About the Author
Alvina Platt-Gregory
I started writing poetry in the second grade. My teacher, God bless her soul, taught us how to write creatively. We had story writing once a week. She encouraged us to put feelings and expressions in our work. I would write about the funny things in my life. I would put myself in the shoes of the characters I saw on T.V. and use their dialect in my stories. She would let us read our stories aloud and I had the class laughing. She told me I had a gift for writing and oration.
Reading Edgar Allen Poe sparked the idea of writing poetry. I used to make short cute ones for my family and friends. I wanted to write for Hallmark greeting cards but never told anyone who could get me there. I was a peculiar child meaning that I did not go along with the status quo. I spent a lot of time in church. Most of my friends were there and we always had activities going on. We did Easter Recitals and the poems really got my attention. I enjoy reading the Bible book of Psalms because of its poetic overtones.
My first published poem was in my college newspaper. That was a great moment. I started to write and keep my poetry with the idea that I might do a book one day. As I grew closer to God, He began downloading deeper insights into me that lead to focusing on my surroundings. I started putting events into poetic summaries, then single poems.
I believed everything really started getting spiritual when I had an encounter with Jesus or one of His angels when I was in my early teens. This all happened on a Sunday morning.
I write today because God has given me such a gift of expression and interpretation of the things that are happening around me. God has such a wonderful sense of humor.
I was a Health and Physical Education Teacher in the Trenton Catholic Diocese before becoming a Teacher in the Trenton School system; 5 years as a 7th grade Health Teacher and 21 years on the Elementary circuit. I became a certified Teacher with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education from Trenton State College now known as The College of New Jersey. I received my Master Degree in Education from Grand Canyon University and a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Living Faith Bible Training Center.
I am retired as a public school teacher but not from sharing and doing Gods’ Will.