Reluctant Poet

Nora Jaquez writes in her introduction to this second edition: “(Colgate) is a master of his craft, and he practices it with incisiveness, precision, and often, soul searing impact. His “toothpicks” jab at everything from organized religions to bad poetry. His themes know no boundaries. There is the ant that survives a drop of nail polish, the polar bear in danger of sharks, the cow with no genealogical records. In the natural world there are trees that die only at night, and flowers who thrive on vodka. He lends a sympathetic voice to children, grandchildren, in part his childhood.” Colgate, puts it somewhat differently: “This collection should make a nice present for someone you like.” All profits go to the “Estancia Fraternidad” a charitable hostel for the indigenous in Oaxaca, Mexico. (173 pages)