I hate writing biographies. I'd rather let my songs, stories, and poems speak for themselves. However, the Wife says it's important to let myself be known, so...
For as long as I can remember I've wanted to write songs. Matching the right melodies with the perfect lyrics is a joy I cannot really describe. I started with poetry in highschool as a way of getting certain thoughts and feelings out of my head where they'd do less harm.
My sophmore year english teacher, Miss Heck, trying to teach a bunch of uninterested kids about poetry, decided to use song lyrics as examples. I was a lost and lonely outcast with no friends. An artist's soul in a school of jocks where ability in sports equalled acceptance and anything else led to ridicule and abuse.
She played Paul Simon's "I Am A Rock" and my heart froze... I felt like the world stopped and everyone was looking at me... This was the very first time I had an inkling that other people could feel the same way I do. Almost as if I wasn't totally alone in life. It was world changing.
Eventually, many years of emotional growth later, with the help of some good, like-minded friends, I started adding music, thinking it would take me places. I haven't really gone anywhere... "After changes upon changes we are more or less the same..."
I have a wife who is better than I could ever deserve. I have four children who are following me down the long, lonesome road of creativity. I have friends I admire and try to emulate. "I have my books and my poetry to protect me." (thank you Paul Simon!)
If you like my poetry, please check out my music: www.abitaskew.com
God bless!