About

I have been writing poetry for roughly 33 years. Many of my poems are influenced from biblical literature, critical studies, and musical composition. If I need to be contacted, my email is rtilley4-AT-alumni.jh-DOT-edu – I am seeking representation and publication. Please reach out to me.

I have a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University (mostly philosophy and ethics courses, but not restricted to that. Also digital humanities and history. Master’s thesis dealing with theology.). I also hold an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree from Portland State University where I focused on Women’s Studies, Conflict Resolution, and Literature. Additionally I attended an HBCU, Bowie State University, where I majored in English with a Concentration in Africana. Though I don’t hold the additional degrees I took more than enough classes for a BA in English and almost enough classes for a BA in History. It all started at community college believe it or not. From community college to grad school at Johns Hopkins. It was quite a ride!

I should also add that 100% of the posts here are written by me and me alone. Nothing written here is constructed, consulted, or brain stormed by AI available systems. Here is the article I was reading that made me realize I should offer that assurance and it is natural to assume AI generated websites will be, or have already started, launching all over the place.

Someone seemed to suggest my poetry is “transgressive”. – This is a complete misunderstanding of my poetry. I am not attempting to be undercutting or impossible to understand. Every word is thought about and put in its right place. My poems are understandable, but I have spent years writing poetry that is meant to be thought about to be clarified. Even my most difficult poems can be clarified into simple summaries. Yes, I am making a statement, but good poetry is meant to teach. Some poems even require study – those have always been my favorite poems, so I am drawn to that style. Not that every poem I write is that difficult. But “transgressive”, no. In the end my poems are anti-oppression and pro-moments of empathy and understanding, towards ourselves and each other. I have also been taught the hard lesson that poetry should sing. When I first started writing, that was the direction I was taking and continued on that path for years, but every path must turn.

All poems © Richard J Tilley. All Rights Reserved.