A breathtaking blend of poetry, superstition, and Southern folklore — for every reader raised on warnings, whispers, and generational wisdom. In The Things We Were Told , the author, Ashley Jeter, invites readers into the intimate world of Black Southern superstition: the rules we grew up on, the omens we inherited, and the rituals that shaped us long before we understood their origins. With a voice equal parts lyrical, tender, and haunting, Jeter transforms everyday beliefs—don’t sweep my feet, don’t let a bird cross your doorway, keep purses off the floor, itchy palms—into powerful meditations on inheritance, fear, intuition, motherhood, faith, and resilience. Through poems, micro-essays, and personal stories, she explores how the body speaks before the mouth does, how ancestors guide from beyond, and how warnings passed down through generations become a language of survival. Part memoir. Part folklore. Part poetry collection. All heart. This book is for you if you’ve ever wondered: • Why did my grandmother hush the house during thunderstorms? • Why does a baby smiling at the ceiling feel like a visit from someone unseen? • Why do pennies show up on the days I need hope most? • Which warnings do we carry? And which ones carry us? From tender stories of lineage to eerie Southern gothic moments, The Things We Were Told captures the beauty and complexity of the superstitions that live in us long after childhood ends. Inside this collection, you’ll find: ✨ Poems that explore the body as a messenger ✨ Haunting retellings of classic Southern omens ✨ Tender stories of family rituals and inherited beliefs ✨ Modern reflections on intuition and healing ✨ Southern gothic moments woven with softness and shadow ✨ A closing meditation on what we keep — and what we release Luminous, intimate, and unforgettable — this book is a love letter to the women who warned us, the ancestors who guided us, and the children we are now trying to raise with both caution and care. The Things We Were Told will make you laugh, shiver, remember, and reflect on the signs that shaped who you are.