Monique Harris
Photography and Poem By Brittany McDonald
The Best Life Recipe Too much bloodshed, hate for humankind Darkness Loss Things need to change, she whispers softly to herself She looks into the rearview mirror, her past behind her, her foot on the pedal She zooms off with nothing but the crinkle of pages trailing behind and the sounds of change marinating forward She steps into her new chapter A storybook unfolds, like the opening of a new cookbook With each page, something new to create She takes influences from here and there A new recipe for life has been made She adds zest and spice -the soul- Her flavors explode into a cacophony of laughs Voices from children both big and small Their presence turns into a sweet melody, smooth like the lips of the R & B singers she loves True just as they are A purple royal majesty She’s a Queen to her King An Angel to the ones who need her The ones she loves She values their company and impact on her life No longer outcasted characters from the chapters left behind They are her inspiration -the soul- In her spice of life. But through the story map of life, goodbyes still appear Not like they did before though This time the endings are slow, drawn-out like the simmering of a new sauce cooking on the stove Because she knows this is her best life, her best recipe ever created Loved ones, -the soul- Keith and Monique