My Children have soul My children have soul Watch them dance, watch them win, watch them roll and watch them bounce My children have soul and heart They're able to fight - find their way out of the dark...

My Children have soul My children have soul Watch them dance, watch them win, watch them roll and watch them bounce My children have soul and heart They're able to fight - find their way out of the dark...

Author James J. Adams presents "In the Midst, " an updated edition of his previously published poetry collection, "Put the Guns Down" (1996). Adams's poetry aims at bringing attention to the violence-particularly gun-related violence-that affects our youth. It proceeds with authenticity and timelessness, presented in the edgy, spiritual voice of the street. As relevant now as it was in 1996, the poetry of "In the Midst" focuses on the lives of the young-as they are, and as they should be."Put the GUNS downPut your arms up. Act crazy, be heroic & your grave is nighFights used to take place with fists & cold mama jokes. Both the time & the day have taken a deadly twistPresently, brotherly disagreements have a medieval or wild west styleGUNS are completing what captivity & disease started; Burying Folks till our presence is throughA chunk of melted steel with a curved trigga"

Personal, funny, and spiritual, "River Girl" offers a collection of poems to honor and pay tribute to some of the women who inspired author James Adams and made a positive impact on his life. While he was preparing to write this collection of poetry, friends and strangers wondered aloud, "What is a man doing writing about women?" While admitting to knowing little about women, Adams presents a celebration of the women in his life and of women in general. His collection of poetry isn't intended to be a literary masterpiece or scholarly effort. Instead, through his poems, he shares his thoughts on his favorite women."Good to herselfGood to herselfAn unhappy woman, the one who is miserable and who's not good to herself cannot be a good friend to her girl and boyfriend.The woman with blue emotions and sadness is unable to be her best as a mother and wifeThe happy woman lives to get the most out of her lifeGood to herself"

Fancy's Way is a bold and thought-provoking work that tells the story of a young African-American girl and her family who live in Mississippi in the South during the turbulent 1960's. The Debonair family struggles with their daily life while the world around them struggles with the Civil Rights movement. Fancy's parents struggle with the idea of whether or not they should take an active part in a protest march that is planned in their small town. But a terrible tragedy makes them realize that whatever happens, they will face it as a family and things will be made right Fancy's Way is a story filled with love, drama, disappointment, wisdom and humor.