Karla K. Morton

Poets Karla K. Morton and Alan Birkelbach began this journey to celebrate our national parks' 100th anniversary, but for these two poets the sojourns quickly became something greater than that. In their words, 'As humans we have this tendency to look at a piece of land and see real estate. [But] when concrete covers all our natural spaces, not only do we lose earth's creatures, we also lose the great teacher of our souls. You cannot sit beneath trees taller than the Statue of Liberty, or gaze upon vistas untouched since their creation, without feeling the awe and wonder of what the natural world has to offer. You cannot experience such beauty without being wholly changed. Our great-great-great-grandchildren deserve these untouched gifts'.This journey, illustrated with gorgeous colour photos of all of America's grand national parks, is a feast for the eyes and heart. In the end, it is a plea for us to save these wonders for all future generations.

A full length poetry collection by 2010 Texas Poet Laureate karla k. morton. morton teaches us to celebrate life as only she can. There's a flow to this collection, through life's inevitable moments, all infused with morton's characteristic passion, her exuberance, her love.

There are moments in this life that change everything—some in our control, some not, but all shape the core of who we are; who we become. Every action, every event, has its own reaction that rearranges the stars, putting the sisters of Fate and Choice in constant question. This collection embraces those changes, opens them up, rolls them into the delicious magic of this unpredictable, glorious world.A long observer of the natural world, karla k. morton does not believe in coincidences, but believes every word and step and observation has meaning and guides us. Just as the creation of the Minotaur was the gods’ doing, there is beauty in the monster; there is reason and magic in its very existence. How lucky we are to be able to grow old enough to witness such revelations.Morton’s poetry guides us through the landmarks—the highs, the lows, creating an exquisite world within an ever-changing landscape of chaos.from “Pentimento”I have a few regrets,but not one of themis loving you.

Karla K. Morton’s Hometown, Texas is a collection of beautiful poems and artwork, created by high school and middle school students of small towns all over Texas and by Morton herself, making the collection very unique and intriguing. Each poem brings to life another piece of Texas that can easily be overlooked by those who do not quite understand why Texans are so passionate about their state.The 2010 Texas Poet Laureate hit the road in September 2009, traveling to middle and high schools across the state, showing students the importance of writing and asking them to create something beautiful that accurately represented their town. From grandma’s mustang jelly and Leddy’s custom boots to forgotten railroads in Haslet, Friday night football, and even Mexican pride, Morton and her newly discovered creative writers do not miss a thing about the beloved small towns of Texas.A great coffee table read, Hometown, Texas includes fabulous artwork drawn by talented students, giving a glimpse into the best of their hometowns. In this eclectic selection, the reader will easily turn page after page to learn a little something more about Texas from the Texan youth. The poetry is simple and authentic, allowing readers to fall in love with Texas all over again.

As the 2010 Texas Poet Laureate, Karla K. Morton believes that poetry is everyone’s art, and has carved her place in Texas Letters with this stunning collection. With well-loved titles such as “For Love and Michelangelo,” “The Closer,” “Why God Needs a Shotgun,” “Alamo Coastline,” “Woman in the Pipe Shop,” and “When Texas No Longer Fits in the Glove Box,” Morton's poetry will take you on a journey; her flowing style sparks memories and stirs emotions.