Journey To Enlightenment

About the Book

This is a book of poems that covers a wide number of topics. The title of the book is named off one of the poems a scenario of likening literacy to the dark passages of a ship packed with slaves. This book covers a number of social issues both in the U.S.A and in the West Indies in which the Author resides.

At present there is an increase in crimes in Jamaica since the return of criminals from abroad. (Deportees) The poems Great Big U.S.A. and Train The Child seek to address that issue. For Jamaicans who have had Prime Ministers who were in most parts fair skinned sought for a change by making colour an issue in order to obtain majority votes in a fairly recent general election. The poem 'No Easy Choice', addresses issues and the social spin off, arising from globalization.

The author seeks to promote good values and attitudes as in the piece Children of The King. Journey To Enlightenment provides good reading since it contains some humor too. The underlying theme of this book is one that gives encouragement to individuals who are feeling despondent and pessimistic about issues of life, it seeks to find an answer through poetry.

As said before it covers a wide range of topics, love spirituality, social issues, and nature; a good book to be added to a collection to be used in schools for choral speaking and literature. The best part of this book is, the poems are easily understood, relevant and recent. Attached to many of the pieces are the circumstances and situations that gave the inspiration to the author for writing the piece. Most teachers who saw the unpublished copy requested a copy. Two pieces from the book were used to enter the Jamaica Festival of arts speech competition for schools, 2004 in Hanover.

About the Author

Juliet Christie Murray was born in 1950 in the Parish of Hanover on the beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica. She is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University U.S.A., where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Sociology and Applied Social Relations

She also holds a diploma from the College of Art Science and Technology in Technical Education - Home Economics and holds a certificate from the Ministry of Education in Primary Education, Jamaica. At present she is the Vice Principal of Sandy Bay Primary School, Hanover, Jamaica.

She started writing poetry June 2002. She has done live presentation on World Poetry day Festival at Levity 2004 and live reading at Calabash an International literary festival for 2004 Jamaica. She recorded one live presentation on "Lyrical Speaking" a CPTC television program for the exposure of poets and poetry hosted by Mutabaruka in Jamaica.

She is married with two sons. Her hobbies are sewing, reading, writing, cake decorating and interior decorating.