Until the publication of Return of the Poet, George M. Gingerelli's poetry was a very personal effort, shared mainly with family and friends. After much encouragement, he chose to assemble this collection with the hope of touching the hearts and minds of a larger audience. Throughout Return of the Poet, the words contained in the verses flow from the author's heart, in an uninhibited and distinctly down-to-earth style. His roots lie in the blue collar environs of Worcester, Massachusetts, but he was educated and learned to think independently and appreciate the power of the written word in the enlightened surroundings of Boston. It was in the shadow of our nation's Capital that he began to express his hopes, fears, loves and hates in his writings. Though many of the works contained in Return of the Poet reflect the personal experiences, emotions and insights of the author, most people will easily identify with the stories, the feelings and the messages. It is natural to expect that there will be both agreement and disagreement with the preaching, opinions and cynicism that may be found in several of the poems, but they are intended to make you think, discover and appreciate.