For Opal: My Book of Poetry

By Yolanda Renee and Opal Stansberry

"Yolanda Renée had reached a new dimension in her writing and tamed some very wild beasts in the process! This poet has opened her heart, bared her soul, and in the process created inspiring and uplifting verse. But also raw and terrifying."
Author & Poet Cindy Parker

For Opal is a collection of 100 poems written by Yolanda Renee. Influenced by and in memory of Lilly Opal Stansberry, her grandmother. Renée's lyrics portray a moment in time. Highlighting love, loss, tragedy, and survival. There are a few that were created just for fun and several that have a murderous slant. But they are all a small picture of life and written from the heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yolanda Renee
• Release date: Jul 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201056995

Yolanda Renee

As a girl from Pennsylvania who would do almost anything on a dare, I flew to Alaska for a two-week vacation and stayed for four years. I learned to sleep under the midnight sun, survive below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges. I've traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most valued. The wonders, mysteries, and incredible beauty of Alaska have never left me and thus now influence my writing. Despite my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals with a bachelor's and master’s degree. I still hope to get my Ph.D. I'm married and have two wonderful sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure. Please connect with me at: [e-mail]

Book preview

For Opal

My Book of Poetry

Yolanda Renée

Re-release on D2D 2022

Copyright

For Opal

My Book of Poetry

© 2020 Yolanda Renée

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the Author addressed below.

Email:[e-mail]

Contributing Author

Lillie Opal Stansberry

Cover photo provided by Pearle Merriner

A picture of Grandma's house

November 2, 2020

Y R Publishing

[phone]

Dedication

To all lovers of poetry.

Table of Contents

Memories

What Will We Do?

Heaven on Earth

The Midnight Sun

Renewal

My Love

A Daily Walk

Family Is

Temptation

How Do I Love Thee?

Duty & Love

Rain

The Steelers

You Found Me

Expressions of Love

Faith

Too Young for Love

When Love Dies

Imprint of Love

Betrayal

I Believed You

Tell Me

The Devil Be Damned

The Flames of Memory

You Fill My Senses

Eros of Space

Father Dragon

Deceit

Doubts

Escape

Friendship Lost

Grief

Tomorrow

Lie to Me

Unrequited

Love

Without You

No More Petals

Hopes Wishes & Dreams

Opposites

Rejection

Secret Desires

Silently Weeping

She Dances

I Need You

Happy Birthday, Brother

Del

Conundrum — 2011

Joy

She Is

Goodbye Sweet Girl

Despair

Dark Places

Unforgivable

Broken

Walk Away

Believe

Peace Denied

Sin

The To-Do List

The Undead

Free

Who Am I

Hate

Altar of Fear

True Horror

Shadow of Hate

Men of Power

Snow Moon

It's Evil We Bring

Wasted Fear

Unmasked

Consequences

Warned

All Hallows Eve

What Do You See?

Witches

Samael

Caught

The Devils Kiss

Engine 7 5 0 2 9

My Happy Home

An Emotional Torrent

The List

A Garden for All

I Wrote A Book!

Shadow

Monster

Service

Forgive Me

Inspiration

Always a Fool

Horoscope

Fine

Walking with my Muse

Wrong Turn

Surprise & Sorrow

Excess Baggage

Your Kiss

Just One More

Oops

From the Heart

Pure Love

About the Author

Renée's Other Books:

A Note from the Author

In the past, you would have seen an introduction to my latest murder mystery. Today I'm releasing a book of poetry to honor a promise to my grandmother, Lillie Opal Stansberry.

My Book of Poetry is a work of love. I have given you a view of my heart. A collection of my words encompassing many emotions, heartbreaks, thrills, and a few chills! Some personal and some totally a figment of my imagination, others from hopes, dreams, love, and loss.

Each poem is about a moment in time and is written based on an influence in my life.

Grandma was the most significant influence on my writing. She wrote poetry, too, and kept a daily journal. She penned poems for each grandchild at birth. And many of them are about life and love on special occasions. Each piece was handwritten on notepaper of all sizes and tucked in birthday cards or little notes of hello with a surprise verse. I am proud to post two of them here, Memories and What Will We Do?

Memories is a poem of love and loss. But What Will We Do? is, for me, one of the saddest I've ever read. I received this poem right before she died.

For Opal is in her memory and out of love for all she gave me. Especially the confidence to publish my own poetry and stories.

My poems have my initials YRS at the end of each verse. My grandmother's work will show her full name, Lillie Opal Stansberry.

To start this journey, I hope you enjoy her words in the poems, Memories and What Will We Do? as much as I have:

**~~~**

Memories

I looked on love as a thing of wonder,

back in the days gone by.

I knew the stars away out yonder

shone only for you and me.

I walked the paths all lovers trod.

Always uphill, cheerful, and gay.

Midst bees and birds and goldenrod,

seeing you always just over the way.

I prayed the prayers; all lovers pray.

To keep us safe till we are one.

When forever would be just like a day.

After this love, we both have won.

I dreamed the dreams all lover's dream

of love as true as the stars above.

But love, like the waters of the smallest stream

can disappear neath the clouds of life.

Lillie Opal Stansberry

What Will We Do?

On a sunny day in May

A little one came to stay

A joy to behold.

No one said, What will we do with it?

A happy day it was

When twins came to stay.

Bouncy and noisy as all boys are

No one said, What will we do with them?

Mom grew old and gray

And feeble on her way.

When a message arrived from across the