A Journey to Womanhood: Poems from a Girl Grown up Too Soon

By Dr. Nicole M. Ford-Francis

This book is a compilation of my poems since I was a little girl. In 1982, as a fifth grader, my Mother encouraged me to write in a journal. As an English teacher she always emphasized writing and I was able to use my poems, stories and essays as an outlet for my feelings. These poems are precious, personal and they are expressions of me. I was told it was time to share them.
Join me on a trip from being a little girl to a teenager who thought she was a woman and who thought she knew everything. This literary journey of poems starts with me tells my dear Grandmother that she is my best friend. One of the poems confesses my love to my unborn son who is now a man. These poems chronicle my relationships with teenage boyfriends and also my marriages with men whom I loved and hated Read on as I reveal the deep friendship and spiritual bond I shared with the powerful Man of God. Finally, the last essay expresses my joy and sense of relief after finally having my doctoral dissertation approved!
What a journey This project is a labor of love, of smiles, of fear and of tears that spans a period of over 25 years. Enjoy this time as you travel with me on this, Journey to Womanhood: Chronicles of a Girl Grown up to Soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493103874

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Dr. Nicole M. Ford-Francis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 10/08/2013

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Contents

Biography

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction To The Book

Section One: Unicorns

Me An Essay

My Grandmother, My Bestfriend

Times Of Trouble

A Heart’s Weakness

To Love, Is Not Always Good

Aim To Please (Yourself).

Alone But Not Alone

When The Old Love’s Gone

Unspoken Love

True Love… True Fear…

The Seasons Claim The Heart

Happiness, A State Of Mind

Message For Spiritual Health

An Unfinished Letter Of Consultation: To Myself

What More Can I Ask For?

A True Reflection Of Me.

Unconditional Love

An Unmailed Letter

Section Two: Hearts And Money

Changes Forthe Best

Not So Funny Valentine: Valentine’s Day 1991

Too Little, Too Late

All In Love Is Not Fair

The Only True Friend

Finally Letting Go

Alone Again

Sunlit Gardens

Expressions Of The Heart And Mind

Section Three: Butterflies

Need Unfulfilled

A Dream Come True . . .

Emergence Of Light

From Rebound To Rebirth Or Vice Versa

A Prayer Journal Entry

My Prayer For Blessings

A Poem To The Man Of God: My Very Close Friend

Section Four: One More Thing

Letter To Myself… The Doctor

The Honeymoon

I’m In Love With A Chicken… But, I Am An Eagle

BIOGRAPHY

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Dr. Nicole M. Ford-Francis was born in Baltimore, MD. She was raised in Havre De Grace, MD; a small town 45 minutes North of Baltimore City. She spent her early years living with her Grandmother in Havre de Grace and attended school there and in Cecil County, MD until the third grade. In third grade, Nicole moved to Baltimore City with her Mother and went to Baltimore City Public Schools. She graduated from the prestigious Baltimore City College High School: Advanced College Preparatory Program and went to Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD) as a Biology and Pre-Medicine major. After several years at Morgan, she transferred to Towson State University (Towson, MD) and graduated from there with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She immediately enrolled in graduate school at Coppin State University in Baltimore and earned a Master of Education degree in Special Education. Six years later, Nicole earned a Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Management of Human Service Organizations and Bio-Sociology from Nova Southeastern University in N. Miami Beach, FL.

While in college she was married and had her three children (Christopher, Chad and Nikayla). Christopher was born while she was in undergraduate school and she had Chad and Nikayla each year of graduate school. She achieved some of the greatest things in her life with and because of her children and is proud about this part of her journey.

After graduation Nicole worked as a Biology teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools and served