I've been writing and publishing poems (since 1965) and teaching for a living. I hope the language of my poems is conversational, heightened only by a lucky image or cherished surprise. The Perfect Heart, my book of selected poems from Mayapple (2010), reflects that hope. I do not write "slam" poems, but I brag that I am Vermont's reigning poetry-slam champion (since 2004, the last year Vermont held a sanctioned championship). I won by just one-tenth of a point. I visit schools and libraries throughout New England with workshops for all ages above 7, sometimes just writing workshops, sometimes connected to or involving a slam.