This is a book of poetry and art by Patrick J. Leach. So often in my life I've felt lost, alone, at the mercy of huge and powerful forces. The universe was hostile, dangerous, vast and complex. I frequently felt helpless, depressed, fragile, and ultimately out of control. One night I was camping out, lying on the grass in total darkness in a remote mountain area. The stars were out with no city lights blotting their brilliance. My friend showed me how to use his binoculars to see the Andromeda Galaxy. Even with the powerful magnification, the cluster looked small, but it had the distinct and recognizable shape of a spiral galaxy. Everywhere I looked millions of stars scattered across the sky, and they seemed to go on forever. I was overcome by an acute awareness of just how vast and magnificent is our universe, peering out at a fraction, realizing how small I am. At age 44 I was introduced to spirituality and began to slowly embrace a genuine relationship with a power greater than myself. Since then I have grown to rely on this power to help me in every aspect of my life. I no longer feel so small and alone. Now, at age 62, I am present this book of poetry and art with -- I believe -- God's help. This collection of poems touches on my feelings of being on a puny planet, endlessly orbiting a rather average-sized star. I am not alone and will not be at the mercy of hostile forces that torture and destroy. There is reason to have faith in the spiritual essence of the universe - call it God or whatever power you perceive. We are here for a purpose, which is the beautiful and terrifying divine mystery of life. May I live it well and may these poems strike resonant chords in your own life. One version of this book is available in black and white, my way of offering a low cost way for readers to purchase print books. The other version is in full color which shows what the paintings truly look like. The electronic book is available in color, though some devices may only be able to show black and white representations. Your Soul a Hunter Stalking beauty Full of yearning Tangled in the complexity of the world Sullied by lust Tainted slate once blank and clean Learning what it does not like Driven by urges deep in the roots Of the being on which it depends for life The being Lost in desire for more Of what it learns it wants and needs The soul, a hunter, experiences The evil in things, Compassion, forgiveness, mercy and love Affirms its affinities with its Maker Before it goes home