Expressions Through the Years

Expressions Through the Years is a selected collection of poems and short stories written by the author over many years. They express his thoughts on given family members and on observations made as life has been lived. The volume begins with a thoughtful, penetrating and deeply moving poem, "An Ode to the Great God Pan," dedicated to his Uncle J. D. The author draws upon his fascination with Greek and African mythology in depicting images of strength, greed, weakness, and vulnerability as the main figure in the poem lives through his experiences. A number of the poems are written as the author reflects on the unique qualities of family members and his reflections of the beauty of nature. The short stories are diametrically opposed to each other in both form and content. One depicts the harshness of life lived in urban cities and how one can easily get caught up in a web of destruction. Whereas, the second story illuminates a theme dealing with the softer side of life as the protagonist observes nature and the other creatures that share this universe. Initially, although the works of this volume were basically written for the writer''s own indulgence with language, he has eventually wanted to share these works with others. Being a New Yorker, the works within often echo the sounds, sights, and rich aura of the urban experience.