Being Human in This Crazy World

It is a daily struggle trying to navigate this crazy world as a simple, emotional, and superbly flawed human being.

The poems contained in this book delve into relationships that we as human beings must juggle and ultimately master in order to survive this life and become fulfilled, reasonably happy people.

The hope is to inspire, educate, amuse, and touch the hearts and souls of the reader through honest and relatable poetic pieces of work by a fellow, sympathetic human being.

Back to the '50s

Back to the ’50s, a book of poems highlighting life in America during the 1950s by Earlene Green Evans will take you on an exciting trip without luggage or a ticket. After experiencing the ‘good old days,’ you may not want to return to reality. You will stroll the street of an ideal crime-free neighborhood. How about squeezing into a neighbor’s crowded living room to view outrageous, funny comedians or cowboys and Indians on a dinner plate size black and white television screen. You will make an appearance in your stylish poodle skirt with a matching off-shoulder blouse. Then, rack your brains trying to understand the impact of Russia’s Sputnik. Dance to exhaustion with the music of the famous Drifters. Perhaps you just prefer to relax in the cool breeze on a strong tree limb with your favorite book.

Back to the ’50s will definitely rekindle buried feelings, old habits and foggy thoughts of people, places and things in the safe haven of the fabulous ’50s.

Awake in Dreams Sleeping Death Away

Awake in Dreams Sleeping Death Away is a pun on the different states of consciousness, which is open to multifactorial answers. In reality, the observations in the poems leave the readers perhaps with more questions than answers.
The three states of consciousness—awakening, sleeping, and dreaming—hint at the fine line between life and death. The entire book can be seen as a dream.

Awake in Dreams Sleeping Death Away does not try to scientifically claim any truths, but it does attempt to question what we may hold as true. It is more important to experience the poems, rather than to actualize them in an objective manner. No doubt the meaning or truth in these poems, if any can be found, will be organic and morph with each new reader.   

As a Woman Thinketh

Mike Pauro, aka ‘Ajax Moon’ and his daughter, Morgan Deeble, aka ‘Bridey Moon’ remake the aphorism examined by James Allen for women. In this transposition of Allen’s classic, the authors revisit the impact of thought on health, purpose, achievement, ideas, and serenity from the female perspective. The work is accompanied by imagery from early 20th century postcards passed down for generations in their family. The images were selected to be contemporaneous of the era of James Allen (1864-1912).

Art and Poetry by Pollock

Life was smooth sailing and quite normal up until my mom Janis was killed in a car accident heading from Santa Cruz California to Carmel when I was 11 years old. After her death, life changed drastically from a nice gentle breeze to a category five tornado; an inferno of drugs, lies and alibis. Let’s just say… No more smooth sailing. When the dust began to settle at the age of 24, I enlisted in the United States Navy and set sail for a better life and once again it was smooth sailing.

Here are some of my experiences, thoughts, and photographs of my artwork which I use as a way to process my childhood traumas.

Processing as I stack stones and transfer the negative energy into a beautiful piece of work giving it life; it lives then eventually dies, taking the negative energy with it.

I hope you feel something from these pages within.

An Owl's Tales

Life is a trail of crossing paths, some barely noticed, others with profound impacts. Did Santa bring that special football or the right Barbie doll? Did you pass that tough high school teacher’s course? Remember your first love? Was the pound puppy with sad but hopeful eyes ever chosen? Was the homeless beggar on the corner worth helping? The paths of Santa and teachers and loves and others who need help influence the course of our path, some for good, others not so much. But all of your paths make you, you.

Is it better to know or to feel what we should do? Maybe it doesn’t matter as long as the trail is guided by the heart. One man’s journey through a lifetime of crossed paths is portrayed in An Owl’s Tales. Some paths will sound familiar; some will challenge; some will motivate, while others will touch your heart. The wise old owl who sleeps with one eye open observes everything, reacts to little, but remembers. When your race is run, what will have been your important paths?

Ain't This a Bitch?

Permit me, if you will, to invite you to the land of plenty! Plenty of this, plenty of that. Plenty of ‘going to the mat’ for the cause célèbre du jour, or for something less. Plenty of ‘bullshit!’ Plenty of pet peeves and more. And plenty of moments where you’ll wonder, ‘Now, did that just happen?’

Ain’t This a Bitch? by J Sam takes you on a journey through the highs, lows, and in-betweens of navigating the all-too-common ‘isms’ that constantly challenge us. Indulge in every stanza and go beyond seeing yourself as a ‘victim.’ Let J Sam guide you, journey by journey, irony by irony, and smackdown by smackdown, through the ‘poetic justice’ of living in, and loving, America. This is the ‘land of the free’ where bravery about ‘difference’ meets its adversary: a beast, two-legged and ferocious, pandering to the irrelevant histories of less benevolent men.

Come one, come all, into this thrall, where complexity resides in the truths about the ‘socio-politics’ leading you to these pages. Pages that never fail to deliver, ‘on point!’ Pages that reject the notion of wallowing in the mud of ‘pretense,’ and instead, celebrate the beauty of the word in its magnificent expression!

This poet offers you contemporary and timeless literary excellence, not easily perceived by the eye (naked in its rush to judgment) nor the ear (given over to ‘the squeaky wheel’) in a nation under siege by the greasy freedoms of verse.

A Portrait to Paint

The poems in A Portrait To Paint celebrate two journeys: the career in New York City that Andréa Suarez Hill had in print, broadcast and photo journalism until 1987; as well as the life she and her husband made when they moved to Down East Maine and created a salt water farm on a bay near the ocean.  The poetry reflects these two very different rural and urban lifestyles.

The section titled “We,” as a metaphor for the family of man, captures daily news from across the globe: climate change, social injustice, the Covid pandemic, political issues and more.

In the chapter titled “You,” Suarez-Hill writes about her relationships with horses, wild animals, people and places both in New York and Maine.

The last part of the book, “Me,” expresses her inner world, feelings about aging as well as about her childhood, family and friends.  A reader feels the wonder Andréa Suarez Hill experiences across the years wherever she lives and looks.

A Misguided Thought

A Misguided Thought is a collection of poetry that shows the overall life experiences of a 21-year-old—from living a sheltered life writing about his hopes and dreams to struggling with mental disorders, heartache, and trying to find his way back to the light through faith itself. The words within these pages intend to bring solace and clarity in times of conviction, and Jaelyn has come to be one of this generation’s greatest poets.

A Life of Poems for All Seasons

The changing of the seasons, the dreams of the young, the times of happiness, and times of complete despair. Struggles, wishes, beliefs, relationships; these are all part of the experiences that make up our lives and form who we are. Each season has its own memories which come together to create a lifetime. 

A Journey Within Us

Life is complicated. As you delve deeper into your emotions and confront your fears, a certain sense of understanding evolves, fostering personal growth. Adversity often breeds creativity and strength; you just need to be prepared to open your heart and soul to the truth.

In this book of poetry, I expose my deepest, most personal thoughts to anyone who decides to read. The main work evolved from waking during the night and contemplating the river, trees, and birds at the bottom of the property where I lived. I entered a realm in my mind that had developed from a young age, where the intricate details of life – people, animals, plants, ideas, creativity, questions – fascinated me.

Music has always been a great solace for my mind, heart, and soul. Listening to some of the classic songwriters, I have always been amazed by the craft of their lyrics. I often dreamed of being a songwriter, finding incredible freedom in expressing thoughts and feelings on a day-to-day journey.

A Black Girl's Truth

“The truth holds no lies. Lies are what ties you down and tapes your mouth shut. We can run away from all the things we fear. We can hide our troubles with beauty, but a lie will always catch you. The truth is the only thing that will set you free. I didn’t believe that until I wrote it. In this life, we will all face many questions, and sometimes we won’t find the answers. How do you know the difference between what’s real and what’s fake? How do you breathe when you are underwater? What’s the hardest part about goodbye?  Every story, every hope, and every word have a purpose. Pen against the pad was like me against the world. Told from not only my eyes, but my heart, and now the words are written for all to see. You can not only read my truth but also find answers to your own questions.”

– Destiny Gilchrist