Now that “The Past, Present, and Future: a Compilation of Free Verse” has come to a close, I would like to thank everyone who helped make this blog a reality.  At the beginning of the collection, I included a dedication to all of my muses.  As I mentioned in the preface, these poems were generated from the thoughts and ideas that have been floating through my consciousness for some time.  Those thoughts and ideas, though, would have been quite different if it hadn’t been for my muses.  For that, I thank each muse.

        I would also like to thank my wife for all of the wonderful photographs that were included in “The Past, Present, and Future.”  More than 30 of the photos in this collection were taken by Elizabeth.  Each photo added to the blog immensely, and I am very thankful that she was willing to let me use them in my blog.  So much so, that I added one more for today’s post.

        Next, I would like to thank everyone who read my poems.  I appreciate each one of you, and I am very thankful for all of the thoughtful comments my blog received.  It makes me feel good to know that so many people read and enjoyed my work.  I am also thankful for all of the blog award nominations that I received.  I am very honored.

        During the course of this blog, my words traveled far and wide.  As of today, my blog has been viewed more than 6,000 times, in more than 60 countries, and has more than 600 followers.  Not bad for 70 poems in 74 days.  It has been quite a journey.

        Lastly, I would like to spend a little time explaining my poetry writing process.  In my newspaper writing days, I tried to be as objective as possible.  When it came to writing poetry, though, my ultimate responsibility was to the story I was trying to tell through each poem.  That being the case, I did not feel the need to be objective or tell things as they actually happened.  Instead, I wrote each poem as it was meant to unfold.  The result was a combination of reality and imagined reality.  It was a fun process, but in no way should anything be interpreted literally.  I always intended for my work to be interpreted metaphorically.  With that, I bid you all adieu.

Photo by Elizabeth McCullough