Kirjahaku

"The river wraps itself like time around us."This newest collection of poems by author Kenneth Ray is defined by currents and drifts similar to those of the historic Detroit River near which he's made his lifelong home. Nature's powerful ebb and flow inspire him to passionate expressions of life's greatest existential themes: love and heartbreak, joy and sorrow, triumph and defeat. Is it wise to stand ground and do battle, or to withdraw and allow time and its currents to wrap around the soul?Other poems, like "Ode to a Small Owl," "Reflections on Trout Fishing," and "The Natalie Chronicles" celebrate the simple but universal pleasures in the life of a naturalist and a loving father and family man, whereas the trilogy "Dear Hart" is a witty tribute to man's most primal quest: the annual autumn hunt for deer. Whether navigating big river currents or shoveling out from staggering drifts of snow, he has found one thing certain: The elements ask much of a person and require one to dig deep in order to survive. This is Kenneth Ray's second book of poetry, following his collection entitled, "North Winds." He is a lifetime Michigan resident with degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He makes his home "Down River," close to several generations of his large extended family. In addition to writing, he works in Michigan's Department of Natural Resources and is an avid hunter, fisherman, canoeist, outdoorsman, and conservationist.

"Lost in a deep woods Leaves rustling the way out I sit, whisper back." Inspired by a lifetime on the banks of the Detroit River, "North Winds" is a collection of poems that explore ways in which harsh weather and capricious seasons shape a man's character, and may ultimately determine his destiny. The timeless themes of confronting nature, understanding love, and finding peace in the passage of time are imbued with references to literature, fine arts, and mythology. All are framed in haiku or sonnet form, grounding in classical roots a contemporary life experienced among the oft cold winds of the north. Author Kenneth Ray ritually begins his morning contemplating the breathtaking sweep and strength of "Big Blue," finding it an ongoing source of knowledge, inspiration, and solace. He is a lifetime resident of the Upper Midwest, with degrees from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Ray makes his home "Down River," close to his daughter and a large extended family of several generations. In addition to writing, he is a hunter, fisherman, canoeist, and outdoorsman.