Poems Plain and Simple

About the Book

Mel's first poem was written in 1997. That poem opened an unknown floodgate of creative energy that expressed love and caring for his family and friends. It expanded to include commentary on current events and to pose questions and answers on our political, spiritual, technical, sexual and playful state of being.

Mel has lived a unique life, rich in experience. He has overcome adversity, and reflects joy in his poetry. It covers the carefree independence of a child going skinny-dipping with his brothers in a river, to an infantryman carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle chasing Yamashita's army in retreat in the Philippines. Mel had the honor of guarding General MacArthur in Japan. He was an aerospace worker on a team to put man on the moon.

About the Author

Merle A. Negaard (Mel) was born September 25, 1922 on the plains of South Dakota into the simple life of a homestead farm family. He graduated from High School in 1940. He migrated to southern California in 1941 to work in an aircraft factory. He was drafted into the US Army in 1944 serving in the Pacific until his discharge in 1946. After the war he worked the family farm for a short time. Later, as a journeyman quality assurance inspector he worked on many government programs. He worked in quality assurance for about 30 years, retiring in 1984.