Anyone who has ever read a page of Beauty In The Branches, or knows me, knows I have a bit of a thing for romantic poets—okay, maybe a little more than a bit. We’re talking Shelly, Byron, Keats, and of course the grand romance himself, Mr. Shakespeare (his lyrical genius certainly paved the way for all romantics!). To me, they are more than just obscure names on a bookcase; they are passionate and lively, which sparked my own poetic adventure. My faith-based poetry book is an ode to my love for the old romantic tradition.

I still remember losing myself for countless hours in their books, verses, and writing, and it all spoke to my soul. I questioned how a piece of writing could still move hearts decades later; it still amazes me at times. I could see why they had such a deep respect for nature, a basic grasp of human emotions, and a love of beauty as a method of obtaining truth. It seemed as if they were speaking to me, saying, "Yes, T.J., this is it." "This is what poetry and words can accomplish!"

And, frankly, not much has changed. I frequently hear echoes of their lines. When I hear nature's whispers, I realize that everything that shares our ecosystem with us is calling to us, speaking to us, and breathing the same air as us. Everything in nature is in an undeniable sync; that is why we yearn for the same connection, significance, and beauty. Nothing is out of its place, and nature is filled with examples of how, against all odds, a desert flower can bloom in the driest of lands or how one tree branch reaches out for the beam of light to grow. Nature is never scared of taking a detour, but humans tend to do that. But deep down, we all yearn for the same thing; it is our true calling.

The Romantics did not just write about nature; they drowned themselves in it. They saw it not as a backdrop, but as a living creature that brought spiritual solace and moral clarity. According to Keats, “...nothing but the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of imagination—what the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth—whether it existed before or not.” Many of my poems about faith and hope channel the same emotions; they supersede the traditional sense of beauty and emotions and are filled with tranquility and solace. It's about that shared human need for something greater, something transcendent, which they so brilliantly expressed. My work in spiritual poetry for healing is a path to self- realization and introspection.

Consider Shelly's impassioned plea for freedom and the limitless possibilities of creativity. The intensity of Byron and his affinity for wild, untamed nature, and how that translates into melancholic pieces of writing. Everything plays its part in exploring the vulnerability of a human heart, and centuries ago, these writers knew how nature can frequently open doors to human consciousness and mysteries that we tend to lock away somewhere. They dared to show vulnerability, to embrace the melancholy with joy, the weakness, and the strength. I intend to follow suit with their bravery and reflect it in my work.

It is genuinely about inspiration, not imitation. The world longs for hope, love, and light, which can only be found by confronting the darkness, despair, and vulnerability. My own literary work, Beauty In The Branches, is rooted in the same tradition. I wanted the readers to feel the same awakening I felt when I first picked up Keats and Byron. For the readers to pause in this mundane life and stop and listen to what nature is telling them. In a world that can sometimes be loud and fast, my writing should aim to provide solace and clarity. A place where you can be yourself, free of the masks we must wear in this world, a true reflection of each of your emotions clamoring to be disclosed and acknowledged—if only we could take the time to listen and actually understand what our true purpose is.

Faith has been an integral part of writing; as a devout Christian, subconsciously, my poetry became a way for me to express my emotions, giving each feeling a meaning. My poetry for spiritual growth is a gift for everyone. We all feel spirituality, and we all understand that some indescribable feelings sometimes surpass our intellectual comprehension and can only be felt. That’s where faith comes in: these indescribable feelings, a world of emotions full of bliss and purity. Where you are yourself truly and wholly.

My love for the Romantic heritage is more than just an intellectual interest; it is ingrained in every part of my being. My English literature courses, particularly with a focus on this era and the world of Romantics, were more than just about memorizing pages of a book; they were about absorbing a way of perceiving the world, a philosophy that continues to inspire every word I write. A miraculous shift in my worldview, it is based on the concept that poetry can be a dialogue between the self and the world, in which every waking symphony, natural being, and resonating sound communicates to our ecosystem and, most importantly, to our souls.

So, the next time you pick up a copy of Beauty In The Branches, imagine me with probably a few crumpled pages and a dreamy twinkle in my eye, still channeling some of that old Romantic romance. I hope what I've written inspires you to investigate, absorb, and uncover your own moments of profound beauty and connectedness amid the branches all around you. Which artists or poets influenced your personal path? I would be ecstatic to hear!