by fear. My mother's voice followed but it did t sound like her own voice. I couldn't speak. I was afraid. Afraid of the person whom I loved the most but was starting to realize I knew the least about. All of this because my mother was going to lie in the bed with me, something she had never done. Affection. My mother was never an overly affectionate person so when she became affectionate I knew something was wrong. I ran to the pantry and hid there because I knew my mother wasn't there. She was but she wasn't her rmal self. So I hid and I cried. She found me. My release became writing at a very early age. Things that my parents had taught us stuck with me. Things like saying please, thank you and common courtesy was a big deal growing up being raised in Oak Cliff, Texas. The South. My father would tell us that children are to be seen and t heard. We were told to speak when spoken to when being addressed by adults, never to lie and look a person in the eyes when you are talking to them. Those things stuck with me as I began to allow my pen to do the talking for me especially since we lived with our mother and she was also quiet, n-chalant and who didn't show too much emotion. Living with a mother battling a mental illness which one ever knew about until 10 years later gave me strength that I never knew I had. Although, she had many episodes, my mother was never diagsed with bipolar, schizophrenia until around 2007. There were countless times where I went to school crying on the inside but one ever knew. Not even my closet friends. My pen knew and my tebook knew. They knew about the pain and fear that I had of losing my mother and her losing herself mentally. They knew that I was born a lesbian and trying to fit in my Christian family. My pen and my tebook knew how sad I was being someone I was t and t being able to speak about it. My pen and my tebook gave birth to my release. Here I am. Unspoken Southern Hospitality, is my first book of poetry. It is about love. It is about pain. It is about the fear of being loved for who you truly are. It is about acceptance from friends, family, God and the world. I take my pain, my fears, my sorrows and my joy and use it to speak to anyone who may t have found their voice yet. For those who somehow just cant find the words. I speak for those who don't have the courage yet to stand up for themselves or to tell someone I love you. I speak for those who feel that they are t good eugh for family, friends or bullies. I say thank you to those who work every day without any reward other than their own kwing that they did what they must to survive and provide for their families. This is my first attempt at writing professionally and definitely t my last. I have been writing for more than 20 years as a way of self-expression. When my mother didn't feel like talking I talked to her through my poetry and it has led me here. I hope that you read my work and give me an opportunity to touch someone else's life through my ink.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN-10
1492779482
ISBN-13
9781492779483
eBay Product ID (ePID)
191133846
Additional Product Features
Content Note
Black & White Illustrations
Author Biography
Chalecha was born and raised in Dallas, TX and has traveled many places in the world while in the United States Navy. She is now enjoying life after the military working as an IT specialist and sharing her unique writing abilities as motivation and upliftment for people. Chalecha enjoys sharing her stories and personal journey through poetry by giving a voice to those who go unheard.
Format
Paperback / Softback
Language
English
Author(s)
Chalecha Cunningham
Date of Publication
25/09/2013
Format Details
Trade Paperback (US) ,Unsewn / Adhesive Bound
Subject
Poetry Texts & Poetry Anthologies
Imprint
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Country of Publication
United States
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