How many words can be used to describe you? If I needed to describe myself, I could use these: Son, friend, lover, artist, writer, photographer, dreamer, traveller. Strong, sensitive, stubborn, fair, creative, rough and edgy. Bold, insecure, rambunctious, gentle, proud, humble, right and wrong. I am, have been, and will be all of these things, and more. Furthermore ...
...
"Words are what men live by. Words they say and mean."
-
John Wayne, in "The Comancheros".
I hope you enjoy what you read, here. What follows are orignal works of my own. Please remember that I retain all rights to and ownership of these works, and they may not be used commercially or otherwise without my consent.
Since
my library has grown, I've divided the works into three categories.
Follow the links below to visit each category:
Poetry
When I entered college the process of writing poetry was a mystery to me. I was drawn to it and perplexed by it, simultaneously. But then Miriam Pederson, an Associate Professor of English at Aquinas College, showed me how to open my creative mind. Free of inhibition, I began to experiment and emulate poets that I admired. Through the process of writing, editing and rewriting my own work, I developed a style of my own. My poems are unsophisticated and accessible to anyone, but I try to infuse them with honesty and feeling.
More than anything, I've been inspired by songwriters. Though I've had absolutely no musical training, listening to music intensively through the years has helped me develop a lyrical approach to writing. And one of the most expressive, passionate and powerful forms of music is Blues. Blues is an African American legacy that has been embraced by generations around the world. Born in the cotton fields of the American South, the Blues emigrated to Chicago and beyond, evolving to reflect the changing face of it's people. Depicting human struggle and endurance like no other musical form, the Blues has been adopted by artists and audiences of every race, color and creed. While young African Americans hail to rap - a new, utterly urban music - the Blues remains an enduring foundation of American music. In fact, without the influence of Blues forms on white music in 1950's America, Rock and Roll would not exist.When I hear a Blues song, or any song for that matter, I am drawn to the words. No matter how simple, I want to hear what the song has to say. The rhythm, rhyme and imagery of song lyrics are both musical and poetic. I find that to be the perfect combination. And something about the Blues has spoken to my soul since I first saw B.B. King on television, as a child. I tip my hat to the poets, musicians and songwriters who create such intimate art from words.
My musical tastes vary from Blues to Country and Western to Rhythm and Blues and Rock and Roll. The genre that inspires me most of any is the Country Outlaw sound of the 1970's. An eclectic mixture of Country, Blues and Rock, this music is versatile, honest and fertile. When I first heard Waylon Jennings, one of the genre's most powerful and enduring artists, I knew I'd heard the singer singing the songs that would speak to my soul from that moment on.
Many of the lyrics in this category are inspired by the Country Outlaw songs I grew up with. But I glean ideas and inspiration from any song that appeals to my inner ear, and spirit.
Though I take writing seriously, and I have deep respect for the art and artists who have inspired me, I have a fun side. You can see the fun I have with words, especially in the spirited Blues lyrics I'm prone to write. I prefer to live life as a celebration.
