Eric Paul Shaffer

Eric Paul Shaffer is more embarrassed every day to be an American and glad to be living on islands as far from the mainland as one can. Eric stayed in school until he was finally ejected with a terminal degree, yet another embarrassment. Eric runs, walks, lifts weights, watches birds and humans, gazes at stars, recognizes more than thirty constellations, and plays guitar. Three favorite novels are Kurt Vonnegut's Slaugterhouse Five, Richard Brautigan's Tokyo-Montana Express, and Kate diCamillo's Tale of Despereaux, all of which he recommends to everyone all the time. Eric's favorite poet is Lew Welch, whose book Ring of Bone is most excellent. Since September 2001, Eric's favorite poem has been Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Dirge Without Music." Eric believes clarity is the first and most essential feature of a poem.