HEAVEN, The After Party

Jimi Sheryl Bufkin, born Jimmie Shirl Harrison, in Fort Worth, Texasand has been writing poetry since the third grade. Jimi has resided inthe Reno/Sparks Nevada area for over 46 years. She is the mother of twodaughters and three grandsons.Jimis poetry writing started with letters to God. She never shared herpoetry with others until Connie DavisMyles, a friend, let her read Iknow Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou. She was so inspiredthat she compiled a collection of her works and decided to publish her ownbook by the age of thirty. At age 62 she has now self-published her sixthbook.Jimis love affair with words and the color purple has made her one ofRenos recognizable poets. She has recited in schools in Washoe County,the Veterans Hospital in Reno, the University of Nevada, Reno, as wellas for private banquets and organizations. She has also taught poetryworkshops.She writes about homelessness, love not found, loneliness and love forher fellow human beings. She hopes to leave a legacy with her poetry.She donates a copy of her publications to local libraries, she wantseveryone to be able to savor the message in her work. She writes on a regularbasis. She feels it is an outlet for stress. Her way of giving back somethingto the world, is devoting her life to the future, our young people.One of the highlights of her life was opening for Maya Angelou in1994 at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada for a crowd of over 32hundred people.