July 18, 2005: The Release of The Compleat Panther Cycles

There are inherently three miracles of this day.

The first is that I fulfilled an arc to release three books in a 100 day span, starting with April's INVOCATO, then THE MORGANTOWN SUITE POEMS in June, and now THE COMPLEAT PANTHER CYCLES today, the 10th anniversary of when I started writing those works.

The second is that, despite all manner of obstacles, I have managed to produce a volume that contains the entirety of The Panther Cycles that satisfies me and brings a sense of closure to the past decade of my life. Those whom I have known along this path who are still in my life have proven, through their persistence and friendship to be of value and purpose and their presence in my sphere pleases me.

The third is the start of a whole new cycle in my life, not a cycle bounded by the words of a single set of works, but by the limitless possibilities of life. Despite what seems to be my own worst mistakes in judgement, the fates have been kind. I do not know if this is part of a grand master plan or just luck on my part, but life has been good to me. Now it is my duty to return the favour. Through both the kindness and perfidy of others, I find myself with a freedom to act validated by life experience.

I sat down a few days ago and looked at the works I have spawned in the last few months and was gratified to see that, despite the artist's constant fear of "losing it" I am writing as well or better than I ever have in this life. Yeah, I still write a lot of junk, but as it was aeons ago, those works are consigned to the garbage heap before I inflict them on the world.

In summation, I just want to say thank you. To God, my parents, my children, those others who have made the tapesty into which I am woven and still weaving myself a richer and more intricately beautiful piece of time and space.

I am grateful.

Now, for those of you who haven't yet...go to the website for
THE COMPLEAT PANTHER CYCLES
and, if it pleases you to buy a copy of this remarkable book, invest in the tapestry and become part of my ebb and flow.