The Granite Orchard

With unique and introspective vision and the critical eye of a poet, in his Seven Book collection, Eddie Ray McMurray brings us a "graveside view", that leads us on a journey into the lives and deaths of innumerable historic and fictional characters; exposing what he, they, and we all might feel when viewing the specter of approaching death. In this setting, Mr. McMurray, through the avenue of poetry, explores every nuance of the subject of death and dying, though he contends that this is not about death, but about life. Poet, Eddie Ray McMurray is one for the ages and you will be granted the remarkable privilege of walking with him through an immense, though imaginary, Granite Orchard (his euphemism for a cemetery) to peer into history, culture, politics, and the lives of the poor, the famous, the infamous, the noble, the ignoble, murderers, villains, saints, and the fascinating people from his childhood. Prepare to be entertained and to fall in love with poetry as never before. Everyone is bound to find someone they knew and admired.

With unique and introspective vision and the critical eye of a poet, in his Seven Book collection, Eddie Ray McMurray brings us a "graveside view", that leads us on a journey into the lives and deaths of innumerable historic and fictional characters; exposing what he, they, and we all might feel when viewing the specter of approaching death. In this setting, Mr. McMurray, through the avenue of poetry, explores every nuance of the subject of death and dying, though he contends that this is not about death, but about life. Poet, Eddie Ray McMurray is one for the ages and you will be granted the remarkable privilege of walking with him through an immense, though imaginary, Granite Orchard (his euphemism for a cemetery) to peer into history, culture, politics, and the lives of the poor, the famous, the infamous, the noble, the ignoble, murderers, villains, saints, and the fascinating people from his childhood. Prepare to be entertained and to fall in love with poetry as never before. Everyone is bound to find someone they knew and admired.

Eddie Ray McMurray is a classical pianist, having studied under masters like Mme. Ruth Slenczynska, Dr. Edgar Robert, Aldo Mancinelli, Dr. Donald Pollei, and Dr. Richard Baca. Born in the small farming community of Sarepta, Louisiana, home of singer Trace Adkins as well as David Carraway, Eddie came to poetry later in life. It wasn't until a few poems were stolen by his roommates and submitted to a contest that he began to write seriously. His roommate enrolled him in a Poetry Workshop, and it was there that he gained his footing. In 2013, during routine surgery, an embolism broke loose and left him semi-paralyzed in his left leg, two fingers on his right hand, and his right arm. It slurred his speech and affected his ability to sequence and multitask. After months of intensive and frustrating rehab, unsure of what lay ahead, he turned seriously to poetry as therapy, unsure of any direction it would take. From January 2015 to the present he churned out between six and ten poems a day, giving thought to little else but the memory of all those who had touched and affected his life in some way. The end result is Granite Orchard, his first compilation of poetry. Eddie lives, writes and composes in Springhill, Louisiana. He also teaches Bible at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center and United Theological Seminary, and gives private piano lessons when time permits. He is currently working on another Master's Degree, this one in Apologetics at Liberty University and continues to write poetry, music, and movies surrounded by friends, 19 Schipperkees, 2 German Shepherds, and one Pit Bull.