Poetry and About Poetry

In addition to buying directly from  Kelsay Books , you can now purchase my new poetry collection, Dark Fathers, from  Amazon . 

In addition to buying directly from  Kelsay Books , you can now purchase my new poetry collection, Dark Fathers, from  Amazon .

In addition to buying directly from  Kelsay Books , you can now purchase my new poetry collection, Dark Fathers, from  Amazon . 

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom My rating: 2 of 5 stars Skip the book and rewatch the movie View all my reviews

The best response to awe is silence. May you all know peace and happiness this night and hereafter.

The best response to awe is silence. May you all know peace and happiness this night and hereafter.

The best response to awe is silence. May you all know peace and happiness this night and after.

Several of my books of poetry are available from the Library of Virginia .

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at five branches of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at the Orange County Public Library.

Several of my books of poetry are available from the Library of Virginia .

Several of my books of poetry are available from the Library of Virginia .

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at five branches of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at five branches of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at the Orange County Public Library.

My new collection of poetry, Dark Fathers , is available at the Orange County Public Library.

The Trembling Answers  by  Craig Morgan Teicher My rating:  3 of 5 stars In this very personal and moving collection, Craig Morgan Teicher explores his own biography. We feel his worry and pain as a father of a health young girl and a very sick boy. We listen to his love for his wife, his children, for the mother he lost when he was young, for the housekeeper who raised him, for the father who loved only through his emotional distance. Some of the lines are very fine, such as: …She lived and she grows like joy spreading from the syllables of songs. Or I could hold that rock and rewind time and find myself standing between verb tenses. Or I can divide all life into breath and waiting for the next breath, and the calm in the troughs between. Some of the poems are complete, and touching, and real. You read the collection and imagine you are listening to a friend, pretending you know them, as much as any human can know another. A worthwhile read. View all m...

The Trembling Answers  by  Craig Morgan Teicher My rating:  3 of 5 stars In this very personal and moving collection, Craig Morgan Teicher explores his own biography. We feel his worry and pain as a father of a health young girl and a very sick boy. We listen to his love for his wife, his children, for the mother he lost when he was young, for the housekeeper who raised him, for the father who loved only through his emotional distance. Some of the lines are very fine, such as: …She lived and she grows like joy spreading from the syllables of songs. Or I could hold that rock and rewind time and find myself standing between verb tenses. Or I can divide all life into breath and waiting for the next breath, and the calm in the troughs between. Some of the poems are complete, and touching, and real. You read the collection and imagine you are listening to a friend, pretending you know them, as much as any human can know another. A worthwhile read. View all my reviews

The Trembling Answers by Craig Morgan Teicher My rating: 3 of 5 stars In this very personal and moving collection, Craig Morgan Teicher explores his own biography. We feel his worry and pain as a father of a health young girl and a very sick boy. We listen to his love for his wife, his children, for the mother he lost when he was young, for the housekeeper who raised him, for the father who loved only through his emotional distance. Some of the lines are very fine, such as: ...She lived and she grows like joy spreading from the syllables of songs. Or I could hold that rock and rewind time and find myself standing between verb tenses. Or I can divide all life into breath and waiting for the next breath, and the calm in the troughs between. Some of the poems are complete, and touching, and real. You read the collection and imagine you are listening to a friend, pretending you know them, as much as any human can know another. A worthwhile read. ...

Night Angler by Geffrey Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Night Angler” is a truly fine collection of poems by Geffrey Davis, as he meditates on the meaning of fatherhood. His own father failed that role but finally asks for some forgiveness. The poet himself tries to learn and be truer to the name, Father. The title and title poems suggest a man who fishes the night for meaning and faith and forgiveness and hope. Dear Boy: In the beginning, father was a fear I wanted to call love. For years I waded heart-deep into that doubt for version of my name I could, with some forgiveness, cast before your image. Dear Boy: Here’s my hand— because your arrival has mended the grave current of time, in the beginning I was talking to you. The language is truly fine. The emotion personal yet universal, poetic yet deep and real. …light creeps all across a distinct range of mountain, stunning plateau of birds into the original sweetness of song. We want to understand this— according ...

Night Angler by Geffrey Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Night Angler” is a truly fine collection of poems by Geffrey Davis, as he meditates on the meaning of fatherhood. His own father failed that role but finally asks for some forgiveness. The poet himself tries to learn and be truer to the name, Father. The title and title poems suggest a man who fishes the night for meaning and faith and forgiveness and hope. Dear Boy: In the beginning, father was a fear I wanted to call love. For years I waded heart-deep into that doubt for version of my name I could, with some forgiveness, cast before your image. Dear Boy: Here’s my hand— because your arrival has mended the grave current of time, in the beginning I was talking to you. The language is truly fine. The emotion personal yet universal, poetic yet deep and real. …light creeps all across a distinct range of mountain, stunning plateau of birds into the original sweetness of song. We want to underst...

Night Angler by Geffrey Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars "Night Angler" is a truly fine collection of poems by Geffrey Davis, as he meditates on the meaning of fatherhood. His own father failed that role but finally asks for some forgiveness. The poet himself tries to learn and be truer to the name, Father. The title and title poems suggest a man who fishes the night for meaning and faith and forgiveness and hope. Dear Boy: In the beginning, father was a fear I wanted to call love. For years I waded heart-deep into that doubt for version of my name I could, with some forgiveness, cast before your image. Dear Boy: Here's my hand--- because your arrival has mended the grave current of time, in the beginning I was talking to you. The language is truly fine. The emotion personal yet universal, poetic yet deep and real. ...light creeps all across a distinct range of mountain, stunning plateau of birds into the original sweetness of song...

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You can view 10-Minute plays written by students in my Creative Writing class and performed by Austin Fitzhugh’s Theater students at Germanna Community College Fall semester 2019 on my YouTube channel: The Grave written by Emily Rowland Chained written by Bob Pacific

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You can view 10-Minute plays written by students in my Creative Writing class and performed by Austin Fitzhugh’s Theater students at Germanna Community College Fall semester 2019 on my YouTube channel: The Grave written by Emily Rowland Chained written by Bob Pacific

You can view 10-Minute plays written by students in my Creative Writing class and performed by Austin Fitzhugh's Theater students at Germanna Community College Fall semester 2019 on my YouTube channel: The Grave written by Emily Rowland Chained written by Bob Pacific

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Thank you Haunted Waters Press for featuring me in your  Contributor Profiles . 

Thank you Haunted Waters Press for featuring me in your  Contributor Profiles . 

Thank you Haunted Waters Press for featuring me in your  Contributor Profiles .

Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper My rating: 4 of 5 stars "Doubt was nothing more than epistemological humility: a deep and practical awareness that outside our sphere of knowledge there existed information and experiences that might show our position to be in error. Doubt causes us to hold a strong position a bit more loosely, such that an acknowledgment of ignorance or error doesn't crush our sense of self or leave us totally unmoored if our position proves untenable. Certainty is the opposite: it hampers inquiry and hinders growth. It teaches us to ignore evidence that contradicts our ideas, and encourages us to defend our position at all costs, even as it reveals itself as indefensible. Certainty sees compromise as weak, hypocritical, evil, suppressing empathy and allowing us to justify inflicting horrible pain on others." p. 273-4 "But the truth is that the church's ...

Join me (and a number of other poets) for a poetry reading in Blacksburg, VA to celebrate “The Longest Night” of the year with readings on both Saturday December 21 and Sunday the 22nd. I will be reading at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday from my newest 2 books and offering signed copies of my collections for sale.

Join me (and a number of other poets) for a poetry reading in Blacksburg, VA to celebrate “The Longest Night” of the year with readings on both Saturday December 21 and Sunday the 22nd. I will be reading at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday from my newest 2 books and offering signed copies of my collections for sale.

Join me (and a number of other poets) for a poetry reading in Blacksburg, VA to celebrate "The Longest Night" of the year with readings on both Saturday Dece,ber 21 and Sunday the 22nd. I will be reading at 5:30 p/m. on Sunday from my newest 2 books and offering signed copies of my collections for sale.

According to many college freshmen, these five words should never assume first place in a sentence. And every one of these so-called rules is bogus. — Read on www.thoughtco.com/bogus-writing-rules-never-begin-a-sentence-with-3972772

According to many college freshmen, these five words should never assume first place in a sentence. And every one of these so-called rules is bogus. — Read on www.thoughtco.com/bogus-writing-rules-never-begin-a-sentence-with-3972772

For those who were drilled that “they” always meant more than one person, note that the etmological history shows this definition: (indefinite pronoun, vague meaning) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker

For those who were drilled that “they” always meant more than one person, note that the etmological history shows this definition: (indefinite pronoun, vague meaning) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker

Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

My new collection of poetry is now available from Kelsay Books. You can purchase it HERE .

My new collection of poetry is now available from Kelsay Books. You can purchase it HERE .

My new collection of poetry is now available from Kelsay Books. You can purchase it HERE .

Three of my poems have been accepted to appear in The MacGuffin Volume 36.2 scheduled for Spring 0f 2020. Thank you Gordon Krupsky, Managing Editor.

Three of my poems have been accepted to appear in The MacGuffin Volume 36.2 scheduled for Spring 0f 2020. Thank you Gordon Krupsky, Managing Editor.

Three of my poems have been accepted to appear in The MacGuffin Volume 36.2 scheduled for Spring 0f 2020. Thank you Gordon Krupsky, Managing Editor.

The Last Mastodon by Christina Olson My rating: 3 of 5 stars In “The Last Mastodon,” Christina Olson attempts to weave her personal dealing with death, the mastodon and its discovery and paleontology, Thomas Jefferson’s eagerness to explore and find if mastodons still lived along with his keeping of slaves and power over Sally Hemings. At the same time, Olson tries to weave prose poems, disjointed thoughts and bits from her readings, with more carefully crafted free verse. Finally, she tries to weave humor (dark and light) with deeper emotion. I think, overall, this weaving works more than it fails. There is deep feeling here along with thought. The small chapbook is certainly worth reading at least once. The central poem, “Among the Bones,” itself alone is worthy enough. View all my reviews

The Last Mastodon by Christina Olson My rating: 3 of 5 stars In “The Last Mastodon,” Christina Olson attempts to weave her personal dealing with death, the mastodon and its discovery and paleontology, Thomas Jefferson’s eagerness to explore and find if mastodons still lived along with his keeping of slaves and power over Sally Hemings. At the same time, Olson tries to weave prose poems, disjointed thoughts and bits from her readings, with more carefully crafted free verse. Finally, she tries to weave humor (dark and light) with deeper emotion. I think, overall, this weaving works more than it fails. There is deep feeling here along with thought. The small chapbook is certainly worth reading at least once. The central poem, “Among the Bones,” itself alone is worthy enough. View all my reviews

The Last Mastodon by Christina Olson My rating: 3 of 5 stars In "The Last Mastodon," Christina Olson attempts to weave her personal dealing with death, the mastodon and its discovery and paleontology, Thomas Jefferson's eagerness to explore and find if mastodons still lived along with his keeping of slaves and power over Sally Hemings. At the same time, Olson tries to weave prose poems, disjointed thoughts and bits from her readings, with more carefully crafted free verse. Finally, she tries to weave humor (dark and light) with deeper emotion. I think, overall, this weaving works more than it fails. There is deep feeling here along with thought. The small chapbook is certainly worth reading at least once. The central poem, "Among the Bones," itself alone is worthy enough. View all my reviews

My sixth book, Dark Fathers, will be released by Kelsay Books in December. You will be able to purchase copies from their bookstore HERE .

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving

My sixth book, Dark Fathers, will be released by Kelsay Books in December. You will be able to purchase copies from their bookstore  HERE . 

My sixth book, Dark Fathers, will be released by Kelsay Books in December. You will be able to purchase copies from their bookstore HERE .

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving

We should all remember that giving love and friendship matters more than being “right.” Happy Thanksgiving.

Three of my poems about Northern Michigan are included in the Fifth Edition of the Walloon Writers Review , available soon. 

Three of my poems about Northern Michigan are included in the Fifth Edition of the Walloon Writers Review , available soon. 

Three of my poems about Northern Michigan are included in the Fifth Edition of the Walloon Writers Review , available soon. 

Three of my poems about Northern Michigan are included in the Fifth Edition of the Walloon Writers Review , available soon.

Shopping for the Holidays – Buy a book by a local Fredericksburg Author – including my book Final Inventory. Thank you Free Lance Star for the article and support of local authors.

Shopping for the Holidays – Buy a book by a local Fredericksburg Author – including my book Final Inventory. Thank you Free Lance Star for the article and support of local authors.

Shopping for the Holidays – Buy a book by a local Fredericksburg Author – including my book Final Inventory. Thank you Free Lance Star for the article and support of local authors.

Shopping for the Holidays - Buy a book by a local Fredericksburg Author - including my book Final Inventory.   Thank you Free Lance Star for the article and support of local authors.

Backchannels will publish my poem “Half-life” in its Winter 2020 issue coming out in January. Thank you Editor Laura Johnson.

Backchannels will publish my poem “Half-life” in its Winter 2020 issue coming out in January. Thank you Editor Laura Johnson.

Backchannels will publish my poem “Half-life” in its Winter 2020 issue coming out in January. Thank you Editor Laura Johnson.

My poem “Climbing the Red Dog Road” has been published in From the Depths by Haunted Waters Press. You can order a copy here: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1687827 Thank you Editor Susan Warren Utley.

My poem “Climbing the Red Dog Road” has been published in From the Depths by Haunted Waters Press. You can order a copy here: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1687827 Thank you Editor Susan Warren Utley.

My poem “Climbing the Red Dog Road” has been published in From the Depths by Haunted Waters Press. You can order a copy here: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1687827 Thank you Editor Susan Warren Utley.

My poem "Climbing the Red Dog Road" has been published in From the Depths by Haunted Waters Press. You can order a copy here: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1687827 Thank you Editor Susan Warren Utley.

My Creative Writing I class at Germanna Community College in January will offer you the chance to write in all four genres: poetry, short fiction, 10-minute play and creative nonfiction. Creative Writing II will focus on just short fiction and poetry. Go here to Register: https://ift.tt/33aOOVV

My Creative Writing I class at Germanna Community College in January will offer you the chance to write in all four genres: poetry, short fiction, 10-minute play and creative nonfiction. Creative Writing II will focus on just short fiction and poetry. Go here to Register: https://ift.tt/33aOOVV

My Creative Writing I class at Germanna Community College in January will offer you the chance to write in all four genres: poetry, short fiction, 10-minute play and creative nonfiction. Creative Writing II will focus on just short fiction and poetry. Go here to Register: https://www.germanna.edu/admissions/register/ 

My Creative Writing I class at Germanna Community College in January will offer you the chance to write in all four genres: poetry, short fiction, 10-minute play and creative nonfiction. Creative Writing II will focus on just short fiction and poetry. Go here to Register: https://www.germanna.edu/admissions/register/

Lion of Liberty: The Life and Times of Patrick Henry by Harlow Giles Unger My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Edison by Edmund Morris My rating: 3 of 5 stars A comprehensive biography of Thomas Edison, Morris’ book is rich in technical history and details while offering little new in understanding the man himself. Perhaps that is as it should be. Edison seems opaque in many ways, perhaps because he was increasingly closed in by his deafness. And he seemed less willing to share himself as a person, even with those he loved, than he was to share the gifts of his mind and invention with the world. For an unfathomable reason, Morris chose to have this biography go backwards. I cannot determine a scholarly, literary or entertainment value in doing so and recmmend simply reading the book backwards. View all my reviews

Edison by Edmund Morris My rating: 3 of 5 stars A comprehensive biography of Thomas Edison, Morris’ book is rich in technical history and details while offering little new in understanding the man himself. Perhaps that is as it should be. Edison seems opaque in many ways, perhaps because he was increasingly closed in by his deafness. And he seemed less willing to share himself as a person, even with those he loved, than he was to share the gifts of his mind and invention with the world. For an unfathomable reason, Morris chose to have this biography go backwards. I cannot determine a scholarly, literary or entertainment value in doing so and recmmend simply reading the book backwards. View all my reviews

Edison by Edmund Morris My rating: 3 of 5 stars A comprehensive biography of Thomas Edison, Morris’ book is rich in technical history and details while offering little new in understanding the man himself. Perhaps that is as it should be. Edison seems opaque in many ways, perhaps because he was increasingly closed in by his deafness. And he seemed less willing to share himself as a person, even with those he loved, than he was to share the gifts of his mind and invention with the world. For an unfathomable reason, Morris chose to have this biography go backwards. I cannot determine a scholarly, literary or entertainment value in doing so and recmmend simply reading the book backwards. View all my reviews

Edison by Edmund Morris My rating: 3 of 5 stars A comprehensive biography of Thomas Edison, Morris' book is rich in technical history and details while offering little new in understanding the man himself. Perhaps that is as it should be. Edison seems opaque in many ways, perhaps because he was increasingly closed in by his deafness. And he seemed less willing to share himself as a person, even with those he loved, than he was to share the gifts of his mind and invention with the world. For an unfathomable reason, Morris chose to have this biography go backwards. I cannot determine a scholarly, literary or entertainment value in doing so and recmmend simply reading the book backwards. View all my reviews

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The video of the Evening of Poetry in the North Central Region of the Poetry Society of Virginia and held on October 24, 2019 at Germanna Community College can be viewed here. https://youtu.be/FrwUhT3J80A   The evening featured Henry Hart, current Poet Laureate of Virginia, Laura Bylenok, poet and professor at the University of Mary Washington, poets Beth Spraggins and Madalin Bickel, and students from the creative writing class at Germanna. The event was cosponsored by PSV – North Central Region and Germanna Community College.

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The video of the Evening of Poetry in the North Central Region of the Poetry Society of Virginia and held on October 24, 2019 at Germanna Community College can be viewed here. https://youtu.be/FrwUhT3J80A   The evening featured Henry Hart, current Poet Laureate of Virginia, Laura Bylenok, poet and professor at the University of Mary Washington, poets Beth Spraggins and Madalin Bickel, and students from the creative writing class at Germanna. The event was cosponsored by PSV – North Central Region and Germanna Community College.

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The video of the Evening of Poetry in the North Central Region of the Poetry Society of Virginia and held on October 24, 2019 at Germanna Community College can be viewed here. https://youtu.be/FrwUhT3J80A   The evening featured Henry Hart, current Poet Laureate of Virginia, Laura Bylenok, poet and professor at the University of Mary Washington, poets Beth Spraggins and Madalin Bickel, and students from the creative writing class at Germanna. The event was cosponsored by PSV – North Central Region and Germanna Community College.

The video of the Evening of Poetry in the North Central Region of the Poetry Society of Virginia and held on October 24, 2019 at Germanna Community College can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/FrwUhT3J80A The evening featured Henry Hart, current Poet Laureate of Virginia, Laura Bylenok, poet and professor at the University of Mary Washington, poets Beth Spraggins and Madalin Bickel, and students from the creative writing class at Germanna. The evening was cosponsored by PSV - North Central Region and Germanna Community College.  

You know that saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” —   link.medium.com/bOWNZGFF90

You know that saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” —   link.medium.com/bOWNZGFF90

You know that saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” —   link.medium.com/bOWNZGFF90

Hope to see you at the Evening of Poetry this Thursday at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA. https://ift.tt/2JcxybQ?

Hope to see you at the Evening of Poetry this Thursday at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA. https://ift.tt/2JcxybQ?

Hope to see you at the Evening of Poetry this Thursday at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA. https://www.facebook.com/events/728519690924950/?

Just because your side of the lifeboat is dry while the other side is taking on water doesn’t mean you won’t sink too.

Just because your side of the lifeboat is dry while the other side is taking on water doesn’t mean you won’t sink too.

Just because your side of the lifeboat is dry while the other side is taking on water doesn’t mean you won’t sink too.

My poem “ Mermaids ” is now published on The Voices Project and available to read.

My poem “ Mermaids ” is now published on The Voices Project and available to read.