Enclosed in these pages are the unique experiences, sentiments, varied viewpoints of life and events captured through poetry. Each word, each stanza, and each punctuation represent my story through the lens of my faith, my identity as an African American woman, my environment, my journey of personal development, and my navigation through relationships, family dynamics and life’s unexpected challenges. Nostalgia, regret, guilt, sorrow, pain, acceptance, rebirth and peace make up some of the emotions that I unpack in this final volume of the Life, Love, Loss Poetry Collection. This part of the collection has been by far the most difficult, as I’ve had to recount moments of tremendous loss, despair, and insurmountable grief. Although extremely painful, I consider it a gift to the world that upon my release of such painful memories, I can offer up tools, insight and hope for a society that conditions us to just keep going. After reading this collection, you will be able to identify your own grief; be it losing a loved one, a job, a piece of your identity or even a friend. Instead of simply running away from the pain, you will learn how to walk through it with resilience and strength. I am a living testament that you will LIVE again. You will LOVE again. You will SMILE and LAUGH again. If you can just hold on until the morning, the sun will shine again. And although the old you shall never return, you welcome the introduction to the new you; reformed, refined and ready for IMPACT!! So, buckle your seatbelts and join me on this bumpy ride called LIFE AFTER LOSS. As I endured some of the most significant losses in my life, penning these poems offered therapy to my despairing soul. My wish for you is to be free of the construct that would encourage you to mask your emotions or to find something to fill the void. For we are ALL living and moving beings and we deserve to show up authentically as we are, no matter how uncomfortable, complex or challenging. Today — together, we give voice to the pain. We give voice to the trauma. We put a name on whatever we’re feeling, and we allow space and grace to lay it down, let it go or even dialogue about it. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. Be sure to stick around after reading, to receive these incredible bonuses. But if you're like me, and just can't wait until the end, head to https://www.subscribepage.com/iamvernaetaylor to join the mailing list for ALL the great things to come!