Blackberries

The poems in Blackberries were for the most part

written in the 1990's and the early 2000's.  The title

poem is a declaration of the poet's intent to let his

poems mature prior to publication, an action

occurring a decade later.  The poems in this

volume differ from his earlier work in that they are

more intensely personal, technically more

accomplished, and more consistent in voice, rhythm

and sound.  The stories are still there.  The most

developed series of poems concerns his son's

suicide.