A poet writes not to show off his talent, nor just to fill the air or to evoke a dance but to say something that needs to be told, or be taught, within the borders of a poem where every word is of importance and remains that way between poems and long after the author is gone. Poetry is the expression behind the feelings of your heart, the soul of literature and what you feel listening to your favorite music or looking at art and everywhere around us. Poetry is, in short, a major part of our lives whether we like it or not. So embrace it for it can embrace you.

For this reason, poems have always been the watermarks of written expression. Subtle and stylized snapshots and vignettes that seek to impart a particular message, or just a glimpse of a moment, to those interested enough to look deeper.

In his debut poetry collection, Watermark, Ron Hernandez pays homage to influences like Shakespeare and Robert Frost in traditional rhyming and prose, and to Rod McKuen for free-verse forms. Adhering to no common theme in particular, Hernandez's poems flow freely and naturally from one topic to the next-covering subjects that range from celebrity culture ("To Each His Own"), to youthful decadence ("Like It or Not"), to the simple pleasure of receiving a handwritten note in the mail ("Four Letter Letters").

The pieces fit together to form a thought-provoking, enjoyable, and inspiring collection, and a valuable addition to any poetry lover's bookshelf.