This is an autobiographical book of poems depicting one day, during three stages, in a life. The Moon actually has four quarters: New, Waxing, Full, Waning, with the Dark of the Moon a few hours before the New. Many Goddess-based beliefs use the Triple Goddess-- Maiden, Mother and Crone--to exemplify the stages of a woman's life. I like that but do not like the word "crone" because in modern language it conjures up visions of old, evil, ugly women. There is not one mature woman--that I know--who would fit that description. Instead, magic and wisdom is in each and every one of us. Here, then, is my brief but poetic story of a day as a 17-year-old hippie, as a 41-year-old runaway and as a 65-year-old retiree--trying to be wise--mage.

THE TITLE: At the age of seventeen I discovered T.S. Eliot's poem "The Wasteland." The only part of the poem I could relate to was about "Madame Sosostris, famous clairvoyante." Four of the tarot cards are invented by Eliot (Drowned Phoenician Sailor, Belladonna, the Lady of the Rocks and the Lady of Situations). Having invented my own Drom Ek Romani cards as part of my heritage, I could appreciate his imaginary cards with their mystical names. My first poem explains each tarot card and the second one details the Drom Romani although I make no claim to be a "famous clairvoyante." The other poems are a patchwork of subjects including tributes to Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and other writers of music and poetry. THE POEMS: With the exception of several free verse poems, the others are a mixture of Shakespearean Sonnets, Terza Rima, Rima Royale, and, well, more sonnets. The poetry forms are very confining yet I attempted to make them all-encompassing in their little world. When writing the 22 sonnets for the Drom Romani I began speaking in rhyming iambic pentameter in my dreams. Does that make me a poet? I hope so. Failing that, a sonnet a day keeps senility away. I am hoping that whatever your age, you find enjoyment in my poetry.