The 131 poems included here are not part of this combined collection because they are profound or excellent or unique in some way; they are here because each means something to me. As I get older, I find myself writing more and more about childhood memories, houses I lived in, and schools I went to. I also occasionally write about my inner struggles, sometimes to the point where my reader may have to guess if I am writing about myself or something I merely observed. And that brings me to another point. A casual reading of a simple work that may have been profoundly difficult for the author can easily be misinterpreted by the reader. Those closest to him may read into the words something that wasn't intended. They may associate an anecdote with the writer himself, when in fact it was about someone else, or even hypothetical. They may wonder if the author has an agenda or is using the literary medium of poetry as a form of therapy. I say to these ponderings, of course he has an agenda and yes, the mere penning of the verses is a type of therapy. That being said, I must offer a sort of disclosure, as I fear that only my family and close friends will venture to read these offerings. Rather than exclude poems that reveal some kind of inner-conflict or water down a particularly disturbing life-event, I have chosen to be transparent, trusting the reader to value my honesty and not to judge my motives or experiences. I must also insist that you keep in mind that I often write vicariously, presenting in the first person what has actually happened to someone else. Thus, the name of this little collection, Rhymes and Reasons, serves a purpose. I have presented poems with intellectual and emotional content, with some humor and nonsense sprinkled here and there, that I hope will stir your emotions and stimulate your mind, but mostly make your spirit soar.