Creeping Shadows

Born in 1941 in the small town of Roseburg, Oregon, Swede Hastings' life has been a rollercoaster ride, and his poetry is a testament to that journey. His folks, John and Viola, were the adventurous sort, always on the hunt for work and following the seasons across the western U.S. Eventually, they put down roots back in Roseburg, trading their wandering ways for a quaint little farm.

In 1958, Swede decided to join the US Navy. But the very next year, Roseburg was hit by the "Roseburg Blast,...