When it comes
to the verdict

— no noose
is good noose

~
May 2025
HP Poet: Todd Sommerville
Age: 60
Country: USA


Question 1: A warm welcome to the HP Spotlight, Todd. Please tell us about your background?

Todd Sommerville: "I was born and lived in Fenton, Mi until I was 8 years old then moved to Florida and on to N. Carolina at age 15. I've called N. Carolina home ever since. Worked most of my life in the furniture Industry. Literally from sweeping floors at 16 to programming CNC Machines and designing furniture by the end of my career, and every job in between. I have one son named George, 27, who is the pride of my life and a talented musician and song writer."


Question 2: How long have you been writing poetry, and for how long have you been a member of Hello Poetry?

Todd Sommerville: "I have dabbled at writing both short stories and poetry since I was in grade school, but didn't start writing seriously until I was about 50 years old after the breakup of my marriage. Sadness, depression, and copious amounts of alcohol just seemed to bring out the poet in me. (Does it get anymore cliche?) LOL.

Anyway I was writing constantly during that time, even self-published a short poetry book (A Relationship in Verse) available on Amazon. (Shameless Plug), not really it was mostly drunken crap even though I was proud of it at the time.

Anyway to make a long story a little less long, I spent about a year getting myself together, quit drinking, and repaired the relationship with the girlfriend I have today. I started writing seriously again about a year ago. I think I started posting on HP about September of last year. And started my You Tube Channel in November, which I absolutely love doing."


Question 3: What inspires you? (In other words, how does poetry happen for you).

Todd Sommerville: "What inspires me? Well, originally I would say Heartache and Romance, once again (Very Cliche) but I think looking at the world differently, and finding some inner peace has allowed me to be more creative in my poetry. I look more towards nature and solitude for inspiration as well as trying to interject some humor into my poetry as well."


Question 4: What does poetry mean to you?

Todd Sommerville: "Poetry is my outlet, it is my voice. As a shy quiet guy I always found it hard to express myself verbally. A problem I don't have when writing."


Question 5: Who are your favorite poets?

Todd Sommerville: "Honestly I'm not well versed in the classics.
I've been more or less self-educated, I dropped out of school at 16. But I do remember reading Robert Frost when I was a kid and I loved Poe's stories, Annabel Lee being my favorite. But to be real some of the poets right here on HP are some of the best I've ever read. Shout out to Rob Rutledge, Anais Vionet, Thomas W Case, Emma, Immortality, Abbott J Hardison, You, Traveler, and a couple dozen others. I hate leaving anybody out."


Question 6: What other interests do you have?

Todd Sommerville: "My other interests? Traveling, riding motorcycles, neither of which I do nearly enough. And of course my you tube channel which I'm determined to make successful.

(Last Shameless Plug) https://www.youtube.com/@tsummerspoetry."


Carlo C. Gomez: “We would like to thank you Todd, we really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know the person behind the poet! It is our pleasure to include you in this Spotlight series!”

Todd Sommerville: "Thanks for Honoring me with this spotlight. I hope I wasn't to boring or long winded HP is my go to place to get feedback on my poetry and inspiration for future writes.
Thanks So Much.
Todd"




Thank you everyone here at HP for taking the time to read this. We hope you enjoyed coming to know Todd a little bit better. We certainly did. It is our wish that these spotlights are helping everyone to further discover and appreciate their fellow poets. – Carlo C. Gomez

We will post Spotlight #28 in June!

~

Sun breaks over the lake
Waking me from my dreams.

Haze thick upon the water
Silent, surreal, calming, serene.

Hard to explain,
waking up alone in nature.

When I was younger, I wanted friends all around.

Bright lights, big cities,
laughter and music abound.

But now I take things slower,
moments not needing to share.

A misty morning sunrise,
Coffee in a kettle,
wood smoke in the air.

Just me and my memories,
moments without a care.

I know I can't stay,
soon I'll have to pack up and leave.

But right here, right now,
It's just God, Nature, and Me.

As the sun sets
And the moon
climbs high
Into the night,
Casting a
translucent sapphire
glow across the land.

I warm my bones
beside the fire.

The solitude speaking
to my very soul.

A child of the night
howls to its lover moon,
I howl back,
and for a moment
two lone wolves
are united
In song.

I drink my coffee
And listen to
His cries I share
His pain.

But do not howl back.
I leave him to his
Mourning.

For just this night
In reflection of fire
and moonlight.

I am at peace with
the world.

I am a Star Voyager though,
 I've never left the ground.

 Traveling through the Milky Way
without making a sound.

There is music here in the desert sky,
 the cicadas drone,
accompanied by,
The coyotes singing in the wind.

As I travel from star to star,
with eyes full of wonder.

The gaseous clouds of Orion
faintly visible here in the deep dark desert night.

While the Pleiades
shine like diamonds,
against a backdrop of swirling black velvet. 

The collected warmth
of the desert floor warms my bones
as the wind whips and dances.

The desert is a wonderful place to be alone,
but a hard, hard place to call home.

Come morning,
I'll abandon my Desert respite,
and rejoin the world of men.

But even though I must go,
I know I shall return.

And become a Star Voyager once again.

As I sift through the ashes of our love
Surely it must have burned bright.

For there is no black among the ashes,
Nothing but coal white.

There are no pieces left to gather,
nothing that could reignite a flame.
 
I search for just one tiny ember,
but only memories remain.

And so I'll take these memories,
along with your name
and give them rhyme.

Reading them in the rhythm of my heart,
a love song in four/four time.

Jenny your love was deeper than the ocean.
It burned brighter than the stars in the sky.

Your Beauty shined upon me like the sun.
And now I'm left alone to wonder why.

This poem, is all I have for kindling,
to try and restart a spark in your heart.

When it's gone it's gone
no light will remain,

and I'll be all alone in the dark.