Inspiration comes in many forms and from many places. Often it comes from merely going about our daily lives and making close observations. What did I see today that I want to respond to with words?  Inspiration can also come from what we read. It is said, you cannot be a writer/poet unless you are a reader. I strongly believe this is true. My reading life is rich and varied, quite consciously When I read 'Forever Words -The Unknown Poems' by Johnny Cash, I discovered his poetry and the poetry in his lyrics. The poems within reveal the depth of his understanding of the physical world and the emotional world.  He shares both the frailty and strength of the  human condition. As I read, I heard his unique voice and intonation. Cash's verse demonstrates for the reader his ability to reflect upon universal themes such as love, pain, freedom, and mortality. Most  people know him for his music. With these poems I got to know him for his broader talent as a poet.  And so I allow

Even in the middle of an Australian summer, grey days present. In door days. Days perfect for rummaging and exploring. Days made for book looks... And so this poem has arisen from searching through the books contained in my personal library. I found ephemera secreted by various readers, myself included. Such is the randomness of discovery. Go in search of treasure fellow poets. See what it sparks... Things Found Hiding In Books what motivates the hiding of ephemera among the words composed by others? the secreting of flimsy slips of memory laden paper between the pages of books. solemn offerings  in some randomly chosen volume of poetry -a recipe book,  -a mystery story… these pages capable of cocooning a secret. pages,  entrusted to hold selected offerings. these guardians patiently awaiting some future reader to come calling, rummaging perhaps. the book plays custodian across an indefinite timespan, before fortuitously revealing once more to the light a long held treasure, a memory m