Hollywood's Bookshelf

My first endeavor as an author, is my book 'Many Leaves, A Single Tree' . This collection of poetry is a variable plethora of styles and topics.

I wanted to put together a book that was easily read, understood, and enjoyed, by anyone who picked it up. I also wanted to make it as free flowing as the leaves falling from the trees in autumn. Therefore, there is no pattern, no uniformity, and no table of contents. It simply reads as it reads. I hope those of you who have picked up a copy, can appreciate the symbolism in it's structure. I also hope you have enjoyed reading it as well. Those of you who have yet to pick up a copy...this is not the big worded, not able to understand mush, that we were forced to read in school. I write poems containing topical issues, humor, romance, inspiration, and whatever else comes to mind. This is poetry like you've never seen or read before. So go on, give it a shot. You might find that you actually like poetry.

   Below, you will find a couple of excerpts from the book...enjoy!

I was walking through the woods

On an autumn day

The sun shone brightly through the trees

And the birds were singing away,

I was just thinking

About so many things

When I noticed something quite odd,

From out of nowhere

Came an elderly man

Then I realized that it was God,

He asked, "Why do you worry?"

"Why is your heart heavy?"

"Why do you suffer alone?"

I told him that I

Don't want to worry my family

So I try to figure it out on my own,

God simply smiled

And said, "Silly child..."

"If you need help-you can always ask me."

As he walked away

Into the woods

I felt a great sense of peace,

I called out that "I'm"

"Not a church going man"

So I talk to him here in the trees,

He said,"Son believe me..."

"Although you may not see me"

"You'll hear my voice in the rustling leaves".

Many, many miles from home

Serving in a foreign land

Bombs are dropping all around

Leaving bodies in the sand,

Tell me what

Is it all for

This awful

Very bloody war,

Is the price too high?

Is it for oil that we die?

Would someone just

Tell me why?,

I am a soldier

Fighting for what I believe in

Which I am told is

Another country's freedom,

Would someone

Please help me

Wipe the blood fom my eyes?,

Would someone

Please help me

Or my buddy here will die,

Am I gonna make it through this war?

Will I see my home no more?

It's getting hot

No shade we've got

Someone please help me,

The body count

Is much too high

And goes up every week,

The fighter planes

And bombing raids

They keep going on,

A thunderous crash

And blood keeps

Pouring on and on,

Hey- what's that sound?

That whistling sound?

That is coming near,

Is it a bomb?

Yes- a bomb

That I hear!

We dive for cover

Tumble over each other

As the bomb explodes,

Oh no mother

Father-brother

In a box

I'm coming home.