Born and raised in a small southern town, the author is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard and a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas. His desire of writing poetry began in his early twenties, but those desires were cast aside because of the reality of the perceptions of life. Disabled with heart disease seventeen years ago, he has proudly beaten the odds of survival, only to have been diagnosed with cancer last year. He has every intention of beating the odds that cancer presents as well, while enjoying the wonderful opportunity to share his words in poetry and short stories with all who long to open doors, in their own attempt to understand the rhymes of life. From the poem, The Work of Art "Seeming to appear out of nowhere Words begin to stream across the page Expressions of love and peace and hope Performing on the white paper stage"