For those who have wondered how the subtle ties that seem to bind us fit together, how the subtleties of intricate streams of consciousness awake differing peeks into our id, how the interweaving and interlocking ribbons build fabrics of our lives; for those who've wondered what a word might mean, especially one you haven't used or maybe even heard before. Well, this might NOT be your book, and then again, maybe it is. These are the elements that bind Subtle Ties with subtleties. Subtle Ties is a compendium of poetry that was mostly written this year, but there are some that date back to the late '80's. My poetry tends to ramble through a wide variety of styles, images, thoughts and sentiments. I try NOT to pigeon hole them, nor try to bind them into one group or another, but rather let them roam free and clear to end where they may. This collection of works marks this landscape. Within these lines you will find heartbreak, grief, loss, pain, joy, sensuality, the full gamut and range of human emotion. To say it's been a heck of a year would be an understatement. The worst part was the loss of my beloved Mother, Helen Gallagher Scott. I use her maiden name as my Nom de Guerre for my artwork, and as my Nom de Plume for my fiction & poetry; all out of love and respect for her. For me, this was a labor of love and passion; a bit of mental solace and stimulation. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it