The poems in Touch The River are selected from a series of poems written by the author over a period of approximately two years. They are a mixture of short, Japanese-style poetry, ranging from relatively traditional Haiku and Tanka forms to some more divergent styles. The book also includes some longer poems. Some of the poetry addresses simple observations of nature, seasonal changes, current events, but others focus on the author's family and on the passing of friends. Some are intensely personal, but there is meaning in each for every reader.