Bringing new life to my original book, it contains 3 more poems for half the cost!  Plus it has a new, inspiring look, with a wide variety of poems that readers of all ages can connect with.  It’s available in paperback, hard-cover copy and e-book  format.

For orders and inquiries, please contact:

www.goldtouchpress.com    book.orders@goldtouchpress.com    1-888-404-1388

This book is also for sale on Amazon and Barnes &  Noble

Flooded outside with water
Flooded inside with tears
As no one has seen such havoc
In a countless number of years

The relentless rain; it seemed to never end
The likes we have seldom seen
People were trapped inside their homes
Their streets resembled streams

Hurricane Harvey slammed the Texas coast
And stalled out over our great city
It flooded the north, south, east, and west
It really had no pity

Visions ingrained forever in our minds
Of victims trudging through high water
Trying desperately to get somewhere safe
To deal with all the disorder

Fearful, nervous, and terrified people
Watched the water rise higher and higher
All around them their world was washing away
They were getting desperate and so very tired

Thousands of people lost everything they had
Their homes, belongings and their cars
But helping hands and much-needed supplies
Are reaching out to them from afar

The emotional toll cannot even be measured
The aftermath will be so heavy
With the destruction of such a powerful storm
Coupled with flooding caused by the levee

Yes, the hurricane crippled our bustling city
It will take months and years to rebuild
But we have the heart of a champion
Which is way too hard to be killed!

My name is Sandy Carouth, and I recently published my second poetry book entitled The Ebb and Flow of Life. It is an assortment of poems, some about real-life events and others about family, love, joy and heartache. In my poems, I sympathize with those who have experienced tragedy, honor those who have served our country, and celebrate joyful moments that everyone’s life holds, as well as sharing the heartache we often must endure.

I am a certified fitness instructor by profession and have been involved in the realm of fitness for almost 40 years, working for the YMCA for 34 years, the YWCA for a few years prior to that, and teaching at various other establishments and churches before that. It is rewarding, as it not only keeps me in good shape, physically and mentally, but also enables me to help others maintain the type of lifestyle they aspire, being physically fit, strong and full of energy, while making new friends and having fun while working out in classes like Zumba and Line Dancing.

I like writing poetry as an outlet, a way to vent, responding to various occurrences in our chaotic world today, and also to commemorate my family’s special occasions. These are what drive me to pick up pen and paper and share the experiences with others. I want my readers to connect with the poems, to feel the emotion pouring out of every page, whether it be joy, sadness, heartbreak or harsh reality. It is a way of connecting with everyone, bonding together, even though we may be hundreds of miles apart and live in different parts of the world.

I was inspired to publish my book because of the high volume of poems that I had accumulated, and just having them organized in a book form with photos and quotes brings them to life, as well as the personal keepsake the book affords. It took me 3 months to put the book together, working on it off and on, almost every day, when I wasn’t at my job! I accumulated the poems themselves over a period of 10 years, after publishing my first poetry book in 2008, entitled Turning the Pages of Life.

My advice to other aspiring authors is to just do it! Push away any negative thoughts that you cannot possibly get a book published and focus on the positive aspects of sharing your written wealth with the rest of the world! I wanted to publish this book last year, and had thoughts of doing it the year before, but time just kept getting away from me. Finally, late this last summer, I decided I was going to make time to sit down and organize my poems, tweak them, purchase photos to accompany some of the poems, select quotes that matched the meaning I was trying to portray in a specific poem, and set a goal of having the book ready for purchase by the end of the year. I’m happy to say my dreams are now a reality, and I’m proud of myself for being determined enough to make my aspirations become reality!

So, if you are thinking of publishing your precious work, block off some time, even a small amount of time, each day or each week to devote to making your hopes and dreams come alive! Never give up! Once you’ve published your book, word of mouth is one of the best ways to promote your book: tell all your friends as well as posting it on social media and using other internet connections, such as blogs. E-book availability is also extremely helpful these days! Having a book signing is another great idea, as well as entering book contests. The Xlibris Publishing Company’s Marketing Department is very helpful in getting you set up to have your book displayed in the Book Gallery at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. as well as having your book information included in the ALA Annual Conference Book Catalogue, where thousands of librarians and educational book buyers come each year. There are also regional book fair exhibitions, held in the New York Library Association and the California Library Association.

My favorite part of the publishing experience is finally getting to hold my book in my hands, turning the pages and seeing all my hard work come to fruition! I’m very pleased with the work that the Xlibris Publishing Company has done, and everyone throughout the publishing process was notably professional and helpful.

Good luck to all you aspiring authors and never give up pursuing your dreams!

The Ebb and Flow of Life can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Walmart.com, on eBay and also through the publisher, Xlibris.com

It’s also an e-book!

Look beyond the color of someone’s skin
Look deep into their soul
You’ll find the same warm and caring heart
The kind that makes us all whole

Forgiving all those years gone by
When not all men were free
We should live together now, in harmony
God’s perfect plan to see

All lives matter—every single one
As we strive to achieve the same things:
Happiness, success, and love
And the friendships that living brings

Every person you meet has some kind of struggle
So greet them with a smile
Be kind, be helpful, and give from your heart
Always going that extra mile

Make a difference in someone’s life today
This second, this minute, this hour
It’s no mistake your paths have crossed
Within you lies the power

The power to make or break their day
Whether they’re brown or black or white
We can make a difference in the lives we touch
We’re all together in this fight!

The circle of love encompasses the globe
As hand after hand we touch
Nothing else you achieve in this life
Will ultimately mean so much!

No more senseless killing and getting revenge
For the violence and wrongs that go down
It is written: “Vengeance is mine,” saith the Lord
These words in your head should resound

So let’s bring love where hatred abounds
It all starts with you and me
Only then will we truly be brothers and sisters
Only then will we all be free!

-Sandy Carouth
July 2016

And only God can tell us why”

Quote from www.remember-me-memorial.com

Through the Eyes of a Child

Rock me in the cradle

Hold me in your arms

Whisper in my ears

About the world and all its charms

I’ll close my eyes to the madness

That engulfs our lives today

Teach me that no matter what happens

To bow my head and pray

I am young, so sweet, and innocent

Not the victim of a horrific crime

May the few years we spent together

Be forever etched in time

Yes, remember the special moments

That we shared day-in and day-out

Know that my heart will always be there

And that I’ll miss you, without a doubt!

I have no rhyme or reason

That explains what happened today

I long to still be with you

So that we could frolic and play

I know you’re sad that I am gone

But don’t cry too long for me

For I am skipping and running on streets of gold

And am as happy as I can be!

One day soon I’ll be coming to meet you—

It really won’t be that long

Till we embrace each other at the Heavenly gates

And we burst out in joyous song!

I will always be your baby

No one can ever take that away!

So be happy; be strong; be fearless

And I’ll see you again someday!

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,

nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away”

Revelation 21:4

 Poem by Sandy Carouth

December 14, 2012

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a KJV

You spared my life again, oh Lord
I really shouldn’t even be here
Your mighty hand protected me
In the midst of my worst fears

Now when I gaze at the ruins
There is no rhyme or reason
That I was left standing there
Yet, to everything there is a season

You lifted me up!
I walked out of the wreck
Dazed and stunned
But with barely a speck

This isn’t even the first time
That I’ve had a brush with death
Had the wind completely knocked out of me
Barely able to catch my next breath

You seem to be trying considerably hard
To catch my wayward attention
As I’ve always approached the word of God
With hesitation and utmost caution

But I can see very clearly now
How really precious my life is
And how I shouldn’t waste a single moment
‘Cause after all, they are all His

I will focus on what is important to me
Putting love in the center of the ring
For that is what makes the world go round
And what makes every human heart sing!

Our lives can be changed in an instant…
We can’t really count on tomorrow
We only have this day, this moment
We’re living on time that is borrowed

So I’ll look at each day quite differently now
Every morning when I open my eyes
I’ll sing His praises loud and clear
For this life that He gives me is a prize!

Sandy Carouth
August 26, 2012

Download your copy now and place it with your other favorite readying material!  Enjoy!

I feel like a leaf in the gutter of life,

Floating adrift, amidst all of the strife.

Letting go; falling down, in spite of myself.

Losing my hope and pride—treasures better than wealth.

Once vibrant with color, so fresh and alive!

Kissed by morning dew, just before the dive.

Now brown and barren, you’d hardly recognize

My lifeless state in this drab disguise.

I held on as long as anyone could,

Not wanting to let go, even if I should.

But I have no real purpose—no direction in life,

And the days I’m disheartened are unquestionably rife.

I feel helpless and trapped, with no way out,

And no where to turn that doesn’t harbor doubt.

I wish I could see just what is down the road…

What’s waiting for me—what the future holds.

I long to be free of this nagging torment;

Torn between here and now, which seems to be dormant,

And what lies ahead, at the end of the line…

Will I overcome this and will everything be fine?

Should I turn to the left or turn to the right?

I’m growing weary of the struggle and tired of the fight.

Feeling repeatedly pulled down whichever way I go,

Ducking into corners and dodging every foe.

I’m in desperate need of a change, but what?

I just yearn to get out of this same ole rut!

What IS the point of this day-in/day-out?

Where am I going?  What is my route?

I’ve spent my whole life getting here where I am.

Why all of a sudden do I feel it’s a sham?

The solution must be out there somewhere it seems;

How to save me from despair and let me hold onto my dreams.

Sandy Carouth

September 2010