Bill Copeland's book of poems, "Line of Absurdity" is currently available in perfect bound paperback. Subtitled "Between logic and Silicon Valley dreams," these poems have accumulated since the 1960s. They take the reader to the doors of dreams hidden between sleeping and waking.  Price $10.00 + shipping.    To order send email to: bill@copelands.org

Cover by Bill Copeland Throw away your Silicon Valley logic. Let your mind enjoy the perfume of the absurd. Go back before we were growing silicon chips to the orchards of cherries, walnuts, almonds, and the fields of corn.

Selected Poems The Maritime Advisor John was an old man Who lived by the sea Though he’d never been out in a boat Nevertheless He gave advice free On sailing all ships that can float On jibes and tacking On anchors and grounding On navigation before GPS In reports that he wrote John spared not a quote On how to sail with success He felt quite manly Though he had no family No brother, no parrot, no spouse Yet he wrote without tiring Of naval canon firing While snug under stone in his house John’s face wasn’t tan He ate fish from a can And owned no waterproof coat In winter he refrained From the town when it rained Stayed on his hill quite remote It flooded one year Igniting his fear So he built up a fire quite hot But the people of the town Climbed up to his ground Through landslides and downpours, they fought They poured into his door Dripping wet on the floor Begging to get warm by his fire John screamed at the wet He told them to get Showed his most terrible ire John’s mind in a daze He backed to the blaze And roared at the river of men Shivering with cold Their manner grew bold They pressed him again and again Fearful to touch Real water, he clutched The edge of the fireplace railing Drawn to the flame John went quite insane And into the fire went sailing

BIRTH OF A GRANDCHILD Your chalice of days stands gold Pours out its first drips On your thirsty pink lips Pours honey your mother can hold A new twist in the helix of genes Snatched from the baby pool Galaxy’s jewel Fulfilling your parents’ sweet dreams Your heritage scattered behind A twisted trail of crime In the dark tunnel of time Can’t taint your open fresh mind Wake your dreams with persistence Don’t be deterred by fate’s fence Climb, climb ‘till your dreams make sense Though wounded by cruel innocence A smile in the wilderness, Step, misstep over raging streams Meeting people of mind-twisting schemes Who press for a dance with your dreams I Grandfather A lonely fisherman Have only bait box and hooks to give Just live Bait a hook Caste your line into this raging stream, and the next Many colorful and tasty fish Thrash along your way Forever