Presentation by Leah Hermanson
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
BIOGRAPHY
Naomi Shihab Nye – The Wandering Poet
“ I n t h e c u r r e n t l i te r a r y s c e n e , o n e o f t h e m o s t h e a r te n i n g
i n f l ue nc e s i s t h e w o r k o f N a o m i S h i h a b N ye . H e r p o e m s
c o m b i n e t r a n s c e n d e n t l i ve l i n e s s a n d s p a r k l e a l o n g w i t h
w a r m t h a n d h u m a n i n s i g h t . S h e i s a c h a m p io n o f t h e
l i te r a t ur e o f e n c o u r a g em e n t a n d h e a r t . R e a d i n g h e r w o r k
e n h a n c e s l i fe ( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , S teve n B a r c l ay A g e n c y ) . ”
I n t h i s q u o te t h e f a m o us p o et , W i l l i a m S t r a f fo r d ,
c o m m e n d s N ye f o r h e r a b i l i t y to n o t o n l y to uc h , b u t to
i n f l ue nc e t h e l i ve s o f o t h e r s . N a o m i S h i h a b N ye w a s b o r n o n
M a r c h 1 2 , 1 9 5 2 , i n S t . L o u i s , M i s s o ur i . H e r d a d , A z i z S h i h a b ,
w a s a P a l e s t i ni a n r e f u g e e , a n d h e r m o t h er, M i r i a m N a o m i
A l l wa r d t , w a s b o r n A m e r i ca n . D u r i n g h e r c h i l d h o o d , s h e l i v e d
i n S t . L o u i s , J e r u s a l e m a n d S a n A n to n i o , Tex a s ( “ N a o m i
S h i h a b N ye ” , P o e t s .o r g ) . S h e c u r r e n t l y l i v e s w i t h h e r
h u s b a n d , M i c h a e l N ye , a n d t h e i r s o n , M a d i s o n , i n S a n A n to n i o
( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , e N o te s .c o m ). S h e i s k n o w n a s a
“ w a n d e r i n g p o et ” f o r h e r i n te r e s t i n t r av e l i n g a r o u n d t h e
w o r l d te a c h i n g w o r k s h o p s o n w r i t in g a n d i n s p i r i n g c h i l d r e n to
w r i te . S h e h a s t r av e l e d a r o u n d t h e c o u n t r y f o r o v e r 3 3 ye a r s
( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , P e a c e H e r o e s ). N ye ’ s u p b r i n g in g o f
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
BIOGRAPHY (CONT)
d i v e r s e c u l t ur e s h a s p l aye d a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n h e r w o r k a n d a l s o o n h e r
p e r s p e c t iv e o f l i fe .
N ye s t a r te d w r i t i n g p o e m s w h e n s h e w a s o n l y s i x ye a r s o l d . Fr o m
r e a d i n g b o o k s to w a t c h i n g C a r l S a n d b ur g o n te l ev i s i o n , s h e g r ew to l o ve w r i t i n g
( “ I n te r v i ew W i t h N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” ) . L i s te n i n g to h e r m o t h e r r e a d to h e r w a s
t h e m o s t i n f l ue n t i al f a c to r r e s u l t i n g i n N ye ’ s d e s i r e a n d p a s s i o n to w r i te . B y
t h e t i m e s h e w a s 7 , s h e h a d a l r e a d y p u b l is h e d h e r f i r s t p o e m s i n a m a g a z i n e
( “ K i n d n e s s ” ) . S h e c o n t i n ue d w r i t in g a l l t h r o ug h h e r s c h o o l ye a r s a n d ev e n t u a l l y
g r a d ua te d f r o m Tr i n i t y U n i v e r s i t y i n 1 974 . W h i l e a t te n d i n g c o l le g e , s h e
r e c e i v e d h e r B A i n w o r l d r e l i g i o n s a n d E n g l i s h ( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , P o e t r y
Fo u n d a t i o n ) . S i n c e t h e n , N ye h a s a c c e p te d n u m e r o us aw a r d s f o r h e r w o r k s
i n c l ud i n g f o u r P u s h c a r t P r i z e s , t h e L e e B e n n et t H o p k i n s Po et r y Aw a r d , t h e
P a te r s o n Po et r y P r i z e , a n d m a ny o t h e r s . S h e h a s a l s o e a r n e d s ev e r a l
f e l l ow s h i p s i n c l ud i n g a L a n n a n Fe l l ow, a G u d d e n h e i n Fe l l ow ( 1 9 97 - 9 8 ) a n d a
W i t te r B y n n e r Fe l l ow ( 2 0 0 0 ) ( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , S teve n B a r c l ay A g e n c y ). I n
1 9 97 , s h e r e c e i ve d t h e D i s t i n g ui s h e d A l um n a Aw a r d f r o m Tr i n i t y U n i v e r s i t y i n
S a n A n to n i o , Tex a s ( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” , N ove l g u i d e .c o m ). I n 2 01 0 , s h e w a s
a p p o i n te d C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e A c a d e my o f A m e r i c a n Po et s ( “ N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ” ,
P o e t s . or g ) . S o m e o f N ye ’ s w o r k r e s e m b le s t h e p o et r y o f G a r y S ny d er, Wa l l a c e
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
BIOGRAPHY (CONT)
Steve n s, a n d h e r m e n tor, W i l liam St a f fo rd ( “ N a omi Sh i h a b N ye ” , P o et r y
Fo u n dati on ). Th e m a jo rit y o f h e r wo rk i s a re fl e c t ion o f h e r ow n wa rm th
a n d h um a n i n sight w h i c h ex pre s ses t h e un i q uen ess o f h e r po et r y t h a t a l s o
i m pa c t s t h e l i ves o f ot h e r s .
Th e re a re m a ny fa c to r s t h a t m a ke N a o m i N ye ’ s po et r y un i q ue . Sh e
i s k n ow n fo r po et r y t h a t g i ves t h e re a de r a fre s h i n t ro duc t i on to t h e
ave ra ge pe r s o n a n d t h e i r day to day l i fe ( “ N a omi Sh i h a b N ye ” , P o et r y
Fo u n dati on ). H e r wo rl dl y c o n c e rns a re s h ow n t h ro ug h o ut h e r wo rk s . M uc h
o f h e r wo rk re fl e c t s h e r de s i re fo r c ul t ura l pe a c e . Sh e a l s o a c q ui re s t h e
a bi l it y to c h a n ge eve r y day i m a ges i n to pa s s ionate o bs e r vat ions ( “ N a omi
Sh i h a b N ye ” , P e a c e H e ro e s ) . M o s t o f N ye ’ s po e m s a re w ri t te n i n fre e ve r se
( “ N a omi Sh i h ab N ye ” , P o et r y Fo u n dati on ). Th ey c o n t a i n m a ny po et i c dev i c es
i n c ludi ng i m age r y, fi g ura t i ve l a n g uage, a n d s o un d dev i c es. B e c a use o f h e r
va r y i ng c ul t ure s a n d upbri n g i ng, h e r po e m s o f te n c o n t a in t h e a ppre h e nsion
o f Pa l est inian l i fe . Th ro ug h h e r po et r y, N ye s h a res t h e g o o d t h a t pe o pl e do
fo r ot h e r s. Sh e s e e s pro bl e ms i n t h i s wo rl d t h a t m o s t do n ’ t , a n d w h a t s h e
de s i res m o st i s pe a c e a n d e q ua lit y. W i t h h e r po et r y, s h e h a s to uc h e d t h e
l i ves o f m a ny pe o pl e i n c l uding Th e G ra n d R a pi ds P re s s w h o ex pre s sed,
“ N a o mi Sh i h ab Nye bre a t h e s po et r y l i ke t h e re s t o f us bre a th e a i r. Wh e n
s h e ex h a les, t h e wo rl d be c o m es di f fe re nt . B et te r ( “ N a omi Sh i h ab N ye ” ,
S teve n B a rc l ay A ge n c y ). ”
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
LIST OF WORKS
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D i f f e r e n t Way s to P r ay
On the Edge of the Sky
H u g g i n g t h e J u ke b ox
Ye l l ow G l ove
I nv i s i b l e
Mint
Red Suitcase
Wo r d s u n d e r t h e Wo r d s : S e l e c te d P o e m s
Further Collection
Fu e l
of Poems
M i n t S n ow b a l l
Yo u a n d Yo u r s
T h i s S a m e S k y: A C o l l e c t i o n o f P o e m s f r o m a r o u n d t h e Wo r l d
T h e Tr e e I s O l d e r T h a n Yo u A r e : P o e m s a n d S to r i e s f r o m M ex i c o
I Fe e l a L i t t l e J u m py a r o u n d Yo u
T h e S p a c e b e t wee n O u r Fo o t s te p s
W h a t H ave Yo u L o s t ?
Biography
List of Works
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Original Poems
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ANALYSIS POEM
So Much Happiness by Naomi Shihab Nye
It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness.
With sadness there is something to rub against,
a wound to tend with lotion and cloth.
When the world falls in around you, you have pieces to pick up,
something to hold in your hands, like ticket stubs or change.
But happiness floats.
It doesn’t need to hold it down.
It doesn’t need anything.
Happiness lands on the roof of the next house, singing,
and disappears when it want to.
You are happy either way.
Even the fact that you once lived in a peaceful tree house
and now live over a quarry of dust and noise
cannot make you unhappy.
Everything has a life of its own,
it too could wake up filled with possibilities
of coffee cake and ripe peaches,
and love even the floor which needs to be swept,
the soiled linens and scratched records…
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Analysis of So
Much Happiness
Since there is no place large enough
to contain so much happiness,
you shrug, you raise your hands, and it flows out of you
into everything you touch. You are not responsible.
You take no credit, as the night sky takes no credit
for the moon, but continues to hold it, and share it,
and in that way, be known.
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
ANALYSIS
N a o m i S h i h a b N ye h a s w r i t te n m a ny m a r v el o us p o e m s i n c l ud i n g , “ S o
M u c h H a p p i n e s s ” , w h i c h u s e s i m a g er y to c r e a te s p e c t a c ula r v i v i d d e s c r i p t i o n s .
T h i s p o e m d e s c r i b e s t h e s h e e r j oy o f h a p p i n e s s . N ye a l s o i l l us t r a te s h o w t h e
a m o u n t o f h a p p i n e s s a p e r s o n c a n c o n t a i n i s l i m i t le s s . A n ex a m p l e o f i m a g e r y i s
s h o w n i n t h e l i n e s , “ W i t h s a d n e s s t h e r e i s s o m et hi n g to r u b a g a i n s t / A w o u n d to
te n d w i t h l o t i o n a n d c l o t h / W h e n t h e w o r l d f a l l s i n a r o u n d yo u , yo u h av e p i e c e s to
p i c k u p / S o m et h i n g to h o l d i n yo u r h a n d s , l i ke t i c ket s t u b s o r c h a n g e ” . N ye i s
d e m o n s t r a t i n g h o w s a d n e s s c a n m a ke a p e r s o n s t r o n g e r. S h e m a ke s t h e r e a d e r
i m a g i n e s a d n e s s l i ke h av i n g a w o un d . A p e r s o n m u s t c a r e f o r i t a n d m a ke i t
h e a l t hy a g a i n . A n o t h e r ex a m p l e o f i m a g e r y i s i n t h e l i n e s , “ S i n c e t h e r e i s n o
p l a c e l a r g e e n o u g h / to c o n t ai n s o m u c h h a p p i n e s s / Yo u s h r u g , yo u r a i s e yo ur
h a n d s , a n d i t f l o w s o u t o f yo u / I n to ev e r y t h i n g yo u to uc h / Yo u a r e n o t
r e s p o n s i b le . I n t h e s e l i n e s , N ye s h o w s h o w s o m e o n e c a n h av e s o m u c h
h a p p i n e s s t h a t a l a r g e r o o m c a n ’ t ev e n c o n t a i n i t . A l s o , s h e ex p r es s e s h o w a
p e r s o n ’ s h a p p i n e s s c a n a n d s h o u l d b e ex p a n d e d ev e r y w h e r e a n d to ev e r yo n e . N ye
u s e s t h e p o et i c e l e m e n t i m a g er y i n a v e r y e f f e c t i ve w ay t h r o ug h o ut t h i s p o e m .
S h e t a ke s o r d i n a r y o b j e c t s a n d w o r d s , a n d a d d s b e a u t i f ul d e s c r i p t i o n s to t h e m to
m a ke t h i s p o e m c o m e a l i ve . W i t h N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ’ s g r e a t u s e o f i m a g e r y, t h e
p o e m , “ S o M u c h H a p p i n e s s ” , a l l ow s r e a d e r s to ex p e r i e n c e t h e d e l i g h t f ul i m a g e s
N ye h a s r e c r e a te d to p o r t r ay a p e r s o n ’ s h a p p i n e s s i n t h e w o r l d .
Biography
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Inspired Poems
Original Poems
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SAMPLE POEMS
C h a n g e d , b y N a o m i S h i h a b N ye , i s a r e m a r ka b l e p o e m t h a t s h o w s h o w a
p e r s o n g o i n g t h r o ug h h a r d t i m e s c a n c h a n g e a n d d i s c ove r t h i n g s t h ey n ev e r
r e c o g ni z e d ; t h e r e f o r e , b e c o m i n g a n ew a n d b et te r p e r s o n . I r e a l l y l i ke t h e l i n e s , “ M y
eye s s t a r te d s e e i n g t h r o ug h t h i n g s / l i ke g a u z e / o l d s e l f t h r o ug h n ew s e l f / my f l ex i b l e
b o d y / w e n t b a c k wa r d s / a n d f o r wa r d s / i n t i m e . N ye u s e d w o n d e r f ul d e s c r i p t i o n to
r e a l l y s h o w h o w a p e r s o n c a n c h a n g e f o r t h e b et te r. S e e i n g t h e i r o l d s e l f a n d
t r a n s f o r mi n g i n to s o m e o n e ev e n b et te r .
Changed by Naomi Shihab Nye
They said something mean about me
and didn’t notice it was mean.
So my heart wandered
into the rainy night without them
and found a canopy
to hide under.
My eyes started
seeing through things.
Like gauze.
Biography
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Sample Poems
Old self through new self.
My flexible body
went backwards
and forwards
in time.
It’s hard to describe but true:
I grew another head
with better ideas
inside my old head.
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
SAMPLE POEMS
N a o m i S h i h a b N ye ’ s f a m o us p o e m , S h o u l d e r s , te l l s t h e s to r y o f a m a n
l o o ki n g a f te r h i s s o n w i t h g r e a t c a r e . I r e a l l y e n j oy t h e l i n e s , “ We ’ r e n o t g o i n g to b e
a b l e / to l i ve i n t h i s w o r l d / i f w e ’ r e n o t w i l l in g to d o w h a t h e ’ s d o i n g / w i t h o n e
a n o t h e r / T h e r o a d w i l l o n l y b e w i d e/ T h e r a i n w i l l n ev e r s to p f a l l i n g .” I c h o s e t h i s
p o e m b e c a u s e t h e s e p o w e r f u l l i n e s ex p l a i n h o w n o o n e w i l l m a ke i t i n t h i s w o r l d i f w e
d o n o t a c t a s t h e m a n d i d ; k i n d , c a r i n g , a n d l o v i n g . N ye u s e s r a i n to s y m b o l i z e h a te .
T h e h a te a n d c r i m e w i l l n ev e r s to p u n l e s s w e l o v e a n d c a r e f o r o n e a n o t h e r.
Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye
A man crosses the street in rain,
His ear fills up with breathing.
stepping gently, looking two times north and south, He hears the hum of a boy’s dream
because his son is asleep on his shoulder.
deep inside him.
No car must splash him.
No car drive too near to his shadow.
This man carries the world’s most sensitive cargo
but he’s not marked.
Nowhere does his jacket say FRAGILE,
HANDLE WITH CARE.
Biography
List of Works
We’re not going to be able
to live in this world
if we’re not willing to do what he’s doing
with one another.
The road will only be wide.
The rain will never stop falling.
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
INSPIRED POEMS
Leah Hermanson’s poem
inspired by Famous
Famous by Naomi Shihab Nye
The river is famous to the fish.
The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it
and not at all famous to the one who is pictured.
The loud voice is famous to silence,
which knew it would inherit the earth
before anybody said so.
The cat sleeping on the fence is famous to the birds
watching him from the birdhouse.
The tear is famous, briefly, to the cheek.
I want to be famous to shuffling men
who smile while crossing streets,
sticky children in grocery lines,
famous as the one who smiled back.
I want to be famous in the way a pulley is famous,
or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular,
but because it never forgot what it could do.
The idea you carry close to your bosom
Is famous to your bosom.
The boot is famous to the earth,
more famous than the dress shoe,
which is famous only to floors.
Biography
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INSPIRED POEM
Famous by Leah Hermanson
The playground is famous to the kids.
The smile is famous to the face
which loves the sight of another.
The stars are famous to the night
giving light to those in the darkness.
The sand is famous to the feet
stuck between ones toes, running along the shore.
The closet is famous to the clothes hanging neatly inside
but not at all famous to the clutter of shoes beneath.
I want to be famous like a dog is famous to its owner
genuine, loving, and always there for you.
Biography
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Inspired
Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
INSPIRED POEMS
Streets by Naomi Shihab Nye
A man leaves the world
and the streets he lived on
grow a little shorter.
One more window dark
in this city, the figs on his branches
will soften for birds.
Leah Hermanson’s poem
inspired by Streets
Some people do. They sleep completely,
walking refreshed. Others live in two worlds,
the lost and remembered.
They sleep twice, once for the one who is gone,
once for themselves. They dream thickly,
dream double, they wake from a dream
into another one, they walk to short streets
calling out names, and then they answer.
If we stand quietly enough evenings
there grows a whole company of us
standing quietly together.
overhead loud grackles are claiming their trees
and the sky which sews and sews, tirelessly sewing,
drops her purple hem.
Each thing in its time, in its place,
it would be nice to think the same about people.
Biography
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Original Poems
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INSPIRED POEMS
Faithful Companion by Leah Hermanson
A dog leaves the world
and the house he lived in
grows a little quieter.
The excitement of coming home perishes,
the desire to see the joyful face of a friend.
Yearning for a paw at the door, to show he is lonesome,
the slobbery lick when you arrive,
the thumping of his tail on the wood floor,
the comfort and protection felt while near him.
Sadness displayed throughout the house.
Most try to hid it,
the tribulation is immense.
Searching for an outlet
to escape from this sorrow.
With time the sadness fades,
overtaken by the endless memories of a faithful companion.
Biography
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Inspired Poems
Original Poems
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ORIGINAL POEMS
The Race by Leah Hermanson
Hundreds line up
sweat dripping down their foreheads
legs shaking with nerves
two minutes remaining.
Gun raises
anxious faces surround me
almost time to begin.
Many say running isn't a sport
it’s easy, anyone can do it.
Yet, running take toughness.
Physical and mental,
strength and determination,
the desire to finish,
and the passion to never give up.
And for those brief twenty minutes,
Gun fires like an unexpected firecracker although exhausted and out of breath,
I have no worries.
exhilaration starting to emerge
Because when I’m running
only two miles to go.
all my problems seem far away.
Biography
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Inspired Poems
Original Poems
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ORIGINAL POEMS
Summer by Leah Hermanson
Blue skies of summer calm
a time to relax
and wear cherry lip balm.
No more school
just hanging with friends
out late having bonfires ‘til the summer night ends.
Clothed in a white t-shit and worn out jean shorts
running around shoeless all night
while enjoying a good old water fight.
Having a cold glass of pink lemonade
and eating chocolate chip ice cream
summer is like a dream.
Biography
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Original Poems
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ORIGINAL POEMS
Courage by Leah Hermanson
A summer’s night
flash of plain fear
sweat gathering.
Sullen-looking,
sleepy-eyed men
consumed with the smell of stale whisky.
Unfunny situation
sense of futility
unacknowledged by a chance acquaintance
trying to be polite.
In view of his prospects
attention amounted in fascination
quite still,
faces equally impassive.
Doors slammed
engines coughed
they were gone.
Biography
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
B i o g r a p hy r e s e a r c h we b s i te s
h t t p : / / w w w. p o e t s . o r g / p o e t . p h p / p r m P I D / 174
h t t p : / / w w w. p o e t r y f o u n d a t i o n . o r g / b i o / n a o m i - s h i h a b - ny e
h t t p : / / w w w. p b s . o r g / w g b h / p o e t r y e v e r y w h e r e / ny e . h t m l
h t t p : / / w w w. b a r c l aya g e n c y. c o m / ny e . h t m l
h t t p : / / w w w. n ov e l g u i d e . c o m / a / d i s c o v e r / aw w _ 0 3 / a w w _ 0 3 _ 0 0 8 97. h t m l
h t t p : / / w w w. e n o t e s . c o m / to p i c / N a o m i _ S h i h a b _ N y e
h t t p : / / w w w. p e a c e by p e a c e . c o m / h e r o e s / v i e w / i d / 8 9
h t t p : / / w w w. p i f m a g a z i n e . c o m / 1 9 9 9 / 0 8 / i n t e r v i e w - w i t h n a o m i - s h i h a b - ny e /
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY (CONT)
P i c t ur e s
Picture of Nye on Biography
http://tiny.cc/egjem
Picture on first inspired poem page
http://tiny.cc/y9qun
Picture on first original poem page
http://blog.elevationfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/female_runner.jpg
Picture on second original poem page
http://dummidumbwit.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/summer.jpg
Picture on second inspired poem page
http://bullysticksfordogs.com/images/GoldenRetrieverPuppy11.jpg
Picture on analysis poem page
http://cdn.thefrisky.com/images/uploads/Girl_happy_main.jpg
Picture on third original poem page
http://www.paulgrecianphoto.com/images/Night -Meets-Day-web.jpg
Picture on second sample poem page
http://www.uclahealth.org/images/publications/clinicalupdate/BrainAneurysms GlueProcedur.jpg
Pictures on list of works page
http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net/pics/naomi_shihab_nye_book1.jpg
http://isbn.abebooks.com/mz/md/52/88/red -suitcase/md1880238152.jpg
http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c4/c20427.jpg
Biography
List of Works
Sample Poems
Inspired Poems
Original Poems
Bibliography