William Ogden Haynes

Contemplations William Ogden Haynes

The girl on the cover of this book was photographed over a hundred years ago. She is pondering something that has elicited just a hint of emotion and it makes us want to know what she is thinking about. One thing is certain, we begin contemplating at an early age and continue until we die. If we could follow her throughout her life, there would no doubt be many moments of self-reflection bringing joy, tears and trepidation. As she grows older, she might be thinking about her parents, a long gone lover, a house she once lived in, children of her own or her life when she was young. These reflections are as unique to the girl as they are to each of us. We all have moments of thoughtful contemplation, whether it's on a park bench, a front porch, a dock on a quiet lake or posing in a big hat with roses. In these poems, I share disparate thoughts that may be unique to myself, but I don't think so. They touch on topics as diverse as humor, loss, love, childhood, aging, memories, automobiles, family relationships and mental illness. I believe the poems in this collection will resonate with readers despite their varied backgrounds, social status or age.