Many of you will remember Mike, if for no other reason than about the time he showed up at TDE (at Professor Mezey's invitation) he struck it rich by winning $10,000 in some goofy poetry contest. Dr. Creagan has just published his first book with the dubious title True Love Stories and Other Poems. Dragonflyer Press, 150 pages. He sent me a copy to my surprise, as I've never corresponded with him; and I must say I really like the book. I'd thought him a youngster, but he's an ER doc with 34 years' experience and seven kids. I find most of the poems pretty prosy whether they are metered or unmetered. He lacks a great ear for the music of the language and makes up for it by seeing deep into the heart of things. I find the author's persona deeply attractive, informed as it is by his considerable knowledge of the world and its humans. There is much here that is profoundly affecting, and I celebrate another Spherean's producing a fine first book. It is a spirit-lifting read, and I commend it to our members.

Tim:
Thanks for alerting us to this. It does indeed sound like a book worth looking into. I take exception, however, to your characterization of the contest as "goofy." I don't know what contest it is, but if it pays ten grand, then goofy it ain't!
RPW

It's the Poetry.com contest, if I recall correctly. And "goofy" is far too kind a word.

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Steve Schroeder

He won $20,000:

"Love letter to Claremont yields poet $20,000"
http://web.archive.org/web/200309040...2302/poet.html

Cordially,

Dave Lull



[This message has been edited by Dave Lull (edited April 18, 2006).]

Michael Creagan’s latest book
 

Collected Poems I
BookBaby, 2022
https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Poe.../dp/1667839780

“A first attempt at a collected poems. I have been writing poetry for almost 50 years. This collection includes poems from my two previous books-True Love Stories and Other Poems, and Animals and Other Poems, and new and previously unpublished poems.”