Austin Relativity

“Dave Parsons exquisitely captures the essence of what it was like for many to come of age in Austin, Texas, in the 1960s. He writes entertainingly about his antics, running buddies, neighbors, drinking, carousing, road trips, girlfriends, wives, fistfights, athletics, singing, adventures and misadventures, failures and successes, and, yes, tragedies. He weaves his original poems meaningfully with his story-telling prose.  Importantly, his moments of serious reflection, as exemplified by the “Good Friday” section, are at once poignant and powerful – a perfect melding of prose and poetry. Dave’s memoir doesn’t stop with the 1960s.  He continues to share his life with you as settles down (well, almost) into his later years.  You should find the entirety of his memories fascinating, as I did.”

--NEAL SPELCE, award-winning journalist and prize-winning author who chronicled Austin’s evolution for decades

David M. Parsons, 2011 Texas Poet Laureate, grew up in Austin, and after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a Squad Leader and a Recon-Scout Boat Team Leader, he attended The University of Texas and Texas State University, where he holds a BBA. After several years in business, advertising, and coaching baseball and basketball at Bellaire High School, he received an MA in Creative Writing & Literature from the University of Houston. Parsons has taught Creative Writing at Lone Star College Montgomery since 1992. He has published seven books of poetry. He was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2009 and  lives in Conroe, Texas, with his wife, Nancy Dazey Parsons, an award-winning fine artist, and graphic designer. They have four grown children. www.daveparsonspoetry.com