reported by Julie Miller, FictionFanatic.com

Poet Stephen B. Wiley knows a little about why Americans celebrate National Poetry Month each year in April, a few days after the first day of Spring.

Spring brings with it visions of blooming flowers, buds bursting in air, newborn chicks, and other new births and fresh starts. Wiley observed National Poetry Month by reciting five poems inspired by Spring from his successful book of poetry.

Wiley, a lawyer and community leader from Morristown, NJ, is the author of the much-acclaimed book of poetry, Hero Island (ISBN 0976625105, $12.95) published by Oasis Publishing. The book is available from the publisher at: www.heroisland.com.

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media?to the art of poetry, to living poets, and to our poetic heritage.

Wiley never wrote a poem until age 70, and then published Hero Island.
The poems in the book inspired by Spring, include ?Opening Up,? ?Northbound,? ?Sure Signs,? ?Kibbe Point Disco? and ?Daffodils.?

In ?Opening Up,? Wiley notes writes of Spring as a time to open up the family cottage:

?We might not put the dock out that early
water too cold to swim
but a couple of us would risk a dip
like wet lightning
jump in jump out and holler a lot.?

Participants in the ?Kibbe Point Disco? are:

?Cicadas bull frogs grasshoppers mayflies
Crickets walking-sticks moths bees springtails
Dragonflies leafhoppers alderflies and katydids
Even weevils
All shouting jiving and jamming?

A lawyer for more than 50 years, Wiley served in the State Senate, led a movement to reform public education in New Jersey, raised more than $16 million for a library and theater, and is now raising millions for an endowment to preserve a history unknown to many.

Looking back over his 75 years, Wiley admits to being an outspoken idealist at times but his efforts have left a mark on New Jersey, Morris County, and his hometown of Morristown. He dearly wants the same for all readers of Hero Island ? that they leave a mark on the path of their choosing.