Howard J. Kogan began writing poetry in his twenties, but set it aside to pursue family life and a career as a social worker and psychotherapist. In his sixties he returned to writing poetry, a time he wistfully refers to as his "Indian summer." In 2011, Howard was named Poet Laureate of Smith's Tavern, an annual contest held in Voorheesville featuring the top poets of New York's Capital Region. This first collection of fifty poems includes the six he submitted for the 2010 and 2011 Smith's Tavern contests. Howard and his wife Libby enjoy rural life in the Taconic Mountains of upstate New York.