Life Lines: Selected Poems 1990-2009 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1439248826 ISBN 13: 9781439248829

Publisher: Booksurge Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Life Lines: Selected Poems 1990-2009 is a collection of 201 poems representing nearly two decades of work by acclaimed upstate New York poet, Charles James. A natural maverick, James learned through life's experiences that purpose and meaning are within the person, not "out there somewhere." Charlie, as he's known to friends, says "jubilation and grief are all part of living." Led to poetry by his grandfather, Charlie wrote "abominable trash" for too long. "Now I try and I do with no way of knowing how." As for his 6-1/2 years in federal courts to affirm his Ist Amendment rights, he only shrugs. He wonders what makes others ask if he'd do it again. "Impossible," he says. "Any more than I can stick my foot in the same stream twice. There is no again. Everything in life is once." James' poems express life's lessons with urgency and beauty, making his work stand with the best of contemporary free verse.

About this title

About the Author:

A natural maverick. Seemingly unorganized yet clearly purposeful. False starts, sudden turnings, Charlie says he struggled far too long seeking life's meaning and purpose. Trying to understand, love opened the door. The insight of Buddha, Lao Tzu and a few others helped him to realize that purpose and meaning are within the person, not "out there somewhere." Jubilation and grief are all part of living; partners not adversaries. As for his 6-1/2 years in federal courts to affirm his Ist Amendment rights, he only shrugs. He wonders what makes others ask if he'd do it again. "Impossible," he says. "Any more than I can stick my foot in the same stream twice. There is no again. Everything in life is once." Led to poetry by his grandfather, Charlie wrote "abominable trash" for too long. "Now I try and I do with no way of knowing how.

About this edition

• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1439248826
• ISBN 13: 9781439248829
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280
• Editor: Dale Rick
• Illustrator: Juan Liu