Astralshepherd Poetry - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Astralshepherd took this penname in 2003 and began writing as a form of therapy. What resulted was a series of poems both personal and painful but meaningful to many who read this poets work. In 2006, Astralshepherd began reading these poems aloud at open mic. sessions and to anyone who would stop and listen.
A child of the 50's, a cancer survivor and married with one daughter, this poet carries the voices of more than five decades of life experience and unique perspectives into a new millennium.
You can find many of Astralshepherd's poems at Allpoetry.com.
"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is free."
From the book Living, Loving and Learning Â© Dr. Leo Buscaglia

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/12/2007
Band Website: allpoetry.com/astralshepherd
Band Members: just me
Influences: Emily Dickenson, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Phd.,Robert Bly, Wonder Woman, Sylvia Plath, Ken Gire, Pablo Neruda, Maya Angelou, Denise Levertov, William Carlos Williams, Stanley Kunitz, Galway Kinnell, Gerard Manly Hopkins, Robert Frost, Joseph Campbell, Richard Wilbur, Thomas Merton, Thich Nhat Hanh, Henri Nouwen - Oh, and the Santa Ynez - Los Olivos region of California.
Record Label: indie
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Kent State (A Gnawing Sound) May 4, 1970

~A gnawing sound, a roaringsoundfilled this country. February 25, 1970,a small community, Isla Vista,just outside the University,Santa Barbara, California, The United States of America,where History b...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Fri, 04 May 2007 03:42:00 PST

Route 66 - Revisited

LA to Chicago, an eight state snake;the road not traveled any more.Wind Wing Widows whistle like orphans lost to timewith Passing Lanes of sights, of sounds, of signs;Road side attractions, distractio...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:32:00 PST

The heart, when free.

A butterflywhispers gently;the wind receivesa languageonly true lovecomprehendsor dares believe.But the flower knows,longing for justone more caressupon the callow cheekbefore night's repose.As flower...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:33:00 PST

abyss.

I found an abyssdisguising itself as my soulfilled near fullall my fear and loathingfell into itwhen I saw the hospitaldriving the asphalt tearsparkedheard the droning working deadmislabeled as "infor...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:08:00 PST

View from a window

I try to stand Staypresent to this momentA forest before mehundreds of treesthen a leafone leafon a treeSunlight painted spot of yellow on greenAnd then a Fly in the spot of lightI stand rocking at th...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:05:00 PST

Words on a Paper

Cancer is differentfor different people;how it's viewed and the way one copes.It seems to overpoweras if it has power of its own;its own dark presence,but it is so limitedin strength and scope.I have ...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:48:00 PST

Emily;

Emily;when we were youngi found you hidingin the library nearthe corner by the stairs.there we sat, so closeand you spoke to me sogracefully weaving wordsas none i'd ever heard beforeas if i were your...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Wed, 23 May 2007 01:19:00 PST

sorrows are

sorrows arenot like sparrowswhich launch skywardupwith fluttery distresssorrows arelike swallowswhich comedownwith seasonsto revisitormake new nests.~r.All rights reserved,© Nov.2003 R. Braley(astrals...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Wed, 16 May 2007 06:18:00 PST

Manhattan Beach, 1967.

All places grow up, I know that; memories - are what bring me back, here,to this beach. I've run on a lot of beachesbut this one holds my thoughts best;hours spent in the soft sandstrengthening ...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Fri, 11 May 2007 09:59:00 PST

The Intersection - a story

The Intersection - a story An odd thing happened on my way to work this morning.An overcast morning. I intentionally took an alternateroute. I made my turn, heading north, off the main arteryof a d...
Posted by Astralshepherd Poetry on Thu, 03 May 2007 10:46:00 PST