Shiny Penny in a Muddy Puddle / Austin Macauley Publishers (ePub)

Throughout history, poetry has always been an outlet for emotions. My poetry is not an exception to this idea. Many times, my inspiration to write was brought on by life's trials and disappointments. Many of those disappointments are relatable to just about anyone, so I decided to put together a collection of my poetry to share with others. Not all of my poetry is sad or dark. Occasionally there is a bright sunbeam that enters into my life that moves me to write down some of my thoughts or feelings. Other times, my poems are an attempt to capture a specific moment, whether that be inspired by travel or just some introspection at home while enjoying a glass of wine in the evening. Photography has always captured my interest. Particularly images that capture a mood or moment in time. I am not a photographer that cares about portraits or special events. Photography to me needs to be about exploration and must evoke an emotional response. Because of this desire to capture emotion visually, I thought that it was appropriate to pair some of my photos with my poems. I hope that both the images and the words can bring some shared emotional resonance to my work. In today's world, I think that we can all appreciate the metaphor of a shiny penny in a muddy puddle. Life is difficult and many times you feel surrounded by less-than-ideal situations or individuals. Just remember that even when life is less than you may have dreamed, you are still that shiny penny.