The Mockingbird Came Piping . . .

Have you ever been influenced strongly by a certain experience in your life? The inspiration for my poetry originated when I personally met Robert Frost in 1962 during a groundbreaking ceremony of Robert Frost Hall at Windham College in Putney, Vermont, where I was a student. At that point, he was in his eighties and was good friends with Dr. Walter Hendricks, who was the founder and president of Windham College. I was the shovel bearer for the groundbreaking ceremony and had helped clear the land for the new campus. Prior to that time, Dr. Frost used to come to the student cafeteria at Windham College and recite his poems during lunch, which were always memorable occasions for me. My poetry has been influenced not only by this great poet but also by Gods amazing creations, natures wonder, and personal reflections while doing simple things like walking in the woods on a snowy evening, remembering the people whose paths have crossed mine at some point or another, or having nonsensical musings on ordinary items, such as a pepper grinder:

Turning the handle,

Round and round,

Hearing the crushing,

Of the peppercorn sound.

The handle comes toward me,

Away then it leaves,

Arm outstretched,

To the center it cleaves.

Grindings its business,

All shredded to bits,

Shakins on the viands,

This title, it fits.