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Bob McNeil’s Compositions on Compassion and Other Emotions

 It is rare that a writer freely gives away his talents for the good of others. The immensely gifted Bob McNeil has done just that! Incorporating all of his own divine “emotions and compassions,” he has constructed a magnificent collection of poems, essays, short stories, and brilliant illustrations from his enormous body of work to compile this most appropriate collection to elevate this country’s greatest sin, allowing the continued existence of homelessness in this country. He explains, in his thoughtful introduction, his keen evaluation of America’s cold-hearted neglect of this inhumane social problem that is a national plague and tragedy that our nation’s leaders have voluntarily ignored by abandoning citizens who have been forced to live on the fringes of democracy for decades without any real solution or hope to escape their misery and suffering. With a kind and open heart while battling his own personal crisis, our regal and most statuesque poet from our community has opened his gigantic heart to do what he could in order to bring an end to this problem that has no reason to exist in America the beautiful in the first place. I am grateful to give this amazing language artisan his due and thank him for his generous and spiritual gift to all people who suffer daily needlessly and invisibly under the banner of America’s neglectful government, “FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.”

Within the pages of this generously gifted book, you will find an art exhibit of Bob’s skillful drawings worthy of any museum or art show. The imagination and creation of these pieces offer us a glimpse of our America as it exists for its people. My favorite is the drawing of a broken-down Atlas, attempting to hold the world up on his weakened shoulders. His agony is crushingly obvious and pathetic because, like homelessness, it is preventable.

It is most difficult to choose a favorite piece of writing from the selections that Bob offers us to consider in this literary gift to homeless men, women, and children living on our urban and rural streets every day and night. But here are two selections that touched me most in relation to this ever-increasing problem in the context of homelessness vs. our working-class lifestyles, depicting us as we unconsciously run that rat race with little thought about our invisible homeless population and our selfishness in not demanding the changes our people need. From page 64, “The Prevailing Success in Failure,” to pages 74 and 75, “Ubiquitously You,” the brilliance of Bob McNeil is filled lovingly throughout this book, COMPOSITIONS ON COMPASSIONS AND OTHER EMOTIONS, and it gives us a moment in time to evaluate our part in the creation and continued suffering of those living without walls. Bob demonstrates true grace under pressure as he faces his legacy and his amazingly artistic life on this planet. His “moment in time” will always be highlighted by his generosity and his spiritually driven body of work. Bravo, Mr. Bob McNeil, Bravo!

H. Victoria Hargro Atkerson
Publisher, Producer, Author, Writer, and Activist
4th Ward Publications
Philadelphia, PA