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With a steady and gentle voice, grounded in compassion, Clark’s present collection of poems and other ponderings holds close a stated general thesis that the world “would be perfect” if we “made the right choices” due to knowing right from wrong. Poems such as “Life is Perfect” extoll the virtues of cultivating open-mindedness, while “What If” encourages one to take chances in this life that reflect one’s true desires. Common sense, the value of humor, reason, character, and success are additional key topics explored in these pages, as well as dreaming, destiny, beauty, and the splendor of both music and sports.
The second half of the work takes an interesting turn, focusing on the author’s unique “economy idea,” as he terms it. The general vision presents a systematic overhaul in which people can live and thrive with whatever amount of wealth they already have. If one desires, more can be made, but that would not be necessary in the author’s conception. Further, an expansion of society’s safety net would be established, ensuring that the basic needs of those currently without are also met, with dignity leading the way.
Clark’s volume is a pleasant and refreshing read. His playfulness with language and easily underappreciated insights, such as “Humor is a funny trait,” add a lightness to his work, which otherwise wrestles in many ways through tough, complex issues. While presenting poetry on weighty subjects such as love, happiness, place, and opportunity, a delightful, rather easygoing poetic voice guides the entire collection. It is as though the audience is welcomed and drawn into an intimate, inviting conversation with the writer of these thoughts. That, in and of itself, is quite remarkable and likely the greatest strength of this intriguing work.