I was born on a hot summers
night, 3rd of July on a Friday
9 pm.

With fire in my soul
and future sunrises
waiting to bloom, I
grew.

From the soil of American blue’s,
moody beaches covered in sunbathing bodies, seagulls and seashells of LA and Pismo.

My mom taught me well, I had
a voice and I have a story
to tell.

She raised me on rock n roll
guitar riffs, piano keys
at my finger tips and a voice
like a bell ringing in a tower.

With a bible under my belt,
and black belt karate around
my hips, with yoga on the side
I grew into myself.

Art galleries and canvas rooted
in my mind, from the beginning
I was meant to shine.

I was raised on American soil,
apple pies and biscuits with gravy.

I was soaked in the mud of
the Kern county mountains,
I swam in the river and ran
through the city barefoot
dreaming of a better future.

Poor and sick, but brave and
willing to learn I became
stronger and better than
I ever imagined.

I proved them wrong by
surviving mental illness,
cracking the lock to my
own purpose.

The meaning to life is simple,
to live it to the fullest, too be
brave and bold. Live it well.

©️ 2021 By Amanda Shelton