Back in the 90’s, a close friend was reading the introduction to what would later become my first book of poetry. He made the suggestion that it would be nice to have some kind of explanation for the poem, like a summary that helped put the poem into some sort of context for the reader. Little did I know just how much that one decision would come to define my work for everything I have accomplished since then.



I've found that people either love or hate the prelude that accompanies each poem - it’s that simple. For some, it provides some kind of insight, which helps them understand the frame of mind I was in when I wrote it. For others, poetry is a way to find something in the words that takes you to a place that only your mind can define. The introductions only detract from the words in the poem that follows.



Regardless of which person you are, this collection of poetry is for you. This book covers a wide range of emotions and contains a myriad of poems that were written over the past twenty-five years. You will find some of them are very disturbing, and if you are one of the people who prefer to read the introductions first, you might even learn a few things about me, or these poems, that you never wanted to hear.