The poetry in this volume is the unique legacy of Orville Ockuly, an accomplished writer with a romantic vision and a physician with a keen intellect.

The poems in Part I, from his undergraduate years at Ohio State and Notre Dame, are straight from the heart. These are poems that speak to the noble and good in the human condition and poke light-hearted fun at our foibles. When reading these poems it's easy to hear an echo of one of his favorite poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay.

The poems in Part II, from his years in medical school, are the application of his poetry skills to his arduous studies. As a way to ease the drudgery of study, he put medical jargon to verse. Although the subject matter can be obscure, the hand of the poet is always evident.