Dr. Charles Cooper documents his life in verse, precise poetry, which flows at times with brutal honesty, basks in tender moments, and frames the man in his own determination. This modern day renaissance man, who was called the Jefferson of his day by King's College London professors, offers work which resounds with the topics and tones of life itself. Overtones of Freemasonry predominate a large section of the book, which is a coded puzzle to a discovery of enormous value. "The treasure's guideposts, gates, and keys are all in this book," says Cooper.
This work is monumental in scope, exploring the emotions and motivations for everything from Washington DC Lobbyists to a young man striving to find his way after the trauma of war. One of the highlights of the book, "Ode to Chuck Owens", is a detailed and brutally honest recounting of time in the service of the US Army during the 1990s and the War on Terror. Apart from his own personal experiences, this Ode is drawn from the experiences of personal friends and two years spent with Veterans recovering from PTSD at a VA Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.
The classical influences of poetry are all here; however, unlike his first three books, Cooper gives up all of the airs of the academic for real honesty, passion, and emotion. Truly, the precision of delivery rivals his idol Ralph Waldo Emerson, but the power of the verse is steeped deeply in the passion and emotion of Lord Byron or Shelley.
If the work in the book does not stir you, it's possible you cannot be moved to feel.