Contents

Message to the Reader

Intro

VERSE ONE

I’m Back

Sirens

Loosen

GO!

Mind of Ambition, Success Is My Mission

You Again

Dreamer

Interlude

CHORUS

Build

Semicolon

Beautifully Ugly

D.W.T.F.I.L.

Insecurities

Day

You Are

Interlude

VERSE TWO

Stealing Cupid

Running

Imperfection

Itch

Good Ol’ Gospel

Outcast

Love Those, Hate Is an Ugly Word

Interlude

CHORUS

 . . . Push…

Role Model

Coffee Bean

He Called Me… WARRIOR

Better Defined by…

This Day Fades Out

(The Sunday Scene)

David

Interlude

VAMP

Am I Supposed To?

My Father’s Song

Feet

I Praise… Music Stops… Life Goes On

The Day

Our First XOXO

The Leader

Interlude

VERSE THREE

Yeah… Basically I Miss You

Mr. and Mrs. Mathematician

You’re an Introduction

Give Me Back My Tears

Roses, Tulips, and Fruit

Can’t Force Me To Lose

Bang, Bang (Heart-Brake)

Interlude

BRIDGE

Physics of Religion

Loving Haters

Running Too

Pulling Out All the Stops

Stalker

Spit Up, Spit Out

The Rise

Interlude

CHORUS

Beautifully Ugly II: Beauty versus Ugly

I Love You

What If?

Open-Heart Surgery

Almost Yours Again (I remember)

Expected Words

Relationships ‘R’ US

Interlude

REPEAT CHORUS

Depth

Love Follower

Desire

Feet II

Love Like Never

Come Here… Sit

Intimacy

Interlude

BONUS VERSES SIDE I

That Nature Poem

Rip the Mansion

Quiet Resilience

So Attached

Puppies and Babies

The First Truth

New American Bandstand

Workshop

White Chocolate Cheesecake

BONUS VERSES SIDE II

Together Apart

A Female Want

Bruise

Blue Hearts

Lion Dad

Love Anger

Expedition

The Loud Noise versus His Silent Sounds

Walking Car

Interlude

About the Author

L. J. Sherard has given more than ten years into the stylistic writings that consists of the background from rhythm and blues, gospel roots, alternative rock, and jazz inspirations to name a few. His background has conjoined music favoritisms and poetic influences from Langston Hughes to Chester Lyfe Jennings. Born in the deep country of Douglas, Georgia and later moved to Baltimore, Maryland to be raised. He developed the tactful skill of enjoying music and learning the various aspects that came along with composing a song. It was not until his last year in high school when he realized that he could write poems. Later in life, he challenged this talent and has grown to become a writer of many sources. L. J. Sherard has managed to develop various ways to incorporate his experiences into a unique style of writing. Keeping pace with differentiating his style of writing to the likings of others, which keeps a visionary mind-set of openness to achieve and continually be set apart. His ability to showcase his efforts and skillful words into poetic interpretation stands strong while the voice still remains humble yet consistent with the flow of work. Taking themes and experiences from art and music, his intellectual capacity of human characteristics displays his observant nature and the willingness to achieve. The phases of life always keeps a clear perspective on his ability to create innovative ways and relatable simulations inside his writings that serves as an outlet from the everyday routine. Taking on this perspective promotes his ability to illustrate positivity, growth, and understanding the importance of his talent. Experiencing the city culture and the demands of achieving success was crucial and very detrimental if he did not turn into a successful story. Just being who he is and has grown to be illustrates the depiction of person with an interesting view of life. Making the decision of letting the thoughts of interpreting music through poems signifies the importance his character and personifies the arrangement of this book.

Blending lyrical content for the musing of poetic production, the style of this book showcases how precise the art of words and phrases are conjoined to become a definitive interpretation of poetry. Relating on the topics of love, religion, politics, family, friendships, and other common areas in life, Life Verses: The Song of a Writer displays the intellectual capability of allowing the originality from the author’s perspective to be showcased. Taken from the experiences of the author’s own life and trying to distinguish between the imaginative versus the reality, the composing is very much relating his experiences and others as well. Having penned the poetically induced Beautifully Ugly and its follow-up to be included climaxes the theme of a resentful yet strenuous relationship that never quits. Alongside the humorous Yeah… Basically I Miss You illustrates the inevitability of life’s outcomes that prevents others to react in a set mind frame. The view that promotes the defining tone of the book puts a poetic writing in another category. Given the down-south-rooted Good Ol’ Gospel and spiritual ballad Love Like Never also brings versatility to the book as well. The title I’m Back, a power-driven entanglement of phrases that induces the mind on being back for the first time, is a fresh taste of something new. Life Verses: The Song of a Writer isn’t just all metaphorical punch lines and emotional phrases; it’s relaxing yet involved in various aspects that do not contradict with reality. It sets the stage to numerous situations and sheds light on a lot of the same predictable outcomes in life but does so in a more relatable approach. Oftentimes, poetry is common in society as something to be read and thought about over the course of life or for a period of time. Life Verses: The Song of a Writer continues that aspect as well and involves the lyrical components that make each word distinguishable from the next. Leaving an impression whenever a situation arises in life, the metaphorical mechanics, the grammar, and distinct words used in this book could be used as a cliché.

There are only a few people that come along in life that helps carry some of the load or work in your efforts of achieving and being successful in your purpose, goals, and dreams. These particular individuals had enough energy and belief in what I spoke or wrote about and told other people what I was doing. The effort and time they took out of their lives to contribute to the development of this book was greatly appreciated and did not go unnoticed. In a way, these folks are considered to be my Simon (refer to King James Bible, Matthew 27:32) who contributed greatly by doing so little. Their enthusiasm, the display of motivation, and efforts helped made this book a success: Michelle Dahl, Pastor Kenneth Harper, and William Winder.

Special Thanks to Inez Smallwood—Holley, Donnell Holley, Eric Noble and Peggy Smallwood

Message to the Reader

The concept of Life Verses: The Song of a Writer describes the highs and lows of a song, beginning with the first verse. In this case, each verse, chorus, vamp, and bridge correlates to the experiences of the author. Every section blends into the next, picking up where the previous section left off. Just like a song, there’s a beginning, middle and end.

Verse One: The beginning experiences, introducing the personality of the author, showcases the introduction of the song.

Chorus: Illustrates the relationship status quo of individuals and the author. After coming from the beginning stages of life of verse one, the chorus repetitively talks about situations that consistently arises in life. It’s the soft and relative poetic muses that elevate the song to verse two.

Verse Two: This verse picks up where verse one leaves off, just like a normal song would do. This verse goes into the descriptive/observant nature of the author and others as well while achieving success and life lessons that come with it.

Chorus: The chorus is similar to the previous chorus and all others as well because it’s a chorus, but is more in-depth involving an inspirational perspective.

Vamp: In most songs, a vamp slows the song down before reaching the pinnacle of the song. In this case, the vamp smoothes things down a little before climaxing to verse three. Struggling with a lot of thoughts and situations coming up in life, this section refers to the spiritual side of developing the author’s character.

Verse Three: Normally, verse three is not in a song, but in this case, verse three prepares the reader for the bridge or the highlight of the song, and climaxes the stages of struggles, pain, and gaining