Northside of the Grave is a collection of poetry, reflecting the heartaches and pleasures given us by this unpredictable life. It was written from 2009 to the present while falling in and out of love with Patricia Kosta. My need for loneliness was eventually overcome by her need for intimacy, and we have been together on a permanent basis since January 2013. As I’m fond of saying, she chased me until I caught her. This book is dedicated to her. Excerpt from By Your Presence If you have ever considered whether trickling streams rejoice to meander their way to a turbulent ocean, you must then consider the paths that have led me to you through the inconvenience of circumstance and the rending of hearts. And as surely as the sun licks the morning clouds, ascends the eastern horizon, the scent of dawn has left your fragrance upon the air I breathe, in the moments of intimacy, when I am refreshed by your presence.