about the BOOK & author
Discover The Book
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO ALL POETS, SPECIFICALLY FOR WHOM FEEL MISUNDERSTOOD OR FRUSTRATED WITH LIFE, LIKE OUR BROTHER JOE DALE, WHO STRUGGLED WITH TRYING TO SPREAD LOVE AND PEACE TO OTHERS. THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, HE WAS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD. SO, MAY HIS POETRY LIVE ON AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I would like to give credit where credit is due to my illustrator, co-publisher, and editor for this amazing book of poems and photography: Savanna Ezugha, for whom, with all her help and encouragement, this book has finally become a reality. I also want to give an honorable mention to my two brothers, Blake Justin Duran and Ronny Mason Oden, Jr. As my brothers, they've shared several anecdotal stories, both hilarious and sad, about all the times they spent with Joe Dale. Blake contributed to this book through his photography, while Ronny coined the term the Peaceful Poet, for Joe Dale, which is also engraved on his niche at the national cemetery for the military.
The Peaceful Poet
At first glance, Joe Dale Roper just appeared to be a kindly, gentle soul, often greeting folks with a welcoming grin to strangers as well as friends and family. Clearly, the main objective in his life seemed to cheer people up, spread kindness and joy, and to be generous, often to a fault, to other needy people. At times, he considered himself to be a comedian, enjoying making others laugh with his crazy antics and made-up jokes. But overall, this man was truly just a humble soul. He never acquired much in terms of material wealth, having dealt with learning disabilities and schizophrenia, but he was always willing to listen and empathize with anyone he met.
At the age of 76, Joe Dale was called to heaven, having left a collection of his poetry among his personal effects. All three of his siblings had already acquired various copies of his poems over the years when he was still living,
But it wasn't until after he died that we discovered his 'stash' of hand-written poetry. It was like a treasure trove of beautiful, heartfelt, writings, reflections and poems--unlike any other poets we've ever known.
It's for this reason, we came together and decided to publish his truly amazing, deeply sensitive, wacky and wild, but always original poems. We hope through his collection of poetry, his beautiful spirit may live on and touch the hearts of people all over the world.
LINKS TO RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH HELP
ADHD/ADD
SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is an outdated term sometimes used for the inattentive type presentation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurotype characterized by traits inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The term ADD is often used to describe people with inattentive and impulsive traits but without characteristics of hyperactivity.
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SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.
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DEPRESSION
SCHIZOPHRENIA
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth
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ANXIETY DISORDERS
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear such that a person's social, occupational, and personal functions are significantly impaired. Anxiety may cause physical and cognitive symptoms, such as restlessness, irritability, easy fatigue, difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate, chest pain, abdominal pain, and a variety of other symptoms that may vary based on the individual.
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BIPOLAR DISORDER
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These include emotional highs, also known as mania or hypomania, and lows, also known as depression. Hypomania is less extreme than mania. Episodes of mood swings from depression to mania may occur rarely or multiple times a year.
These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.
Click below for more information.
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
POST-TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER/PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying event — either being part of it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have a hard time adjusting and coping for a short time. But with time and by taking good care of themselves, they usually get better.
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