Snake Oil and the Frozen Paths of Twisted Truth

By Joseph Williams and Reverend Cheryl Rose Patterson

Once again, Joe Williams, ragman, has me wanting everyone I know to read this, his latest book. He whirls and twirls dervishly with the themes of existence/nonexistence. Duality and non-duality. Deep suffering and profound grace in connection with all that is. He pairs despair with gratitude, and artfully weaves a tapestry of human frailty and p

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph R Williams
• Release date: Aug 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781087906928

Book preview

SNAKE OIL

AND

THE FROZEN PATHS

OF

TWISTED TRUTH

A Spiritual Journey

of Dirt and Darkness

By Joe Williams

The Appalachian Ragman

Copyright © 2020 by Joseph R. Joe Williams

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-1-0879-0691-1

Joseph R. Joe Williams, Sevierville, Tennessee [e-mail]

Editor: Shari Claire

Proofreader: Sara L. Foust (www.saralfoust.com)

Interior Graphic: Amber Palo

Back Cover Photo: Skye-Dianne Holmgren

Cover Design: Shari Claire and Sara L. Foust

For individual and quantity sales, email author at [e-mail]

Contents

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Forward

Introduction

~Alley Ways~

~Angels and Gold~

~An Evening Toast~

~Another Stairway to Heaven~

~South Avenue~

~ If So, Do You Know? ~

~ Sacramental Whiskey ~

~ The Fireworks ~

~ The Vision ~

~ The Ragman Prayed ~

~ The Ragman Slept ~

~ Moonlit Night ~

~ The Ragman Woke ~

~ The Ragman Wept ~

~ Twisted Truth ~

~ Crying for a Vision ~

~ Ma ~

~ The Ragman Gave Thanks ~

~ A Drop of Dew ~

~ Morning Power ~

~ Existence ~

~ Non-Existence ~

~ Back to the Dream of The Ragman ~

~ The Ragman Reflected ~

~ Crying for a Vision ~

~ The Storyteller ~

~ The Great Unknown ~

~ Storyteller ~

~ Dance with Old Bones ~

~ Bursting Bubbles ~

~ Bubbles of Love ~

~ Ragman Walks the Frozen Paths ~

~ A Winter’s Tale ~

~ The Frozen Path of Twisted Truth ~

~ Snake Handler ~

~ The Ragman was Snake Bit ~

~ Surviving the Bitches ~

~ The Ragman Receives a

Drop of Grace ~

~ Shine on Me Tonight ~

~ Time for Breath ~

~ The Ragman Paused ~

~ Hard Times and Darkness ~

~ The Jackal ~

~ He Stank ~

~ I Yam What I Yam ~

~ The Secret Hidden Room ~

~ The Garden ~

~ Ragman Laughs ~

~ The Phone Rang ~

~ Digital Hell ~

~ Nerd Heaven ~

~ The Dream Offering ~

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Shari Claire for her loving attention to detail in the editing and design of this book inside and out and for the gracious support she has offered throughout the years. Thank you, Grandmother Grace.

My companion Skye, for our many adventures over land and sea, which she often captures through her gift of photography.

Amber Palo, my gifted friend and neighbor who created and gifted the logo design of The Ragman.

The tall ones for their support and the dreams they share.

Beth Arrigo for her medicine words and sharing in ceremony.

Reverend Cheryl Rose Patterson for taking the time to share her insights while recovering from a serious automobile accident.

Around in and out of all things -- Creator!

Wado!

Dedication

I wish to dedicate this book to the increased awareness of the magic and consciousness in all things.

To the tall ones for their support and many gifts they have shared with me along this journey.

To all my teachers and to all my relations.

Wado!

Forward

Joe Williams writes in his Introduction to this new work of ragman's poetry, "Our actions and the integrity we function with, along with the love we share and experience in this existence, shape our experience and consciousness