The Open Gate

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...

“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.”
- Michael B. Davie, author, Poetry for the Insane: The Full Mental

R. J. (Robert) Keeler was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in the jungles of Colombia. He holds a BA in Mathematics from North Carolina State University, an MS in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, an MBA from UCLA, and a Certificate in Poetry from the University of Washington.He was an Honorman in the US Naval Submarine School and was Submarine Service (SS) qualified. He received the Vietnam Service Medal, and an Honorable Discharge. He also received a Whiting Foundation Experimental Grant.Keeler is a member of IEEE (technological society), AAAS (scientific society), and the Academy of American Poets. He is also a former Boeing engineer.Keeler currently lives on Vashon Island, Washington. He is a minor Luddite, thus can only be contacted by email at open_gate@alumni.ucla.edu.The Open Gate is his third published book of poetry. His first was Detonation (Wipf and Stock, 2020) andhis second was Snowman (Manor House, 2020).