24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Gina has had a lifelong interest in reading and writing. As early as elementary age she has received requests to recite her poetry in school, church, and to pen pieces for special occasions. She is currently working in the publication process of several books and works of poetry. The best of which is a children's book series created with her granddaughter Ayanna. Professionally, Gina serves as Executive Director of Positive FACE, a nonprofit organization that she founded to encourage life excel in at-risk students. Her blog, which features writings from her testimony and vision, can be found on the organization website www.positiveface.org.
Different looks and poisons
Make your web, unique and mighty 
Curiosity draws them near you
Fear, or respect, run them away
Simple yet complex
Perfect and flawed
Irresistible and undesired
Daunting and appealing
Eight legs, one spider
Real or fake is a powerful tike
jj2017
When we took on the world it was just us two
Hard to believe we’d trod so many roads
Hard to believe that our paths have now diverged
We had the perfect journey to believe in
It started with sunlight so bright in lights of yellow
Now we depart in different was with hearts cold as wood
jj2017
Golden Shovel From ‘The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
So now you look at me like you never knew
How could you not?
I speak the way I’ve always spoken
Dress and walk and posture the same
I saw the same affections as ever
There has been no reason to question me, never
You can’t redefine what I feel inside
Just because you choose now to see me
I believe what I believe, understand what’s true to me, cast away what does not fit
My truth, I walk – live – breathe it
You get no say in who I am or am not
jj2017
Inner city blues
Success has many clues
The answer solves what’s real
No matter how you feel
Sing a simple song of life
That ends the violence, starvation, and strife
That lets factual knowledge now be heard
Where wisdom isn’t a foreign word
Sing a song that heals a child
That gives us unity all the while
Allowing us to be our self
Instead of dictating someone else
What is the name of the city that you love
Where is the state honors rights of all
When the country holds dear the rights of each state
Does anyone live in this place
jj2017
A school trip becomes an escape to get lost in my favorite place
Crispy leaves crunching under foot
Birds fly over head that like to avoid the city
The chill in the air is perfect for the apple picking season
The scent of the cider mill is relaxing as afternoon tea, but better
The brook running by is loud, but who’d blame her
She’s excited about the peaceful place where she resides
There are no beatings, yelling, or bullying, just natures smiles
The school trip escape is a good as cascade
We explore leaf colors, moss, and animal tracks
Maybe I’ll survive until time to go back
jj2017
Take control of your Joy
Let no one destroy it
Inner peace is the key
Hold on tight and don’t quit
jj2017
As it turns out it was all a dream
Heaven is a place that we called a ghetto
We woke up to find only the weak survived
They are the ones that learned to depend and never worry
Jokes on you! Only the peacekeepers and poor can get in
Your hell is knowing you lived too religious near the end.
jj2017
Whether you desire it or concede it
You can’t love it but life needs it
I only seek it so I can give
Or do I seek it for the life I live
I love life, so I must have it to exist
My heart and mind are in a twist because
If I love life and pursue money sustain it
Is it evil to love the essence of what I need to attain it?
jj2017
Each feeling its power
The knew that they could win alone
For nothing surpassed the need for a solid foundation
Earth was proud to be the support of all creation
But when is as stagnant, cold, or thirst for life
The absence of everyone only brought strife.
But the wind, yes it knew it was most powerful of all
For without being seen it could make great oaks fall
But what else, once things were moved, did existence mean?
There seemed to be a need for definition to the empty scene.
Fire! Fire never questioned for a moment its supreme royal rights
It could destroy and create, darken the day and light the night
But when it smiled and turned to see validation
Fear reigned and caused its might power full devaluation
Water knew its calm demeanor and mighty power was created needs
Without it nothing could survive, no growth would ever succeed.
But as it evaporated into nothing, it knew it needed more
All that it could was limited by acts it no ability to explore.
As they faced one another, all capable, powerful, and unique
They each knew that their best there was greater goal to seek
They found their individual powers were always far enhanced
When unity was the meeting place from which they all advanced.
jj2017
Why would you do that? Because I love to write
What will you get from that? A satisfaction at night
How much are you going to be paid? Not a single dime
Who would make you do such a thing? This writing passion of mine