Something More: A Book of Poems

By John Swearingen

Whether one takes the road less-traveled, or takes the well-traveled road more slowly, each choice is a deliberate one made on the calculated chance that, perhaps, such particular choice will yield an ever-desired, but always elusive 'something more' that will grace one’s life. For example: the unexpected perception of something sublime in the ordinary; the mysteries of an open door; a new awareness of a familiar voice; intrigues of a fragrant hour; the thrill of a sudden, new consciousness-raising thought or emotion; any ‘something more’, really, that at once sustains us and comforts us.

In this book, it is these moments of experiencing something more that author, John Swearingen, shares with the reader, in verse form, the delight he found in each such moment of experiencing something more, hoping they, too, will be delighted in the telling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781638297246

John Swearingen

John Swearingen, 74, is a lifelong resident of North Central Missouri. Born in Trenton, Missouri, he has resided in the nearby town of Brookfield, Missouri since January 1954 when his father was transferred there by the Burlington Railroad. John contracted polio in August 1949 and has since lived his life as a disabled person. He was educated by the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict at the Immaculate Conception grade school in Brookfield (1960) then graduated from Brookfield High School in 1964. From September 1964 until June 1971, he was a student at the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he received an AB degree in education and history in 1968 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1971. John considers himself better educated than Sen. Josh Hawley (R. –MO) who graduated from Stanford and Yale before publicly indulging his penchant for giving the fascist salute of a raised fist (Jan. 6, 2021) John is a member of the Missouri Bar and has passed the Hawaii Bar Examination (1976). He enjoys photography, fishing, railfanning, the Kansas City Royals, and writing poetry. This is his first book.

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About the Author

John Swearingen, 74, is a lifelong resident of North Central Missouri. Born in Trenton, Missouri, he has resided in the nearby town of Brookfield, Missouri since January 1954 when his father was transferred there by the Burlington Railroad. John contracted polio in August 1949 and has since lived his life as a disabled person. He was educated by the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict at the Immaculate Conception grade school in Brookfield (1960) then graduated from Brookfield High School in 1964. From September 1964 until June 1971, he was a student at the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he received an AB degree in education and history in 1968 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1971. John considers himself better educated than Sen. Josh Hawley (R. –MO) who graduated from Stanford and Yale before publicly indulging his penchant for giving the fascist salute of a raised fist (Jan. 6, 2021)

John is a member of the Missouri Bar and has passed the Hawaii Bar Examination (1976). He enjoys photography, fishing, railfanning, the Kansas City Royals, and writing poetry. This is his first book.

Dedication

For my mother who was always there with me and for me through the rough physical and emotional times; and for my father who, after working a 16-hour day on the railroad, still made time to read poetry to us children after supper in that little house on Robard Street in 1956.

Copyright Information ©

John Swearingen 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Swearingen, John

Something More

ISBN 9781638297222 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781638297239 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781638297246 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023900457

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

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Acknowledgment

First of all, Hannah Clibon, my caring, critical reader who instinctively knew wheat from chaff, good poetry from crapola and told me so. She implicitly understood what I was trying to do with words and steered me into better directions. Thanks, Hannah!

W. K. Calvin, Jr., my high school Senior English teacher who was the first to perceive the poetry in my soul. He tape-recorded an oral presentation of mine, then played it for the second section Senior English class later that same day. Thanks, Wilber, and thanks for your caring concern for everyone near you, and the wisdom you so freely lived and shared!

Roma Ball, my college freshman English teacher who generously passed me despite