aka: Critical Payne.. Retired West coast residential/commercial contractor. Living in NW TN with my wife of 48 years. Poetry wasn't even on the radar for me. When my younger brother died due to an overdose and was homeless at the time; I experienced an overwhelming need to write down my thoughts, in lieu of providing a eulogy. It resulted in a poem. I couldn't sleep for several nights until the piece was done. I expected that was the end of it until early last year when one of my nephews died unexpectedly. The same scenario; I couldn't rest for days on end. This has been an extraordinarily painful experience. Several pieces came out of that event and I've written a few more concerning my nephew since my first SIXFOLD submittals These are from a group written later that year. They don't appear to be 'about' him but are certainly 'because' of him. Written during that period of grieving; while still in a highly emotional/receptive state, it is my only explanation in dealing with closure.