Bob Boyd

When I was in Catholic High School, I was given a writing assignment: – Topic – “‘Who Am I?”’ I began my assignment with the following sentence, “I am the result of an act of love, therefore my life should be a fulfillment of that love.” The priest, who knew my family, put a notation above my sentence which said, “You are the 10th child in your family of 10. You are more likely the result of a drunken fit of passion.” This may help you understand me. I am a profound believer in love, but also among the most cynical people I know. What saves me is that I am cynical of my own cynicism.

Other things you might want to know: I was born in 1952, raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and am the 10th child of an Irish-Catholic immigrant. I was baptized Catholic, went to Catholic Schools, and was in then attended Seminary for two years. I was asked to leave several times but left on my own.

I was involved with inner city youth services in Nashville, the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and I graduated from the University of Iowa with a BGS Degree, with emphasis on Women and Minority Studies (not a usual degree for a white male).

I have been married for 52 years to my spouse Helen Schwartzhoff and have two children, Seth and Noah. I spent my careers in multiple human service fields, where I worked with the poor, the elderly, and the homeless. I have given sermons on confessing to be a “‘Poverty Pimp”’, a bureaucrat with a heart, a change agent, and a poet.

Mostly, I am a person who cares deeply about those who have little or no voice and I am dedicated to finding ways to help others hear those voices. I remain a staunch romantic. I am also the author of a previous book of poems entitled Provoking Compassion – An Invitation.

The joy of love, the pain of loss and suffering, the beauty of nature, the cries for justice and the belief that voice must be given to the most precious moments of life compel me to write, and poetry for me is the best method of bringing these experiences to others.