Introduction and Acknowledgements
Welcome to this, my first published book of poetry. I took up the art of writing a little over a year ago, rather late in life, as a creative outlet to help fill the void left behind a 38 year career in the practice of law.
I guess I am what you could call an “observant poet,” in that much of my writing seeks to capture and put into words the images I perceive in the world around me. My personal feelings, when expressed, are more often phrased as personal or societal admonitions or encouragements than as heartfelt sentiment.
Accordingly, many of the poems that follow are about the human condition, balanced by others about nature, with a fair amount of whimsy thrown in for good measure. Each poem in its own way was a labor of love. I hope you enjoy reading this collection as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I welcome your feedback as I continue striving to improve my craft.
I would like to offer special thanks to my friend and talented artist Shafali Anand, for her beautiful cover illustration and for her pen and ink drawing that was the inspiration for “A Bridled Horse;” to my sister Cindy for her helpful editorial suggestions and occasional thoughts on word choice; and to my loving wife, Nancy, for her steadying influences and unwavering support. I deeply appreciate all of them and their valuable contributions to this work.
Dale K. Nichols
Beverly Shores, Indiana
Dale's tremendous talent is reflected in his first published book of poetry. Ever clever, disarming, insightful, and of course, poetic, Dale's work will not only entertain and amuse, but offer food for thought. You might especially enjoy the pieces written about nature in Beverly Shores.
Paperback
89 pages/73 poems
5.5" x 8.5"
Just one sample of Dale's poetry included in the book:
Bonded by Blood
bonded by blood
one to another
thicker than water
sisters and brother
of the same seed
planted and sown
in the same household
fostered and grown
different choices
different lives
different husbands
different wives
each with families
of their own
all with children
also grown
living now
in different states
scarcer are
their life updates
but what they share
can never be severed
binding the three
together forever
Copyright ©2023 Dale K. Nichols
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.