I write poetry for three reasons: exposition, expression and entertainment. There is a little of each in all of my sketches. I am a scientist by profession, so for me, writing poetry, which is a subjective language of the heart, has been sometimes a challenge and at other times a relief from my tendency and training to remain an objective witness to the world around me. This collection contains some of my earliest recovered works through to the most recent, but in no particular order. Many of the pieces have been edited over that last seventeen years, as part of the creative process, while others came "right with a click like closing a box". Although much of my poetry follows the traditional forms, I believe I have made original use of the artistic techniques and devices. But I am not qualified to provide a technical description of my own works, except to say a few words about the creative process I went through in drafting these sketches, although that still remains a mystery to me. Wonderment is the first condition. A writer must feel a sense of awe about his subject, and this may come in good ways or not so good ways. Surprisingly, there is no telling exactly what will affect us deeply enough to elevate our creative faculty, to provide the needed stimulus that propels writers/artists over the hill of mundane existence and into the Elysium of (self) discovery, invention and innovation. There is no school where you can go to learn how to write "good poetry". You just have to try: write. It can be helpful to familiarize yourself with a subject matter in order to write with a deeper understanding but sometimes it"s best to just use your own creative instincts and jump in and say something, to get the ball rolling.