by GALA P. GOODWIN AND TRE SEARLES

the yard was my oyster.
the places i traveled to i was confident
young, gifted. owned self. was proud. felt accomplished.
to be on the yard.

and to my surprise i was embraced and loved.
it was a stunning revelation.
His grace created space for me to be authentic.

God spoke I listened.
i would see Him in the light.
i would see Him in the dark.
i shared of Him and that was ok too.
Joy. And a stunning revelation.

i was crowned and laden with more love.
i was honored. i cherished the gift.
held it loosely and shared it with my sisters.
i had an opportunity to sow in fertile ground.
what beautiful flowers became my daughters.
they floated. they cherished and brought honor to our family.

me and the yard
a place of grace, growth, tilling.
floating on clouds of
Love. Joy. Freedom.
a new purgatory
above earth, but grounded.
under heaven but lifted up.
Present.
Be still and know.
Solely present.

The yard was my pearl
Most of the places I migrated to
I was bold, blunt, very clear and sure of myself. Felt amazing, to be on the yard.

And to my surprise, they wanted me everywhere doing everything. Brilliant
manifestation. It was the anointing that solidified my authority.

God spoke; I listened once I got out of the system. The system had me
imprisoned to intuition. I hear you in the noise & I hear you when there’s silence. I
shared with Her, I guess it was ok to. Joy.

I was crowned. Well, royalty… royally laden with love. I was the honorable.
Revered as unconquerable. I shared myself like I was wealth people sowed into
me like I was fertile ground. Out of me came sons, rooted and grounded, bearing
fruit of all kinds in my mind, they flourish.

Me and the yard.
A place of humility, meekness, self-control.
But for a minute the pearl got bigger than oyster. So the oyster closed Herself to
remind the pearl that without the yard there’s no me. Now I better understand.
Love. Joy. Freedom.
Where odds get even.
Adam meets Eve again in the New Eden.
Roll call. Pearl.
Present.
Be still and know.
I know what it means to still be present.

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Njeri Etaan. Born Gala P. Goodwin, Writer. Producer. Creator.
From the Southern state of Georgia, Njeri Etaan, born Gala Patrice Goodwin is the daughter of Jean Marie and Jerome Edward Goodwin, the sister of Jillisa Ein Goodwin and the auntie to the most beloved Jayda Amor and Skylar Elizabeth. She laughs loud. She loves thick like sticky sweet molasses. Everything that she is; she’s gotten honestly. She always proclaims; “The world ain’t ready”. But in her reflection she realized it never has been or ever will be, which is the essence of being Black– the force that brings urgency for one to reconcile. May my work represent that force: “If the word integration means anything, this is what it means: that we, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are, to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it.” -James Baldwin

Native of Liberty County, Georgia where life is about the interpretation of who you are, where you come from, and what you want to do for yourself. Trey Searles is my name, I’m going back to where to I come from; Yah, is my interpretation of origin. I write because I think, think because I feel and I feel because I believe. Husband to one, father of three, brother to three other siblings (all boys).
Searles attended Albany State University from 2006 to 2009; he participated in ASU Theatre Ensemble, ASU College Radio Station and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Searles graduated with a degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. After two years in radio, six years in recreation, now starting a career in education, he strives to be one of the greatest influences in spiritual healing through the arts.

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