What inspired me to begin writing poems?

I grew up in a place called the Hill District in Pittsburgh, PA. It wasn't normal and manly to express his true feelings, out of fear of being put down or run over. So I would write mine down on paper and start saving them from 1989 up until this date in time.

My girlfriend encouraged me to write this book the moment she started reading pieces I had tucked in my dresser drawers. This book of poems is some of my true feelings being expressed.