Reading Corner | ‘Looking Around’ offers accessible poetry for everyone

“Looking Around,” by South Strand resident Jim R. Rogers, is a poetry collection that celebrates the unique messages in ordinary objects and events, available to us by being sensitive to the world around us. Rogers captures the joy and sorrow encapsulated in the everyday by simply “Looking Around.”

These are accessible poems, easy to understand on at least one level. We can trace his observations of the ordinary of our own lives. The poems are profound in that they take us to a deeper level within themselves. Such qualities make this slim volume a good reintroduction to poetry for those who abandoned it after school and a delight to those who have continued to immerse themselves in this art.

Most are free verse form, but the variety of topics and style is wide-ranging within that form, from humor to grieving to anger to love. For instance, Rogers (a man of 80 years) offers wry humor on aging in poems “Again” and “directions.” His lovely grief verse, “Dunes,” penetrates our deepest self.

Rogers has consolidated the experiences of his life and career into these poems. He holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood, 1994, from Coastal Carolina University and attended Antioch University, Marina Del Rey, Calif., enrolled in the master’s program in clinical psychology with emphasis on child development and psychotherapy from 1991-92. He is a certified family life educator through the National Council on Family Relations and has certification as a parenting instructor through the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring, Los Angeles. He also is an educator who works with Surfside’s stilllearning.org and has been a parent educator with Horry County for many years.

Roger wrote a parenting column for the regional family newspaper Parent News for more than 15 years and continues to appear as a regular guest on local television stations. He has also created and developed parenting workshops, leader guides and training curricula for social services, family courts, childcare facilities and school settings. His other books include “The Incredible Importance of Effective Parenting: Plain Talk About Raising Children From a Concerned Field Worker … .” (nonfiction parenting) and “Starts and Stops Along the Way” (an earlier collection of poetry)

Rogers often makes appearances at local libraries giving poetry readings. Check library schedules or contact him at jim@stilllearning.org.

Joan Leotta, For The Sun News

The Moveable Feast

The Moveable Feast literary luncheons will continue during the summer, usually on Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Each luncheon is followed by a book signing at Litchfield Books, 11421 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, for those unable to participate in the feast. Each feast is $25 (occasionally more); books are available at a 10 percent discount from Litchfield Books.

The next available luncheon will feature New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin (“Water From My Heart”) June 5 at Carefree Catering, 8151 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island.

The luncheon with Karen White (“The Sound of Glass”) May 29 is sold out, however, she will be at the 2 p.m. book-signing at Litchfield Books.

This story was originally published May 23, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Reading Corner | ‘Looking Around’ offers accessible poetry for everyone."