For the past 40 years, whenever something has fired his intellect or come to trouble his life, Ric Masten has, as he puts it, put ?a line of language around it.?. The result has brought him recognition as the creator of a unique genre of inspirational and spiritual poems that he has spoken to audiences in the United States, England and Canada. He has appeared at hundreds of colleges, universities and churches, civic and business clubs, the White House Conference on Children, and, since his diagnosis with prostate cancer in 1999, before support groups of survivors. He has published 18 books, and his work is included in textbooks on interpersonal communication, psychology and public speaking. His signature song, Let It be a Dance, is a standard hymn in many churches. Ric is astonished that he has been able to make a living bringing -his poems to audiences large and small, calling himself ?just about the luckiest person on earth.? His mother wanted him to be an optometrist, but his dyslexia ?fortunately? prevented that. He became a painter, but gave it up first for musical comedies, and later to write and perform rock and folk songs with stars like Joan Baez. Ric?s poetry has always been about moving people to confront the major philosophical questions of life. But when he faced his own mortality, learning that he had terminal cancer, his focus sharpened. Now, he helps other men with prostate cancer look beyond treatments, deal openly with their fears and seize the chance at life they still have. Ric wrote Let It Be a Dance to fulfill a promise to a little girl who had been seriously injured. Eventually, she was able to dance to the song that sums up his joyful philosophy. Everyone who is lucky enough to pick up this latest book of Ric?s poetry and one-line drawings will also find themselves responding to his mantra. Signed by author date 11-20-05. No other writing or highlighting. Spine uncreased. Corners sharp, spine uncreased.