I wrote my first poem so many years ago in 1969 and have been out it for 52 years. It was some 21 years later that I finally started submitting my work to publishers in Poetry Anthologies. My first submission was in World of Poetry, edited by Eddie-Lou Cole, the Poem titled "O'Valley of Portland" in 1990 and was published in the World of Poetry Anthology. I received a "Honorable Mention". Which encouraged me to continue my submission since. To date, I have written more then 80 poems, though only a very small portion have been published and in print. Mostly at Poetry.com as it is known today. I have received such honors as "Editor's Choice Award" in the Anthology "Mirrors of the Soul" Modern Poetry Society 1996 and Honorable Mention Iliad Press in the Anthology "Voices", 1995 for "Innocence of a Summer Day and in 1996 the "Presidents Award for Literary Excellence" by The National Authors Registry for "Innocence of a Summer day. I am published by the "National Library of Poetry 1990 "His is his Own" in Days of Future Past vol. II. Iliad Press in Images (1990), the poem "We shall not Pick the Daffodils". Watermark Press in 1991 with "Hello". The "Angels are Angels, like Mountains, Guardian over us All" is published by Modern Poetry Society (1996) in "Images of the Mind. "Hero's" by the National Library of Poetry, "In Dappled Sunlight & "Sound of Poetry" audio tape 1997. "Amor Forever More" & "The Mischievous Saint he Was" in Plethora, Kalamazoo Valley Community College Student Publication 1997. And so many more at Poetry.com.The Gray Ghost is was my original title for my first chapbook, I just never got around to publish it. It had around 20 poems in it. So, I re-create it here for publication with more than 30 additional poems for your enjoyment. You might ask why, call it the Gray Ghost. The Gray Ghost was my cat who passed away at age 20 in 2005. His coloring was a dark grey with barely visible black strips in his coat. Natures perfect camouflage in the night. Successor was a rescued injured cat I adopted shortly after. Sir Buster Boy a typical common black and white cat, passed this last May. He was 6 years old when I adopted him, I had him for 12 years, he went quietly in his sleep. These poems I dedicate to their memory, such as cats can be, Stubborn, Loving, Sneaky, Hateful, Surprising, Comfort, Mysterious, Childlike, Religious, Irrelevant, Voiceful, Opinionated, and Faithful to the end. I am a Award winning Poet, Writer, Artist, Sculptor, Pop Sociologist, an Inductee into the National Deans List, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have been active in Community Service: Past Board Member of the Vine Neighborhood Association (3 terms), Membership Chair, Fund Raising Committee, Board secretary and interim Board Treasurer. Past member of the Recipient Rights Committee, County Mental Health Board. KVCC Public Museum Volunteer for 20 years. Involved in Community Theater for 50 years off and on most recent with the Kalamazoo Civic Theater since 1985. I have been apart of a Disaster Relief team for Hurricane Andrew in Florida helping feed 5000 people a day. I have be a home missionary worker with a local church administrating a shelter program for the homeless, Minister of the food Ministry, cook, and procurement of emergency food pantry items 1991-1992, I am a graduate of Kalamazoo Valley Community College 1998, Studies at Western Michigan University, Studies at Lansing Community College 1975, Graduate of Davenport College of Business 1974. Graduated Portland High School at age 21 in 1970. I was born in 1951 premature Twin with developmental issues, Learnings disabilities, and hearing impaired.
