Muskogee Woman Share's Life Lessons Through Poetry

An Oklahoma Native is sharing her life's lessons through poetry during National Poetry Month. 

The newly published author said she's thrilled to see her book Land of Milk and Honey B. on shelves across Green Country. 

At the age of eight poetry became Bridgette Craine's outlet. It was a way to reason with tragedy and communicate with her father who spent most of her upbringing behind bars. 

“It was my way to express myself. To get out what was bottled inside,” Craine said. "Poetry just became my best friend and we go through life together."

Craine said her thoughts met a keyboard made for confessions.

"The jealousy side of my life. The part of my life that I feel rejected with [...]. The fact that losing both my parents. Being a heavier lady and just always feeling outcast and misfitted," said Craine. "The paper and pen I feel like I can trust more than people sometimes."

Friends of Craine call her Honey B. because she's sweet and raw. 

"Write it out until it's right out,” Craine said. 

It started out small with intimate accounts of Craine's life secretly stashed in journals, but now these stories are bound together in a book titled "Land of Milk & Honey B." published in February of 2021. 

The book is being sold on Amazon and appears in libraries across Green Country including the Muskogee Public Library where she spent six months writing a lifetime worth of literature. 

"She worked so hard on this book. She was here every day,” said Patty Roberts, Muskogee Public Library. 

"This is exactly why we do what we do. We love to just give people the tools to make their own way in the world,” said Rachel Allen, Muskogee Public Library.

Craine said she encountered writers block but not for lack of inspiration. 

"This is the computer where I lost my data like three times,” Craine said. 

Her sisters Elasha Craine and Monette Burr said Craine isn't one to give up and you'll see that in her writing. 

"She is definitely gonna be successful,” Burr said. 

"She has always put everybody else before herself, and I think that is the key to why so many people gravitate towards her,” Elasha said. 

Now that Craine has published her first book, she said it won’t be her last. 

"It's a dream come true. It's a dream come true. I never imagined I'd be at this point" Craine said. 

Craine said she believes God gave her a purpose through poetry and said she hopes to inspire others like her to speak their truth. 

"I hope that they get that they're not alone, for one. That they get that you can express yourself in a positive, productive manner," said Craine. "Poetry can bring us together. Having an understanding of cultures, of generations, color, ethnic backgrounds and stuff of that nature."

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