My feet are too big. My hair's a bad wig and my nose is pushed off to one side. My ears are like wings. My mouth says such things that embarrass me deep down inside. But never-the-less, in spite of the mess that I am and I always will be, my mother says this, as she plants a kiss on my cheek: she will always love me! From Itches Inside My Head (Year of Encouragements Press, 2022). Used here with permission.

Randy Mazie grew up in New York City, made South Florida his home for many years, and now lives in the North Georgia mountains. He has Master's Degrees in Social Work from Columbia University and Business Administration from Barry University. Randy's non-fiction work has been published in professional journals and his poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Learn more about him at www.ayearofencouragements.com.