Heart of a Lion, Tongue of a Snake

"Playful, hopeful, full of wonder and possibility. The first collection of poems from a young mind. Words as puzzle pieces." -- David Mack, author of "Kabuki" "I see Matt’s successful completion of his first published collection of poetry as not only an individual milestone for him as a writer, but also as encouragement for all of us who see great value in the arts and humanities in an age where our society often questions their ‘worth.’" -– Dr. Santa Ono, President of the University of Cincinnati In this inaugural collection of form poetry, Matt Teaford pushes back against the epidemic of free verse produced by modern authors. He muses about many subjects, from lost innocence to first loves to the faults of consumerism, and his writing has unique characteristics that aren’t often seen in works by young authors; Teaford is committed to revolutionizing form poetry through his writing, and manages to balance contemporary themes with beautifully crafted classical structures.

"Playful, hopeful, full of wonder and possibility. The first collection of poems from a young mind. Words as puzzle pieces." -- David Mack, author of "Kabuki" "I see Matt’s successful completion of his first published collection of poetry as not only an individual milestone for him as a writer, but also as encouragement for all of us who see great value in the arts and humanities in an age where our society often questions their ‘worth.’" -– Dr. Santa Ono, President of the University of Cincinnati In this inaugural collection of form poetry, Matt Teaford pushes back against the epidemic of free verse produced by modern authors. He muses about many subjects, from lost innocence to first loves to the faults of consumerism, and his writing has unique characteristics that aren’t often seen in works by young authors; Teaford is committed to revolutionizing form poetry through his writing, and manages to balance contemporary themes with beautifully crafted classical structures. This charismatic author is an active member of Beta Theta Pi, and creates an interesting juxtaposition with his interwoven identities of popular fraternity member and insightful poet. Teaford’s writing has captured the hearts and imaginations of many at the University of Cincinnati, including the university’s president. Matt believes that "the poems that have stood the test of time are those that follow a simplistic, old form, but also contain a complex message that is made simple enough for everyone to relate." His work reflects these values, and these poems are an excellent example of the idea that anyone can write form poetry which remains accessible and modern.

Matt Teaford is a writer from Highland Heights, Kentucky, and he attended Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Kentucky. He currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio where he attends the University of Cincinnati as an undergraduate in the creative writing program. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi on campus where he actively engages in the pursuit of intellectual growth. Poetry, he believes, is a way of making both the greatest philosophies of life seem simple and the most simple of observations seem complex. He seeks to create a new movement in form poetry through his own work. Teaford is starting a Northern Kentucky poet's society with the goal of inspiring others to love poetry and to use it as a creative outlet.