Poets

Robert Graves Jr. grew up in Maine, moved to Connecticut in his early 20’s and raised his family there, finally settling in Rhode Island in 2009. His interests are guitar, golf, hiking, poetry and, recently, politics. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 1999 with a BA in English and retired from fire/security at United Technologies that same year. 

In 1996, he began doing short stories, essays, and poetry while a freshman at CCSU (at age 53!) and has not had any publication other than editorials in a few magazines and newspapers. Although he tells us that he has "no pedigree regarding my writing experience," he adds, "I do have a few poems posted at Poetry.com and Poemhunter.com."

Jnana Hodson is an active Quaker living in the seacoast region of New Hampshire. He came to the Society of Friends (Quakers) by way of yoga, not knowing it had been the faith of his ancestors, and finds that much of his poetry springs from the quietude of meditation.

A native of Ohio, he spent four decades as a professional daily newspaper editor and is also the author of two published novels, Subway Hitchhikers and Ashram.

In addition to his primary blog, Jnana’s Red Barn (jnanahodson.net), with its emphasis on poetry and daily life, he is presenting a biography of Rhode Island Quaker firebrand Robert Hodgson at the Orphan George Chronicles (jmunrohodson.wordpress.com) and a series on early Friends’ understanding of the spiritual metaphor of Light at As Light Is Sown

Harbor of Grace, a chapbook of prose-poems, is available from Fowlpox Press, and In a Heartbeat, a chapbook of poems reflecting the Animal Kingdom, is forthcoming from Barometric Pressures.

His wife and two stepdaughters are endless sources of delight and inspiration.

  James Barchi aka ETERNAL has been writing lyrics since 1999. Back then his songs were influenced by Eminem and gangster rap. Eternal was saved in 2003 on a chairlift at Mount Snow, VT. After becoming Christian, his songs took on a much more meaningful and positive tone, however, in 2008 Eternal’s faith was shaken to the core due to some serious spiritual warfare. As a result, he went through a dry period in his walk with the Lord. Most recently, after hooking back up with fellow brother in Christ “Simbolik” Eternal is back! He’s resurrected his old songs and has started to minister again!

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Hear ETERNAL's RX song on YouTube

Martin Burke was a widely-published Irish poet/playwright who lived in Belgium.  He passed away in 2017 (June 4, 1951 - April 26, 2017) 

His book, The Easter Ballad, was published by Words on the street Press, Galway.

Bill Kirton writes :

"I was born in Plymouth, England a long time ago but I’ve lived most of my life in Scotland. I’ve written stage and radio plays, songs and sketches for revues, flash fiction, short stories, novels, stories for children and books aimed at helping students to write effective academic essays and dissertations and get the most out of university and work. I’ve been a university lecturer, actor, director, TV presenter, visiting professor and artist at the University of Rhode Island and spent a few years as a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow in universities in Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews. I love writing and exploring many forms and genres."

Please visit his website, Bill Kirton, Writer

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By way of introduction, Bill mentioned to the OPP that he's been invited on 3 occasions to spend time at URI as Visiting Professor & Director in the Theater department.  - Rhode Island is not such a small world, after all!

Paula Lietz (Pd Lietz) lives in rural Manitoba Canada. Her award winning photography, art and writing have appeared in numerous publications such as, Sunrise From Blue Thunder, Naugatuck River Review issues Summer 2011 & Winter 2013, MaINtENaNT: Journal of Contemporary DADA Writing and Art, 4, 5 and 6, Visions, Verses and Voices and on Phantom Billsticker Posters NZ placed throughout the world, to name but a few.

http://www.pdlietzphotography.com/

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Visit her OPP Artist's page Here.

Al Basile is a poet, singer/songwriter, and cornetist. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1966, and in 1970 he was the first to receive a Master’s Degree from the Brown University Writing Program. He began his musical career as a cornet player with Roomful of Blues in 1973, and has worked with the Duke Robillard Band as a songwriter and recording member since 1990. He has nine solo blues and roots CDs out, the last five having reached the top 15 on the Living Blues airplay charts: guest artists have included the Blind Boys of Alabama and jazz great Scott Hamilton. He has been nominated three times, in 2010, 2102, and 2013, for a Blues Music Award as best horn player.

While hundreds of his songs have been published since the Sixties, his poetry and fiction has begun to be published in recent years. He taught full time at the Providence Country Day School from 1980-2005 and since then has concentrated on his writing, performing, and recording.

Patrick May grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Boston University, where he penned the controversial column Diaria for the student newspaper. Since graduating, he has completed a feature length film in 2007 called The Grateful Undead and has worked as a debt collector, night watchman, and a census worker.