I invite you into my world of living poetry. The first time my pencil spoke on paper was in 1987, and over a lifespan of thirty years, my poems have progressed. They come from deep within my life experiences and the challenges of life itself, encompassing the themes of the true purity of love, passion, charity, loyalty, and commitment and truth to oneself. I seek to translate the deep meanings of these poems and the accompanying essays. But through you, the readers, we will all develop a better understanding of the "life of the mind" as my writing provokes your own thoughts of morality, sexuality, forgiveness, and liberation. I want to thank all my families, friends, and acquaintances who over the years encouraged me to publish my book of poems. I hope you truly enjoy them.