Men know many things
Of beginnings, middles and ends
Lifted heroes, fallen Kings
Changes like the winds
Needs, Hopes, and distant dreams
The suffering that makes us stronger
Things that are, and things that seem
And a life, we wish was longer
Birth, death and a brief moment
For mistakes guilt and regret
Sins that need divine atonement
Our wrongs to thus unset
Many more; are the things unknown
Yet all can know good deeds
Thus are mighty beauties grown
From such wanton seeds
Bryant H. McGill & Chris S. Heinen
It is nice to meet you. I am glad you have come to this page. I am interested in meeting new people who have differing experiences and perspectives than my own about life. Several years ago I started occasionally writing a little couplet on autograph requests. Fan's seemed to really like this since it was written just for them and was unique. I have saved these and thought that one day I would publish a book of just these poems. Well, now I have taken the idea one step further.
I have experimented with co-authoring poems, essays and aphorisms with fans, friends and students, and some of these poems have turned out very nice. What I am going to do is read through your profile and keywords, and then perhaps exchange emails, maybe speak to you on the phone, and together we will write a poem which will be published on the web and in my next book. I will take your ideas about life and your unique experiences and message, and combine them with my own and write the poem. Your city, state, name and photo will also be published on my site with our poem. When I have a good collection these will all be published in book format and distributed in bookstores around the world, including your hometown. Your name will appear in the book next to our poem as the co-author. This will be something rare, unique and lasting; something you can call your own.
Please have a look through my site to get an idea bout my work. I have included a few links for you to start with here:
I look forward to getting to know you and working on our poem. Please remember I sometime cannot respond to emails for extended periods of time. You can read more abot this below. Please read all of this page before you write to ask a question.
Have a nice day,
Bryant H. McGill
How do You get started? What do You do first?
Send Chris your contact information. Send him your photo, name, city and state, email address and profile URL or web address. Let him know you are interested in co-authoring a poem, essay, song, or aphorism. I will visit your profile and see if there is anything to work with in your keywords. If you have a specific idea or story include some info about it.
Important Note on Contacting Me
It is important that you realize four things about communicating:
The Course of the Flesh
For who could fain a soul controlled,
Whilst craving teeth on supple lobes,
Ignore the cockles thrashing toll,
Like the Muse’s hot whisper in the ear.
Youth's blossom, the soul intoxicates
Blood that seethes on petals to devour
A flower’s beguiling grand seduction
Fighting the dizzy lust to englut
Later deep in season's sweet opine
Mature consuming blooms delight,
In waves that swell and yearn to crash
On thundered shores where youth subsides
No difference, to those thus immured
In youthful folly, or mature love sublime,
The marrow sets the quickened course,
The eye and hand, the time.
Bryant H. McGill
Read directions, and instructions. After going to this page do not send a letter that says, "So, what is this all about," or "what type of info do you need," or "how do we get started." or "I'm up for it, let's chat on messenger X." It will simply be deleted by Chris without an answer. Follow the instructions.
While I am very interested in getting to know you it may tak a long time to get back to you. Now if I am available and inspiration hits me from something you said in your email or profile, you may hear from me quickly, or, you may not hear from me for six months or more. Please do not take it as a personal insult if I do not get back to you within a span of time YOU feel is appropriate. I receive over 5,000 emails, autograph requests and submissions a year, read submissions for several journals and publishers, and it can be very difficult to deal with. All of that on top of that fact that I am often traveling or deeply engrossed in research. Not to mention, I also have a family and life. So please, do not send a hostile letter complaining about not hearing from me. I will not get it anyway as my assistant will screen it out.
I do NOT talk to or deal with anonymous people. At the minimum I need to know your real name, city, state, country and your email address. If you are so paranoid and insecure that you can not provide this basic information then do not write me. I only deal with real people I can call by name. I am not going to publish an anonymous coward in any of my books, nor will I communicate with you. You know my name and contact info, and I assure you I have greater privacy concerns. I also like to have a photo. I put the photo into my contact manager and it helps me to remember people because I remember faces more easily.
If you are given any private contact information for me such as an address, phone number or direct unscreened email address, DO NOT POST IT OR GIVE IT OUT.
Questions and Answers
How do I get started? What do I do first? Send Chris your contact information. Send him your photo, name, city and state, email address and profile URL or web address. Let him know you are interested in co-authoring a poem, essay, song, or aphorism. I will visit your profile and see if there is anything to work with in your keywords. If you have a specific idea or story include some info about it.
Will I own any rights to the poem or essay? You will own NON-exclusive reproduction rights to the work. This means that you can reproduce and publish the work wherever and whenever you like.
Once finished, can I tell people it will be published in a book before publication? If our work together has been placed on the web, you may tell anyone you like, place in on your résumé, or do whatever you like.
It has been months and I have not heard back from you! Please read items one and two in the 'Important Note on Contacting Me' above.
Do I get any money when the book comes out? No you do not get ANY money at any time.
Why should I share anything with you? I'm writing my own best seller. Please, never contact me.
Why are most of the co-authors women? Honestly, because women seem to like poetry more than men, and women share their emotions and feeling more than most men.
I know we are writing a poem together, but can I have an autograph? Of course. Just use the autograph request submission form. Remember it can take a while.
A Few Selected Poems
Flight of the Doves
Whisking flurries of beating wings
Stunning sight to the eye
Smiles are set upon such things
To the grace upon they fly
And in the winds from there to thither
High in places men can know
Upon a wing, no trick or tether
As the fickle flake of snow
While to the pace of beating hearts
With a rush the wings they thrust
Up they lift their form to art
Wanton men to envy must
And from these beauties for all men
Hope abides in their flight
That man could soar to such ends
In peace their bosom could ignite
This Life
Love the lips, taste the wine
Curves of hips, intertwined
Up the hill, down the valley
Children shrill, bodies tally
Fickle fate, despot masters
Hour’s late, great disasters
Children sleeping, gentle faces
Stars creeping, cross the spaces
Love your daughters, love your sons
For time’s waters, quickly run
Wake the flies, stir the worms
To dust that dies, to ash that burns
Consuming all 'til all is done
They love the greedy harlot's hand
They love the selfish gaping grin
They love the murderous natural man
They love the supple, silky skin
They taste the baby, budding fruit
They gulp the green-leafed tender bud
They taste the sour, shadowed root
They drink the darkest demon’s blood
They consume the world, their own estate
They do not love their children one
Their own flesh, the thing they hate
Consuming all 'til all is done
Visions of glory
Visions of glory,
Oh, human is he,
The fear of the dark,
The light doth decree!
Moments After
I have held a human soul
As it flew right from my hands
And I watched that warm red glow
Chill, and then disband
I have looked in knowing eyes
That knew not any more
Nor winked quaint goodbyes
That twinkled just before
I have felt a weakened breath
That moved in shallow sighs
That rattled upon death
But spoke of no goodbyes
I have held a hand in waiting
Until minutes before the night
Our clasp slowly abating
Then gone just with the light
There was nothing I could sense
No mystical night surprise
Just a profound silence
Broken by sobs and cries
Our Master Love
Oh, love is a masterful pain
A splendid martyr it makes
To render its likeness again
The best and worst credits to take
We give it our happiest years
It reaps from our souls endless tears
In life it goes on, in death too beyond
It both comforts and proves our worst fears
You will live them one more time
What shall be known of the days we've wasted
The friends we've loved and those we've hated
What will become of the laughter last
Or those once known in lives long past
What shall we do with the time we've wasted
Or the gentle lips like wine once tasted
What of our children alone when we die
Or our bodies like fallen leaves that lie
What will come of the mornings and the days
Who will remember our purpose and ways
What of our memories and what of the pain
Who will know them as us the same
It is you-- that will live them one more time
And you will taste those lips of wine
You too will know the joys I knew,
And sorrows’ longing, for life anew
Sins are not the Worst
Sins are not the worst,
And goodness not the best
But love is ever living
And death eternal rest
The Tree of Life Divides by Bryant H. McGill -
2003
