Here is the voice of an astute observer of nature and of the human condition.
Terry Michael Hagans offers the reader an insightful retrospective of his own life experience via poems reflecting a wide range of emotions.
His poetry prompts us to exclaim: Oh, I know that feeling as we experience his themes of joy, regret, loss and love.
The poignancy of his verses is nicely balanced with touches of humor; (Terry Hagans) can laugh at himself in his sensitivity to human foibles.
- John Foster, from the Foreword to Vin Ordinaire.
Poet Terry Michael Hagans was born in France of American parents, and was educated in the French school system.
At age 11, he was enrolled for two years at the American School of Paris to learn, at a minimum, how to speak, read, and write in English.
His family moved to the United States when he was 14.
He attended Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale ('67), and went on to graduate from Duke University with a B.
in Philosophy ('71).
Several years later he began what would turn out to be a life as an investigator and mediator of labor-management disputes, and a commuter between Northern Virginia and Washington D.
He became adept at drafting reports or decisions: descriptive, accurate, analytical, clear and thorough.
His work had a pattern: listen, write.
When he decided to retire his identity as a labor relations professional, he understood that during his career he had fallen in love with language, in its oral delivery and in its written form.
At some point silence took his hand and guided him: listen to what you hear, write One by one pieces were born, and some now live in this book.
If there is no title, it is only because none readily presented itself for publication; he let it go at that.
He is confident that much of what you are about to read is already written inside of you.
We are cups filled with the same, common words.
That is why he chose the title, VIN ORDINAIRE, literally ordinary wine, but better translated from the Frenc.
| Exclaim | Oh |
|---|---|
| He became adept at drafting reports or decisions | Descriptive accurate analytical clear and thorough |
| His work had a pattern | Listen write |
| At some point silence took his hand and guided him | Listen to what you hear write |
Chb Media Vin ordinaire: poetry, paperback/terry michael hagans
