University of Minnesota Duluth Poem

From Alma Mater: Vol. 1: The Midwest
Available Now for 99 cents! (Link Below)

*UMD*

This world is not a place of those who can and those who can’t,
It is a world of those who can and those who won’t,
Shannon & Her Teams prove to those who say that women can’t:
That this world is about those who believe and those who don’t.
Bulldog Women’s Hockey won the first National Championship
Through Miller’s Belief with leadership from Maria and crew,
The Men’s National Champions of 2011 helped guide the ship,
Along with Five Women’s Titles to prove we’re the “those” that do.
Hark! The Duluth Bulldogs have earned a prideful bark!
Along with the pleasure of enjoying the Duluth Nightlife,
Countless bars and pubs then tomorrow to Canal Park,
At Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light.
Breathe the natural beauty of Lake Superior and waterfront,
Carry on like the S.S. William A. Irvin,
Our Drive is for Discovery and there are Bulldogs up front,
When in misty turbulence, stay the course & keep swervin’.
The Duluth Bulldogs are roused by the life our waters arouse,
Those who can: guide themselves and sails of others,
And those who can: adjust the world’s mapped routes…
Causing the waters
to shed from others.

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Posted in Books, College, Poetry, Poetry Books, Sports

Uhhh…

From Art of Mind II: All In

*Uhhh…*

Angry Boss: “I don’t pay you to think!”
Employee: “Uhhh…I thought you did…”

Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
Feel free to share or Reblog with proper credit given.

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Posted in Philosophy, Poetry

FLASHSALE! June 29, Amazon ONLY! Get The Good Life early for only $1.99!

FLASHSALE! June 29, Amazon ONLY! Get The Good Life early for only $1.99!.

Posted in Books, Writing

Imagine

From Art of Mind II: All In

*Imagine*

I see an Iris Blossom,
Instead of a
Venus Flytrap.
I capture a Meteoric Rise,
Instead of
Hanging on a falling star.
I already feel Sunbursts,
Instead of
Solar Winds.
I notice a New Moon,
Instead of
Paralyzing Gravity.
I marvel at a Green Ray,
Instead of Running from
A Thundercloud.
I refresh at First Light,
Instead of remaining with Twilight.
I imagine the South Pacific —
Instead of a
Frozen Lagoon.
I imagine Fair View Mountain,
Instead of another
Continental Slope.
I imagine parachuting Snow Mist,
Instead of a
Tumbling Avalanche.
I imagine casing a Sapphire,
Instead of
Pawning a Pinchbeck Pearl.

Now Imagine how I’d feel if it became a reality.

Don’t listen to the cynics and pessimists,
I’d change quite a bit for you…
I’d get on up off this bed,
And earn a King’s Ransom to lay our heads.
I don’t know what the future holds,
I doubt you’ll even know my full thoughts,
I’m just saying that if you Did have me —
You’d change quite a few of my faults.
These cynics say that women make the mistake —
Of thinking they can change a man…
I’ve made enough mistakes for us both,
So trust me when I say that you can.

If they are referring to thugs and criminals,
And I should ever convert to that type:
I’d soon match your white — and quickly shed old stripes.

They keep on giving that advice,
But think again before you
Take it as True…
These People — They Don’t Know Me,
And they Sure as Hell must not know You.

Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
Feel free to share or Reblog with proper credit given.

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Posted in Books, Poetry, Poetry Books

The Time for Summer Reading is Officially Here!

Happy Saturday!

This week on the website, the schools Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State, and Michigan State University were featured from the Alma Mater series. And from Art of Mind II, the poems “Apologizing for Defacing Angels” and “Scenic View” were featured. And I would like to thank everyone for the positive feedback on those two pieces. If you haven’t already, stop in for a visit and check out the poems of the week as well as the many other poems shared in the site archive. And, as a reminder, Alma Mater Vol. 1: The Midwest, which is currently featured in the June issue of Kirkus Reviews magazine, is available for only 99 cents. Get your copy by clicking the link below. Also, if you come across a poem of a university that a friend attended, please share to help spread the word, as they are the primary audience of the series. Thanks for all the support, and everyone have a great first “official” weekend of summer!

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Scenic View

From Art of Mind II: All In

*Scenic View*

I won’t be getting too far,
All your signs have made that clear.
I’m telling myself to pump the brakes, but
I just want to look a little bit longer.

I’m taking in clouds of rippled islands floating above wide open pineries and mellow-high forests with trees & leaves as green as Irish cress. Clear postmeridian sunshine belight my path like candle-light in a dead cave. I see beyond the fact that we’re going nowhere. I see beauty. Deep, Natural Beauty.

Pull over, let me look at you.

I’m not stopping,
But I’m not ready to move on.

Stop running, let me look at you.

Let me take in sky-honey fantasies with rolled down windows on either side of me. Slick Breezes skip on my skin…they groove my jagged edges to a better place — at a slow pace. I’m easing down this one-way street because I already know what’s waiting for me on the other side. Which is why as you’re avoiding looking at your latest roadkill that you never meant to hurt, I’m looking right at your cool western hills. I’m tired of trying to climb the insurmountable. I’ll just park right here and stare in admiration. It was a nice day out, but now it just got beautiful. This lonely road is now beaconed in gold — from a sun that shines all-throughout you.

This road is going Nowhere,
When I had hoped
It would lead to you…
I’m still going down this
Dead End Street:
Because I’m Enjoying the
Scenic View.

Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
Feel free to share or Reblog with proper credit given.

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Apologizing for Defacing Angels

From Art of Mind II: All In

*Apologizing for Defacing Angels*

I’m sorry,
I thought it was the
Heart of a Dove
and the
touch of lax linen
That makes an angel.
I’m sorry,
I still say that Angels
have an Inner Grace
that goes Much Deeper
than the face.

em>Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
Feel free to share or Reblog.

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Posted in Books, Poetry, Poetry Books, Writing

Alma Mater Poetry Series Featured Nationally

Yesterday I was thrilled to announce the news that Alma Mater Vol. 1: The Midwest is featured in the June installment of Kirkus Reviews magazine, an honor afforded to less than 10% of Indy Book Reviews. Tomorrow I will continue posting daily poems from the Alma Mater and Art of Mind archives. Visit the site and read sample poems from the past week, including poems featuring colleges Oakland University, Wayne State University, and Northern Michigan University. And from the Art of Mind series, “Letting Go” and “She Can Grow” was featured from Art of Mind II: All-In.

You can get your copy of Alma Mater, a collection of college poetry featuring universities of the Midwest by visiting the site below. It is available for only 99 cents! Thank you all for your support, and have a happy Father’s Day!

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, College, Poetry

Alma Mater Poetry Series Featured Nationally

Great news! Alma Mater Vol. 1: The Midwest is featured in the June issue of Kirkus Reviews magazine, an honor afforded to less than 10% of Indy Book Reviews. I am humbled by the honor and very excited for the future.

I’d also like to take this time to thank everyone who has been supporting the site and liking the sample poems from the series on the site, as well as sample poems from the Art of Mind series, you are all noticed and appreciated.

Lastly, see what the fuss is about! Get your copy of the Alma Mater e-book on Amazon.com for only 99 cents and experience what Kirkus calls an “engaging poetic tour of the Midwest.” Just click on the link below and then you’re just one more click away!

Also, feel free to visit the site, check out samples and other features of the website. Have a splendid weekend.

O.C.A.

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, College, Poems, Poetry, Poetry Books

Letting Go

From Art of Mind II: All In

*Letting Go*

Whenever I hugged my mother as a child,
The hardest part was
Letting Go.

And when 10 year reunions are formed
or a spouse returns home from a long day,
or a child, not unlike me, hugs his mother,
They Too must eventually let go.
It’s that “Let Go Moment” when the amount of seconds add up to a magic moment, and once it is felt, it’s ok: you can let go. Even if you want to hold on forever, you force yourself to let go…and sometimes after a few short seconds, the magic returns, and you hug again.

They hold one another by the sleeve,
They stare, and my word
They Smile.
They may hug over and over again, but sooner or later, they must
Let Go.

I always hated to let go.

Mothers, most of all, fear letting go.

As I unloaded our van into my dorm room,
I noticed a proud, yet sorrowful mother…

She held her daughter for 18 years…

And as a tear fell,
She waved
&
Let Go.

em>Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
Feel free to share or Reblog.

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Posted in College, Poetry, Poetry Books, Writing