John Hammond's first poem was published about 50 years ago, and many have appeared since in magazines, journals and newspapers -- as well as in buses as part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit's Poetry in Motion program. He won First Place in the Writers' Digest poetry competition. His poems are about growing up, family, neighbors near and far, unexpected beauty, the news, music, politics, movies, history, and of course Frank the cat ... everyday mysteries. When tuition was more affordable, he earned his way through college playing on weekends in a rock cover band with his brother. After meeting his wife in an elevator (doesn't everybody?) at the University of Texas in Austin, they soon married and became dorm "mother and father" at Brandeis University, where he earned his Ph.D. in English. He taught at the University of New Orleans and Georgia Tech and was Director of Public Relations at San Antonio College. Returning to his roots, he now plays with two musical groups at Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church (sometimes known as the "hippy church") in The Woodlands, Texas, where he and his wife live with his guitar, piano, bass, violin, lap steel, and banjo ... and near their children and grandchildren.