Portfolio of a Poet

Words have always been fun for me!  I remember making people groan when I made puns as a boy.  When I began writing poems on a regular basis, I found that puns were fun when combined with rhyme.  The outcome is often surprising to me, and that surprise translates to others as well.  And when the poems are of a more serious nature, I find that rhythm and rhyme together put words together that lead to an element of truth that might otherwise not have been heard.  And to sell poetry books, of course one has to present the poems orally, so talks and book signings became a regular part of my schedule.  If there's anything I enjoy as much as writing a poem, it is watching the wonder on the faces of children and adults when I get to tell it to them.  For the 2022 season I'm at Tanger Mall in Branson W-Sat 10-5 and Sunday 10-2 and holidays 10-5. 

Someone had to illustrate my children's book, "I Don't Want to Kiss a Llama!" and, being a poet, I couldn't afford anyone else but me!  I love matching drawings or photographs with poems because it helps me reach the audience in a whole new way.  With the pandemic and the lack of a live audience, I have begun posting the pictures or photographs to my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

I first knew I had something special when teenage boys in my Scout troop laughed and looked forward to my original "Scoutmaster Minutes", i.e., my poems, in 2002.  After all, how many teenage boys like poetry?  I also remember reciting "Chubby Dinosaur" poems to two college students at the Storybook Sweets store at Grant's Farm; we talked so long that they were late to meet their parents elsewhere in the park!  And I have shared my stories with civic groups, retirees and at many schools.  It's fun to make people laugh!

I am the author of 19 children's and poetry books of which about a dozen are currently available through this website.  I am the full copyright owner of all my writings and you can contact me directly for information or to set up a visit.  There is no agent or middleman.  I write almost every day, pretty much whenever the words want to come and play.  I hope you enjoy exploring the website and some of the stories offered herein.  Thank you for taking the time to spend with me today.  Feel free to text or call me using the contact information at the bottom of this page. Have a great day!

As a community organizer, sales representative and territory manager for the Boy Scouts of America for 32 years, I consistently helped the program grow wherever I was called to serve.  Accomplishments I that still make me smile include the acquisition of land for a camp in Laredo, TX and funding of minority outreach programs for councils in both Corpus Christi and Wichita Falls, TX.  Those made a positive difference that continue to this very day.

Valedictorian at Isidore Newman High School, New Orleans, LA in 1975

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Tulsa in 1979 with a 4.0 GPA

M.S. in Human Services from Murray State University in 1995 with a 4.0 GPA

     I followed well the path set for me and then, I found my own!