Author: Porter Halyburton

Spanning more than six decades, Old Pine presents poems and lyrics of a full, reflective, and meaningful life. Representing a lifetime of experiences and reflections Porter Halyburton has assembled more than one hundred of his writings composed throughout the seasons of his life. Included are early poems written while still a student, poems written while a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, poems of family and friendship, and poems of love and loss. Also included are poems of nature, animals, and the sea. Finally, there are poems of memory and of philosophical musings.

His poetry represents things and experiences that are common and uncommon. In each poem there are thoughts collected over many years and presented with clarity and simplicity. Readers will find reflections and words that provide wisdom and lift the spirit.

Drawing upon a lifetime of experiences―some common and others, very uncommon―Porter Halyburton presents poems and lyrics that reflect those experiences. Some, such as his poems and lyrics regarding his many years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, were composed during the ordeal. There are poems of people and nature, relationships and remembrances, time, and existential thoughts.

Whether the poems are written in haiku form or in the shape of a tree or other poetic forms, there is displayed a deep sense of self, others, and all that is in the world. Sharing memories and giving glimpses of his past and present, the author shapes his words as a potter crafts clay into a fine cup, vase, or bowl. Each is done with thought, care, and precision. Each is a reflection of its creator.

Reading and reflecting upon these poems and lyrics will soothe the soul and remind readers that each of us has much for which we may be thankful. As a result of our interaction with and response to Halyburton’s poetry, perhaps we, too, may enjoy long and fortunate lives.