We should begin by looking at the title for a moment, Beyond . .

. the .

. .

Dam. This may seem a little out of the ordinary as it is based on only one sonnet, but this title does have a higher meaning as it focuses on raising thought beyond any limits as do many of these sonnets and poems.

There are also ones with literary or historical references, and a few on the humorous side. There are many taken from my own personal experiences through the years.

Included are sections on Personal Reflections, Inspirational Ideas, Personal Spiritual Growth, Bible and Christianity References, History References, True stories, Literature References and Nature. Allan writes in his Conclusion: "Reading, including not only non-fiction and fiction, but also poetry, is the closest thing to true magic that humans possess.

It allows us to enter the mind of another person, to see what they see, experience what they feel, and understand their very personal perception of life. And along with this magical experience comes another fanciful and otherwise impossible idea: time travel.

Reading can take us back into the thoughts of people who lived hundreds of years ago, or the inner lives of denizens of the future. Be it ancient Greece or a colony on the moon, we're transported to worlds beyond our own, that come alive with the help of our imagination.

". .