DAY STEW is a celebration of the richness of daily experience. Any activity, whether it's walking the dog, reading the papers, following sports, observing nature, doing your job, being with family, watching TV, pondering the world, or just letting your imagination take you into the worlds of "what if..," can be a potential source of wonder and inspiration. The nearly two hundred poems and essays in this collection can be seen as examples of how considering the layers of meaning and possibilities in any experience can lead to a richer enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of the world you are immersed in every day. A few examples of the variety of subjects you will find in DAY STEW: an unforgettable gorilla encounter; a writer who imagines new lives for strangers; an introduction to Fred, one of my muses; how humanity uses music; the joys and heartbreaks of dogs in your life; a guy who makes labels (me); watching sunrises in your own yard, and around the world in exotic locales; rediscovering how to make one of the favorite dishes your Mom used to make (recipe included); being at the ballpark; realizing that singers never leave us; the emotional cost of piloting drones; how a guy decides when it's OK to hug; a dream Darwin might have had; and an achingly tender late night dialog. To quote from the title poem Day Stew: "This day is a stew that simmers from dark to dark ... a rich concoction blending the exotic and commonplace ... The shame would be not to notice."