“Something On My Mind” contains poems written throughout different stages of my spiritual journey which I call my life. The poems in this book depict various themes which range from life to love experiences. The poems are derived from realities of my life and relationships, but can be applied to everyday situations which everyone can relate to. The poems were composed by creatively organizing my thoughts and ideas into a truthful short story derived from these realities. Although most of the poems reflect on the truth about reality, some are considered abstract reality. The poems depicted as life poems reflect on the beauty of nature and also overcoming the trials and tribulations that life offers by practicing perseverance. The message that I want to convey through the poems which reflect on life is that life is worth living and although there may be some trials and tribulations in your life, it is best to appreciate your own life and the special privilege of living. The poems about love vary from friendships, boyfriend/girlfriend, and spirituality. The essence of the love poems reflects on empowering the reader to promote a healthier relationship, whether with a loved one or with the Creator, thus promoting a deeper connection of love. The message I hope to convey through the love poems is that in order to experience love, you must first love yourself, then love can be extended to others. The love poems were written to heal the soul and motivate the reader to experience personal and spiritual growth.

My name is Maria Mitchell and I was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I lived in Antigua, West Indies for a portion of my adolescent years and now I reside in Tampa, Florida. I graduated from Robinson High School in 1991. I was strongly involved in athletic, academic and student government activities. I have received many awards in those areas throughout my high school years. I believe in giving nothing less than one hundred percent in whatever I do. Along with school, I attended church regularly and participated in youth activities and sang on the choir. Although education was important in my family, of paramount importance was worshipping the lord. I started writing poetry at an early age and during the process of my life, in the form of a journal or songs. I heave been inspired mostly by Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou, to name a few.  I hope to follow in their footsteps and publish a novel one day in the near future.