Poetry has been a means of emotional expression for members of my family for generations. My mother and grandmother were poets. My son is a songwriter and musician, and uses his talent to work for environmental causes. My daughter is also a poet and a nature photographer. An Alaskan of over 36 years (recently moved to Oregon), much of my work deals with the environment, social commentaries, or things of a spiritual nature. Much of my writing comes from my own experiences and thoughts, but significant amount also comes purely from my imagination. I am a member of the Black Rose Poet's Society and we strive to continuously challenge each other to broaden the scope of our writing. I have learned to get outside of myself and portray all kinds of experiences and conditions with which I really have no or little first hand knowledge. My hope is that each reader can find something of meaning in a few of my poems.