The Open Gate

A remarkable book of captivating and intriguing poetry: R. J. Keeler takes you through the open gates into a chaotic but splendid garden that leads into private and public spaces, outdoors, indoors and in your mind. Along the way, he captures the hidden magic of everyday life, the joys of small moments, the mysteries of life and death - a captivating journey filled with touches of humor and introspection - an absolutely terrific book.

R. J. (Robert) Keeler started writing poetry in the early 1970's under the direction of Guy Owen. His poetry is a rich collage of disjunctive metaphors that travel through the structure of science and technology, the nonsense of politics, and the mystery of love, life, and death. Intelligence, humor, and vulnerability are showcased in a powerful mélange of subject matter and integrated details, an engaging collage that elaborates and extends the wind-ruffed surface of everyday thoughts, takes a deep dive beyond the ordinary, and then returns to a distant shore.Robert has published in over ninety literary journals and been honored in many poetry competitions. This, his third book, includes poems from thirty years of unpublished poems interlaced with several recent works. His style considers a wide range of traditional forms that deliver a clever, unfettered, modern framework. Robert lives on Vashon Island, WA, at the midpoint of southern Puget Sound between Seattle and Tacoma, reachable only by ferry. He can be contacted at tibu@alumni.unc.edu