Messages in a Bottle: Communications to my Future Self

by Michael Graves

Overview

What if you knew that after death you would live again...What messages would you send to yourself ?

This is a book of poetry for people who believe that there is more to life than meets the eye; that wonder lives around every corner, and that the human spirit contains far more resiliency than it's ever been given credit for.

"Messages in a Bottle: Communications to My Future Self," is a gripping, life-changing collection of messages from acclaimed
poet, Michael Graves. It spans the gamut of love, death, politics, social upheaval, art, hope, humor, brass-tacks metaphysics, and
more. There is power in these words, and there are valuable lessons in this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936449781
Publisher:	Hugo House Publishers, Ltd.
Publication date:	08/02/2017
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

Table of Contents

Dedication . . . . . . . . . . iv

Beatitudes . . . . . . . . . . 9

A Movement in the Air . . . . . . . 11

The View from the Lighthouse . . . . . 12

The Life that you Create . . . . . . . 15

The Belly of the Beast . . . . . . . . 16

Heroes (To Erin) . . . . . . . . . 19

Runway 24 – Lukla, Nepal . . . . . . . 20

The Mode of the Hummingbird . . . . . 22

Dancing with the Muse . . . . . . . 25

Darkness and Light . . . . . . . . 28

A Penchant for Strippers . . . . . . . 30

I am not my chair . . . . . . . . . 32

Why Are We Here? . . . . . . . . 35

Vengeance “lex talionis” (For the suicide bombers) 37

Dreams – (in four short acts) . . . . . . 39

This Moment in Time . . . . . . . . 42

Apparency . . . . . . . . . . 44

The Vengeance of Angels . . . . . . . 46

Taking Off My Watch . . . . . . . . 47

Bricks . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Circumstance . . . . . . . . . . 50

Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . 52

The Whisper of Sheets . . . . . . . 53

Connecting Dots . . . . . . . . . 55

Catch and Release . . . . . . . . . 57

Mother is Listening . . . . . . . . 58

The Poet . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Space . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

We should be more than just entertainment . . 64

Radiance . . . . . . . . . . 66

Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Intention . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Waiting for You . . . . . . . . . 70

Life as a Human . . . . . . . . . 73

Path . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Borders is Closing . . . . . . . . . 75

The Secret to Good Sex . . . . . . . 77

The Perfect Life . . . . . . . . . 79

Friendship . . . . . . . . . . 80

On the observation of a cripple – yet buoyant. . 83

Different Doors . . . . . . . . . 84

A Poet's Wish. . . . . . . . . . . 86

The Secret Handshake from God . . . . . 87

The Taken Road . . . . . . . . . 88

Weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

The Easy Answer . . . . . . . . . 92

Barriers to Flight . . . . . . . . . 95

Why we do what we do . . . . . . . 97

Actors . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Barriers . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Sailing – Song of the Daemons . . . . . 103

Terrorist. . . . . . . . . . . . 105

The Cliff . . . . . . . . . . . 106

The Dance . . . . . . . . . . 108

Woman . . . . . . . . . . . 110

The Root of Strength . . . . . . . . 112

A Simple Step . . . . . . . . . . 113

Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Spiderwebs and Evolution . . . . . . . 115

Slicing Tomatoes . . . . . . . . . 119

Tips From My Father . . . . . . . . 120

Thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . 121

Decision . . . . . . . . . . . 124

America 2197 . . . . . . . . . . 126

Stardust . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Maniac – For Syria . . . . . . . . . 132

On Poetry and Social Responsibility . . . . 134

About the Author . . . . . . . . . 140

Editorial Reviews

"Brilliantly life-affirming! I haven't read anything like this since "Jonathan Livingston Seagull!"
- Holley Stewart, Life Coach

"Michael Graves is the real deal. He takes us into the poetic and philosophic life, good literature, and full relationships with gusto. He engages us thoroughly, often jauntily, with the full cooperation of his highly knowledgeable, metaphoric, rhythmic, and often comic, poetic mind. Very highly recommended!!
- Carole Brooks Platt, PhD -- author of In Their Right
Minds: The Lives and Shared Practices of Poetic Geniuses

"Michael Graves is one of the most truly gifted poets of our time. His insight, wisdom, reflection, optimism and positive thinking are a true pleasure to enjoy in every stack and stanza."
- Gunther Bedson, Poet/ Composer

From the Publisher