Turn off the Lights is a combined work of poetry that includes all the poems from my first chapbook, Owl’s Moonlight. It is a collection of poetry dating back to my teenage years that covers a variety of themes including love, heartbreak, pain, depression, mental health, and concussions. In essence, this is a second edition.Growing up there was an unwritten rule that men should not express their feelings. As a teenager it is rather difficult to keep your emotions bottled up. You are navigating the social realm of high school and learning who you are. Why poetry?I hit some rocky moments in high school that my English teacher noticed. He would frequently give me heck for declining grades and slacking off. The best piece of advice he gave me was about my feelings and writing. He told me that as men, we may not share our feelings with others very often, but there is nothing stopping us from writing to ourselves. Write poetry. Reflect on your work each year. You will learn a great deal about yourself, especially when you are older.Make a cup of coffee and dive in.