Ranza Devereaux Oakland, California

Ranza began writing seriously since 1969, following her mother's death. She is a Federal Civil Service Retiree who devotes most of her spare time to writing, baking and crocheting. Ranza has had her poetry published by the National Library of Poetry, The American Poetry Anthology and The Selesian Missions Publication, where she is currently a contributing poet. She has published three collections of poetry, two have been placed in the Oakland Public Library: "INSIDE/OUT" and "RAYE'S TO SHARE". "RAYE'S ON THE RANGE" is her most recent collection. Ranza asks the Almighty daily to dedicate what He writes through her hand.

BURNING HOSTILITY Out of the innocence of childhood grows a burning hostility for The masses who are different... Who speak a different tongue. Dare they live and breathe the air reserved for our exclusive race? The world's not large enough to house the human whole. From heights of superiority authoritative powers they wield These great Master of the Earth the world belongs to them. Give more concern to the animals color, origin, and breed ignore... Love them more than people who differ in speech and hue. Red, brown, white, yellow and black called the colors of man's skin... Covering similar bodies with internal organs contained. Like hearts that beat, the ability to think and speak; veins that Bleed, eyes that weep and bodies that wither and die. Acts of good and evil are not performed by any given race. Nor has the gift of beauty been denied some race's skin. Each one lives and each one dies taking nothing of earthly value, Death alone becomes the victor meeting equality in the grave.

EACH DAY YOU LIVE Each day you live be grateful You are alive another day Take time to gather flowers, in abundance, to give away. Give the flowers to the living We were taught long ago... Speak while they can hear you, If you love them tell them so. Do what you can for others, Hear their distressful cry.. God sees how we treat others, He knows when we pass them by. Never leave kind words unspoken. Greet each one with a smile... Each day will grow brighter Each day more worthwhile.

All poems Copyright © 1997 Ranza Devereaux. All rights reserved.