Creeping Shadows : Arpress : 9798893303087 : 18 Dec 2023 : Born in 1941 in the small town of Roseburg, Oregon, Swede Hastings' life has been a rollercoaster ride, and his poetry is a testament to that journey. His folks, John and Viola, were the adventurous sort, always on the hunt for work and following the seasons across the western U.S. Eventually, they put down roots back in Roseburg, trading their wandering ways for a quaint little farm. In 1958, Swede decided to join the US Navy. But the very next year, Roseburg was hit by the "Roseburg Blast," a massive explosion that shook the town to its core. At just 18, he found himself rushing home on emergency leave to support his family. During this tumultuous time, a hunting accident claimed the life of his 15-year-old brother. Swede was left shattered, but he found it impossible to talk about the tragedy. He discovered one way to face the matter, thus he wrote his first poem, 'Creeping Shadows.' He also realized that keeping busy was t