New Poetry

The recent release of my book of poetry "A Stranger in the Garden" the sticky nature to urges for writing more lines of verse becomes unusually convincing. The focus of this book was to include all the poetry I've written, beginning in 1969. Excluding of course the poetry from Mexico. I did this to include my earliest poems, which derive of a time when Rod McKuen and Lois Wyse were available on front tables in book stores. they struck a chord as it were, and that cord resonated, for years.

I have laid out the book in sections, with the earliest work first, then the two collections written from 1973 to the end of the 1980's. The final third of the book are poems written within the past ten years, with most written in the past weeks. I got enthusiastic. A very old friend of mine was a graphic artist, and designed the tri-folds and invitations cards for my photographic gallery in the 80's, always gratis. Now pitches in to help me design a book cover that beckons the reader to look inside. That's a knack of which I am not acquainted.

A sample below of the first section of the book; Love Poems of Young Man.

Love and Ethics

1971

You put coins in my hands, turned me

gently, coaxing me to the door with

kisses and firm words

to an insane realm of cars and noise

     and distractions, from the solitude I nearly achieved.

I was with Sandburg, Gibran, and creation, before

finding myself facing a terse clout    at a market

insisting wine before noon on Sunday was demonic,

     and protected by law.

I refuse to renounce my ethics

     after so much trial and error,

to mediocre minds, lulled by gadgetry

     and decadent standards.

There must be a more appreciable means of

communication for us in life.

I have $4.16 in change, the day is waning

and I failed your expectations; again

I can make it up though

     and salvage what remains of the day