When thinking about a title for this collection of poems, I was reminded of a story often told about my dad and his best friend trying to smoke a rabbit out of a hole, circa 1930. What these industrious young men suceeded in doing, the story is a little fuzzy? Did they get their rabbit? Did they set the hills on fire?In a lot of ways, this story kinda mirrors my own life.

There are lots of lessons life teaches us that are not always pretty. Just how do you get a rabbit out of its hole? Wait? Hope it comes out while you are still there and alert? Smoke it out? One of you run home, get a shovel and dig it out? Or go along your merry way not to have rabbit for dinner.

Life is full of, well - hard lessons. Ups and downs.

Little problems and big problems. Joy and sorrow.

No one can really tell you how to deal with the punches life throws at you. You can follow examples set by others.

Read about how people got from point A to point B in their own lives. But at the end of the day, you (and if you practice religion, your faith) will deal with the good, bad, and ugly life has to offer.

This collection of poems is my attempt to dig my rabbit out of its hole. Set my emotions on a smoother path.

Will I set the woods on fire? Only time will tell. .