As a child, the author, Jon Lobdell, developed a deep affinity for nature, while roaming about trails on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. He had an equal interest in words, especially the turning of a good phrase! Attending a poetry class in 1972 at a junior college, spurred a love of poetry. He has read and written poetry in the nearly 50 years since then. In his early 30’s he became interested in spiritual understanding. Through the study of Breema Bodywork© and Gurdjieff Work, he experienced some direct insights into the nature of existence. He found poetry one of the most effective ways of pointing at these truths. The poems of Mary Oliver showed him how starting with simple observation of nature is the perfect entry into the inherent wisdom of all life. The poems of Rilke, Rumi, and Antonio Machado are also major influences. He is also the author of a novel, “Moments of Grace, A Life in the Time of Jesus.” Available on Amazon kindle.