Gathering of the Hominids: A Family Tree, is a mytho-historical/ anthropological tale of our common ancestral roots. The minds-eye can see the stories told around the fire, connecting us to our ancient past. This is a journey into other realms of existence, rooted in Nature. "Gathering of the Hominids" is like a star, one of the absolutely beautiful stars in the late night when workaday consciousness has taken rest and the mind dreams & dreams." Many of these pieces were written to be spoken aloud...they live within the voice... the history of time has been marked by the spoken voice more than the written word.... The millenniums around the campfire... voicing the history of the tribe, the storytelling, bringing to life the images. When possible read aloud, find the cadence, rhythm.... The pieces come alive thru the voice...
About the Author: Jack Shields was a poet, a songwriter, a devoted father and husband who grew up in Oakland in the early 1940-50's. As a teen, he became interested in the Beat poets of the time. He started taking trips into San Francisco to the City Lights Book store, soaking up all the cultural changes of the times. Poetry, music and the arts were constant companions to Jack. It was during the heyday of the San Francisco Haight-Ashbury period where Jack first discovered his voice during the counter culture revolution influenced by the Beats. Collectively, the movement prominent in San Francisco complimented and influenced the young ingénue poet who had just completed his military service. After leaving the 101st Airborne Army Infantry with an honorary discharge, Jack began to identify with the great counter cultural movement of the 1960's in writing and performing spoken word prose and narratives. At the end of his life Jack had amassed and produced a prolific body of profound expressed intimations. In 1970 Jack left San Francisco with a Caravan of brightly painted school buses and vans going across country. It was during this time that he met his wife, Billie. When the Caravan returned to San Francisco, the group decided to buy land together, resulting in Jack and Billie moving to Tennessee on what was called one of the biggest ""Back to the Land" movements in American History. The community still exist today with a population of around 200. It was there he started his family. They returned to California in 1979, settling in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Calaveras County. Over the period of his life, Jack and Billie co-founded several bands including Loco Amor and Planet Pulse. They released several CD's, "In the Garden of the Gods", "Vision Root", & "Earth Mortal Mother". Jack started incorporating spoken word into his songs, later producing a CD of spoken word with music, "Gathering of the Hominids". Around 2000, he became part of American Poets & Writers and he and his wife worked with CPITS (California Poets in the Schools). His work was published in numerous poetry magazines and anthologies. On the early morning of August 29th, 2011, the world lost a beloved friend, father and mentor, Jack Shields. Jacks poetry and music always echoed the vast depth of his philosophical and spiritual wisdom, which he selflessly shared with all of his relations.