Copyright © 2026 by April Watson.

All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form—electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording—without prior written permission, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or noncommercial use under copyright law.

The followings poems were posted at this website on 12 August 2026 / All rights reserved. 

"Beast with the Pen – Kevin Lamont Harris"

- April Watson 

This one’s for Kevin Lamont Harris, no doubt,

When he steps to the page, all the noise cuts out.

He don't just write, he unleashes storms,

With verses that breathe, twist, burn, and transform.

A beast with the pen, his rhythm runs deep,

He speaks from the soul, no lines ever sleep.

Poetry’s soldier, commander of sound,

When Kevin drops bars, the silence bows down.

His words got weight like truth with a crown,

They lift, they shake, they spin heads around.

Raw with expression, sharp with the flow,

His ink is alive, and his vibe? Beast mode.

He don’t chase clout—nah, he crafts from the core,

Every stanza he writes opens minds like a door.

Kevin Lamont Harris, that name holds flame,

A poet, a force, with an untouchable aim.

I’ve seen him paint pain, I’ve heard him spit grace,

Every emotion gets carved into place.

He’s the type to write peace into war,

To flip every wound into something worth more.

So this is respect, this is truth, this is love,

A shout from the heart.

To my cousin, the lyrical blade,

You’ve built a legacy. Words never fade.

My Great Uncle Lee, My Wise Tree

- April Watson

He lives where distant seasons turn,

Rooted far beyond my view.

Yet this year's family reunion

Brought the Wise Tree home anew.

He listened not with passing praise,

Nor words that quickly fade away.

He heard the heartbeat in my verse

And saw what it was meant to say.

Many have admired the leaves

The lines I've gathered, one by one.

But he was first to see a forest,

First to say, "This has begun."

He didn't ask that I write more

To prove what already grew.

He simply reached toward the branches

And saw a book waiting in view.

"These belong upon a shelf," he said,

"Where hands and hearts can find their way."

In those few words he gave my dreams

A place beyond another day.

So I call him the Wise Tree

Steadfast, patient, deeply true.

For wisdom is not only knowing;

It's seeing what is waiting to bloom in you.

And if one day these pages rest

Upon a shelf for all to see,

They'll carry, in each printed word,

The quiet faith of the Wise Tree.

“Family Like No Other”

~APRIL WATSON~

We gather again, hearts open wide,
With hugs that feel like sunshine inside.
Laughter echoes, kids run free,
It’s love in motion, our family tree.

From the youngest giggles to the stories old,
This bond we share is purest gold.
Through every trial, every mile,
We’ve kept each other strong with style.

We remember the ones who paved the way,
Who taught us grace, who taught us to pray.
And oh, how we miss their loving cheer
Their voices, their hugs, their wisdom near.

Grandma’s smile, sweet as July,
And oh! That lemon meringue pie.
No one’s quite matched that golden crust,

yet my mom's sample is a must.
but we taste her love in every trust.

Grandpa’s jokes, his steady hand,
The way he’d help us understand.
Though they’ve gone, their light remains,
In family songs and shared last names.

So lift your glass and lift your voice,
Today we laugh, today we rejoice!
In every dance, in every toast,
We celebrate what we love most.

Family! Loud, loving, perfectly wild,
Every elder, every child.
In this reunion, joy runs high,
With sweet memories that never die.

T H A T R O C K W A S C H R I S T

(Acrostic Reflection)

By April Watson
 

T – Thirsty hearts cried in the sand,

H – He gave them water by His hand.

A – A Rock was struck, and mercy poured,

T – The grace of God was freely stored.

R – Refuge found in barren place,

O – Our souls refreshed by heaven’s grace.

C – Christ, the Rock, would take the blow,

K – Kindness flowed where wrath should go.

W – Wounded once, yet still He gives,

A – A stream of life so hope now lives.

S – Struck for sin, He paid the price...

C – Cleansing hearts with sacrifice.

H – Held by love no thirst remains,

R – Risen Lord who broke our chains.

I –  In the desert or the fight,

S – Still He stands, our guiding light.

T – That Rock was Christ, our source, our sight.

"Never Alone, Always Held"

By April Watson

God is our refuge, our refuge and shield,

Shielding our hearts when the fear is revealed.

Revealed in the storm, yet we’re never alone,

Alone? Never! For He makes His presence known.

Known in the silence, the thunder, the quake,

Quake not, dear soul, for He’s there when you break.

Break not in sorrow; His strength will restore,

Restore your soul till you tremble no more.

More than a helper, He's near when we pray,

Pray when the night tries to swallow the day.

Daylight or darkness... He's constant and true,

True refuge and strength and always with you.

The Ruby Spread

By April Watson

We are the children, grans, and cousins, 

Gathered together once again. 

Dressed in purple, 

proud to be Branches of Grandma Ruby's family tree.

Some of us traveled many miles, 

Drawn by memories, hugs, and smiles. 

Some see each other every day, 

Others reconnect in this special way.

Though years may pass and seasons change,

 The roots she planted still remain. 

In every story, every embrace, 

We find a part of Grandma's grace.

We are her legacy living on, 

A family circle, wide and strong. 

Her love was scattered like seeds instead,

And today we stand as The Ruby Spread.

So here's to those who've gone before,

And to the generations still in store. 

May we cherish the bond that brought us here,

And keep it growing year after year.

For Grandma Ruby's greatest gift wasn't gold or fame,

It was family and we carry her name.

Not only in blood, but in the love we've shared, 

The Ruby Spread, forever prepared.

Trusting God to the Fulllest

by April Watson

I walk with joy upon this way,

For God directs me day by day.

His wisdom shines, His truth is sure,

His promises forever pure.

 I trust Him fully, heart and soul,

He leads me on toward every goal.

No need to question, no delay

I follow where He lights my way.
 

His Word is firm, His voice is clear,

He holds me close, He keeps me near.

In every moment, big or small,

I know my God is over all.

He charts my path, His plan is best,

In Him alone, my heart finds rest.

With every step, in Him I stay

My faithful guide, my strength, my way.

Gratitude for His Love and Law

- April Watson 

I thank You, Lord, for holy ways,

For paths You carved in ancient days.

A love that speaks through sacred lines,

In law and grace, Your truth still shines.

You teach my heart to seek what's right,

To turn from wrong, to walk in light.

Not chains, but freedom in Your will,

A gentle voice that whispers, “Still.”

No idols stand where You belong,

You are my strength, my saving song.

No empty words, no stolen name

Just reverence for the One who came.

You call me to a life that’s true,

To honor all I'm called to do.

To treat each soul with gentle care,

As You, my Lord, are always fair.

In Your commands, I see Your face

Not harsh demands, but perfect grace.

Each word, a gift; each rule, a guide,

To keep me always by Your side.

So thank You, Lord, for law and love,

For truth below and hope above.

For shaping me with just Your voice,

And giving me the better choice.

When the Storm Asks Leuanna to Rise

- April Watson 
 

You are the still hand

on the back of a racing child,

the soft voice

in a room full of noise,

the map they forget they’re following

until they’re miles ahead,

and safe.

You are not made of panic,

though it knocks.

You are not made of fire,

though the heat comes.

You are the breeze that stays steady

when the world spins sharp.

Decisions will come

dressed like cliffs,

but you are the whisper that says,

Let’s look first. Let’s breathe.

Kindness is not weakness.

It is steel,

wrapped in velvet.

When you choose it,

you teach it

and the world shifts by inches

because you didn’t break

when you could have

Stay calm, even when

the sharp words of others

cut the air like thorns.

You’ve got roots.

They’ve got wind.

And when the day ends

and no one saw

the miracle it took

to not lose your voice,

know this:

You are not invisible.

You are essential.

Your love is the seed

that makes tomorrow gentle.

Enemies

- April Watson
 

Even when they strike with hate,

respond with grace, not spite.

Never let the darkness win;

shine love's enduring light.

Every act of kindness sown

can soften hearts of stone.

Mercy is the higher road where

Christ Himself was known.

In prayer, lift their names each day,

entrust their wounds to God.

Emulate the Savior's way,

though the path be hard and broad.

Show them Jesus through your

carelove the ones who hurt and stare. 

"You Are Enough"

By April Watson
 

Stop trying to change

for things that don’t matter,

chasing reflections

in a world full of chatter.

You twist, you shrink,

you mold and bend

to please a storm

that will never end.

But what if I told you

you don’t have to chase?

You are enough

just as you take up space.

The world might not see it,

but that’s not your crime.

You weren’t made

to fit every rhyme.

Let them talk,

let the noise fall away,

you’re made of the stars,

of night and day.

So stop the changing

for a fleeting prize

you are enough.

Right now. As you rise.

A Farewell Whisper 

(In reference to our deceased family members)

By April Watson
 

Do not stand too long in sorrow's shade,

Or linger where our footsteps fade.

Lift your eyes to morning's light,

And greet each dawn with hope so bright.

We are the laughter in your song,

The quiet strength that moves you on.

Though time has placed us worlds apart,

We still live gently in your heart.

Do not save your love for later days,

Or leave kind words unsaid in haste.

Hold those dear to you so near,

For every moment is sincere.

When tears arrive, don't turn away;

They speak of love that chose to stay.

But let your grief become a flame

That lights your path, not bears your pain.

Chase your dreams with steady grace,

Find wonder in each time and place.

Watch sunsets glow and rivers flow,

Embrace the life you're meant to know.

Remember us with smiles, not fear,

In every memory we are near.

Not in the silence of the grave,

But in the love we freely gave.

And when the stars adorn the night,

Think of us with hearts made light.

For though our voices cannot be heard,

Love still speaks without a word.

So live with courage, laugh out loud,

Stand humble, gentle, never proud.

Be kind, forgive, let hope remain,

For joy will always follow pain.

Until the day we meet once more,

Beyond this life's familiar shore,

Do not wish your days away...

Live fully. Love deeply.

And honor us that way.

My Testimony: Laid Down, Lifted Up

- April Watson

I give myself, no part held tight,

No shadow hidden from your light.

The past, the pain, the pride, the fear,

I lay it down; you draw me near.

This heart, once lost in selfish ways,

Now longs to walk in brighter days.

Not mine the path, not mine the plan,

But yours, O God, take all I am.

The water waits, a grave, a birth,

A holy vow of second worth.

I die to me, and rise in grace,

Renewed, reborn to seek your face.

I do not come with strength or claim,

But empty hands and honest name.

I give myself, just dust and breath,

To gain your life by sharing death.

So mark this step, O heaven's King,

With joy the angels rise and sing.

This soul is yours, both now and always,

Laid down in love, lifted in praise.

Grace for Today

(Study Matthew 6:34)
 

-April Watson-

Do not borrow from tomorrow, 

What today cannot yet bear,

For each dawn brings its own sorrow, 

And it's portioned load of care

Let the morning light remind you,

God is present, calm and near

Not in future's hazy shadows,

But in now, and always here.

Humans Plan

(Study proverbs 16:9)

-April Watson-

H - how often we chart out the course of our days,

U - Unaware of the hand that still governs our ways.

M - Maps in our minds, goals grand and defined, 

A - Ambitions we chase with a confident stride.

N - Notions arise from the depths of our soul, 

S - Still, it’s God's purpose that governs the whole.

P - Paths that we plot may shift in the night,

L - Leadings unseen will still guide us right. 

A - As we trust less in self and more in His hand,

N - Navigating the unknown becomes part of His plan.

Peace In The Quiet

(Study Philippians 4:6)

-April Watson-

When fear begins to cloud my mind,

And shadows steal the light I find.

 I will not yield to worries snare, 

but lift my soul through silent prayer.

Not every answer will appear, 

but in his presence, doubt grows clear.

The winds may roar, the waves may rise,

Still, peace will guard my heart and eyes.

I lay each burden at His feet,

Each scattered thought, each heartbeats beat.

He gives me rest, 

His perfect peace within my chest.

All Things Made New

(Study 2 Corinthians 5:17)

-April Watson

I walked a path of broken days 

with shade long and weary ways. 

But then His voice, so composed and true 

spoke softly: child, I'm making you new!

The weight I drill, the guilt, the shame

He took it all and called my name

The old has passed; it's gone, it’s done

A brighter walk has now begun.

No longer chained to who I was

I rise with Christ because He does:

Renew, restore, rebuild, refine

His spirit shaping me to shine.

The grave is not my resting place

I stand today in saving grace.

From dust and doubt, a soul He grew

Behold, He makes all things brand new.

So, when I stumble, when I fall

I'll lift my eyelids and hear His call.

For I am His...Reborn, set free

A new creation, wholly me.

Trusting God to the Fullest

-April Watson

I walk with joy upon this way,

For God directs me day by day.

His wisdom shines, His truth is sure,

His promises forever pure.

I trust Him fully, heart and soul,

He leads me on toward every goal.

No need to question, no delay

I follow where He lights my way.

His Word is firm, His voice is clear,

He holds me close, He keeps me near.

In every moment, big or small,

I know my God is over all.

He has written my path, His action is best,

In Him alone, my heart finds rest.

With every step, in Him I stay

My faithful guide, my strength, my way.

Gratitude for His Love and Law

- April Watson 

I thank You, Lord, for holy ways,

For paths You carved in ancient days.

A love that speaks through sacred lines,

In law and grace, Your truth still shines.

You teach my heart to seek what's right,

To turn from wrong, to walk in light.

Not chains, but freedom in Your will,

A gentle voice that whispers, Still.

No idols stand where You belong,

You are my strength, my saving song.

No empty words, no stolen name

Just reverence for the One who came.

You call me to a life that’s true,

To honor all I'm called to do.

To treat each soul with gentle care,

As You, my Lord, are always fair.

In Your commands, I see Your face

Not harsh demands, but perfect grace.

Each word, a gift; each rule, a guide,

To keep me always by Your side.

So thank You, Lord, for law and love,

For truth below and hope above.

For shaping me with just Your voice,

And giving me the better choice.

When the Mind Won't Settle

- April Watson-

The thoughts come fast, a flood, a storm

a thousand whispers, none quite warm.

They say, what if they say, not yet 

they tighten threads of vague, regret.

 your chest a cage, your breath unsure, 

a pounding hard with no known cure, 

but pause.  Just here within this ache,

and feel the ground beneath you wake.

The world is not on fire,

 Love through nerves may lie 

and skies seem rough. 

You're not the noise inside your head,

You're deeper calm, not all this dread, 

so name five things that you can see

 and you feel your feet beneath the tree. 

The storm will pass, all things do;

 and still the quiet waits for you.

No Map for This

- April Watson

There is no map for this poem. 

The ink spills where it wants.

 Lines wander off the page.

 Rhymes forget themselves.

 Every morning is a draft.

 Every mistake, a stanza, 

That somehow makes sense later, 

When read in softer light. 

We trace the roads we didn't mean to take,

 Collect lost commas, bruised words,

 and call it progress.

 Some days, the rhythm falters, 

Some days, the ending hides, 

but still we write, 

because maybe the beauty was never

 in knowing the way, but in getting

 lost and finding our voice

 somewhere between the lines.

Rooms Inside Me

- April Watson

There are rooms inside me, built of breath,

 where doubt once lived, now calmness rests.

 Once hums with courage, quiet and clear,

Another whispers, you belong here.

A room of stillness, brushed with grace,

Where I can meet my truest face. 

Each wall is built from gentle thought,

Each door a dream that time has brought.

Some rooms are quiet, some burn bright,

each one lantern through the night.  

They shift and grow with every first light, 

a living home I build upon.

 A room of light where kindness stays,

One filled with joy that blooms for days.

Each word I speak, a door I tend,

these rooms expand, they never end.

Slow Is A Pace Too

- April Watson-

A quiet way of arriving

 without applause,

 just a soft certainty 

of still moving, 

it is the leaf 

that takes its time falling 

learning the shape of the air 

before it meets the ground. 

It is breath 

unrushed, 

A sentence that refuses 

to trip over itself. 

Slow is a pace too.  

And sometimes it is the 

only way.

Looping In Lavender

- April Watson 

A boxed room, but the walls don't win.

They watch.

Still.

Holding breaths we forgot to release.

You exhale first.

I sip tea that's to warm to drink fast.

We laugh or almost.

The kind that lives behind the lips.

The chair holds me like a memory.

It squeezes my spine like someone

who knows I've been strong too long.

And across the quiet you're coloring.

Not for fun, for focus.

Beautifully bold lines, healing was happening.

A message come to your eyes as you look

up gradually, 'you're the best'.

Because it's for certain, you are the best.

Not a lie.

Not a joke.

Just what love looks like in the

Lavender Lounge with no view,

But everything real.

A boxed room,

But the walls don't win.

They breathe. 

With us.

The Ones Who Wandered On

- April Watson 

We fold you gently into memory.

Creased from laughter softened by tears,

set afloat on the quiet rivers of our days.

Each name a fragile vessel, 

each face a whisper on the water, 

drifting where our hands cannot follow,

But our hearts refuse to let go.

You sail through the dusk of our remembering,

 Past shoves, we once shared,

Past echoes of voices that still call Us

home in dreams we wake from too soon.

The current carries you farther than sight.

Yet never beyond love's reach...

for even as you wander, 

you circle back in moments unannounced

a song , a scent , a sudden stillness,

a chair left empty, but never unfilled.

So go little boats, where the sky meets the unseen sea.

We will watch from here,

launching you again and again and again...

Not say goodbye, but to say you are still carried.

An Unfinished List of the Human Heart

- April Watson

A heart is a drum that learns how to beat,

A keeper of echoes both bitter and sweet.

A vault full of secrets, it won't always share,

A weight in the chest , a lift in the air.

A spark in the dark when the world feels apart,

A map with no legend, yet calls it an art.

A bruise that can bloom from a word or a glance,

A risk that awakens with every new chance.

A clock without numbers still marking each phase,

A flame that burns steady or flares into blaze.

A tether that pulls us where we don't expect,

A mirror reflecting both love and neglect.

A storm and a shelter,

A fracture,

A start,

A list never finished... the human heart.

Stand Like A Man

- April Watson-

Stand like a man, not just tall in your frame,

But strong in the spirit , unshamed of his name.

Not just in muscle , but in mercy and grace , 

A warrior in prayer , running faithfully this race.

The world may shake, and storms may roar, 

But a man of God is anchored to the core.

He leads with love, he walks in light,

He fights the good fight with heaven's might.

Not perfect, no, but purpose-filled,

With hands to build and hearts that yield.

He lifts the weak, defends the broken,

Speaks life in silence, truth when spoken.

He is father, brother, mentor, friend,

A living testimony God will send.

Through trial's, he doesn't run or flee

He drops to his knees and finds victory.

A man who weeps, but doesn't quit,

 Who wears his faith and walks with it.

Not led by pride, or lust, or fame,

But shaped by fire and Jesus name.

So rise, O man, take your place, 

With steady hands and steady pace.

This world needs more than power and plans

It needs men of God who choose to stand.

By Faith, Not Sight

(Study 2 Corinthians 4:18)

- April Watson

We walk not paths the eye can trace,

Nor chase the light of time and place. 

For stars may fall, and skies grow dim,

Yet still we walk, our eyes on him. 

The winds may howl, hail may rise, 

The world may blur before our eyes.  

But faith is not in what we see,

It lives in what is yet to be.

 A lamp onto our feet is grace, 

It lights the dark, it sets the pace.

 And though the road is veiled and steep,

The shepherd guide's, he does not sleep.

We walk through valleys deep and wide,

With hope our anchor, God our guide.

 No earthly proof, no worldly claim,

Can dim the power of his name. 

So step after step, though faint our light,

We walk by faith, not by sight. 

 For what is seen is passing dust,

 But what's unseen is sure, and just.

Masterpiece

- April Watson

Before the world had drawn its line,

Your hand designed this life of mine.

Not cast aside, nor shaped in haste,

But made with wonder, truth, and grace.

In secret places I was spun,

By breath and love, by Spirit done.

Each thread of thought, each dream, each bone,

Proclaims that I am not my own.

The old has gone, its grip released,

Through Christ I rise, a heart at peace.

No longer bound by what I’ve been,

But born again, made whole within.

You planned good works before my start,

Etched purpose deep within my heart.

This path I walk was drawn by You,

A canvas painted bold and true.

So let my light, though small, still gleam,

A flicker fed by heaven’s stream.

May all I do and all I give,

Reflect the Christ in how I live.

What You begin, You will complete,

Your faithful hands don’t know defeat.

So mold me still; I will not run

Until the Artist says, “Well done.”

I am the clay, and You the hand,

You shape me gently, help me stand.

I trust the work You do in me,

Your masterpiece, eternally.

Copyright © 2026 by April Watson.

All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form—electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording—without prior written permission, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or noncommercial use under copyright law.