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Tell us about you! How old are you and where are you from?
I am 67 years old and I'm originally from Benton Harbor, Michigan but have lived in Houston, Tx for the past 35 years.
What's a fun fact about your hometown?
When I was growing up, people from Chicago.Ill., Detroit, Mich., Grand Rapids, Mich., and Gary, Ind., would visit our town for the Blossom Parade which featured many of Hollywood's top movie and T.V. stars. The weekend would be full of festivals at several locations. Silver beach would be packed with out of towners after the parade ended.
When did you realize you wanted to be a poet? When did your journey begin?
I always enjoyed writing but never envisioned I would be a published poet. I started writing at the age of 8 years old. It was my 4th grade teacher who encouraged my parents to let me write and to see how far it would take me in my life. I wrote in college but never took it seriously. When I was at the N.B.A Professional Summer Basketball League in L.A in 1978, one of my teammates said he was going to bring his tablet and pen to write music while we waited for practice or between games. I began to bring a pen tablet and would write while we sat outside on the hill or during lunch.
Do you have any previously published work? If so, what? If not, do you have any planned?
I have 11 published poetry books and 4 published poetry chap books thus far. I'm hoping to publish many more. My poems reach out for inspiration, nature, encouraging poems. There are some personal poems that I have written at the request of friends. Some of my poems are personal and deal with my hometown and some are about the places I have traveled.
Do you have any other hobbies besides writing? What do you do for a living?
I do have other hobbies. I recently begun playing the Bass Guitar because I have always loved music. At one time I wanted a career in music but sports took my focus off of music. I tried writing lyrics after college that turned into poetry. I also enjoy taking pictures of nature and natural settings. I turned them into videos and use them with my poetry which I post on different on -line sites. I also enjoy sitting back listening to various kind of music because I love the words and beats.
I can enjoy these activities and hobbies because I am retired
What's your favorite book? Do you have a least favorite?
My favorite book is The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. I don't have a least favorite book.
Tell us one of your favorite poets and/or poems.
Lawrence Ferhligetti is one of my favorite poets. He passed away last year in Feb. 2021. I had the great fortune to meet him at his 100th birthday celebration at City Lights Book Store in San Franscico, Ca in March of 2019. He has several poems that I like but " Pity the Nation " is my most favorite. I have read it often at open mics when they celebrate our favorite poets.
What do you hope to accomplish in your writing career?
I want my poems to bring healing, peace, relaxation and inspiration to others.
Where can readers keep up with you?
You can follow me on
Instagram.com_author_birdman31355,
Goodreads.com/Birdman313
Twitter.com/Birdman313,
Amazon.com/author/birdman313,
Youtube.com/AuthorPoetBirdman31355
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