Billy Aliff

Matewan, West Virginia, USA

William Lee Aliff was born in the historic district of Matewan, West Virginia, USA, in 1940; and has spent forty years of his life in the Matewan area. Mr. Aliff, an artist by profession, graduated from Magnolia High School in 1959 and studied in Cincinnati, Ohio; where he attended the Central Academy of Commercial Art. Published in numerous anthologies; exhibitor on two web sites; producing a rock recording of his poetry; publishing a book on his writing spanning nearly three decades of work; and recipient of several awards. He says he, "expresses the essence of a real being in his art."

Sonnet XXXVIII

Humanity needs to know,
The times tempest blow.
Real greatness grows,
Secret swelling flow.
The sun warms before the dark
Leaving libel open;
Signs from the spark;
Mother earth's oven to start.
Flames relics of the past;
Preludes trouble to come;
Whoever note it right;
Dislikes hum.
When great dislikes prevail,
Good and bad both fail.

Sonnet XLV

When to tell the truth
As important as what's right
Things to show in shadow,
And what in light.
In the proud heart;
Secrecy politic and moral.
Going softly in life's art...
A man's face shows to the world,
The best composition...
Open in outline,
Secrecy in transition,
And seasoned use and time.
When opinion becomes lies,
Truth becomes lies.

Sonnet LVI

Enjoy the sun light,
Wish not the night its time;
The sun its place so bright,
And the universe once more refined.
The present so little to feel.
Through sense perceptions the image's face;
Only imagination to the future still.
Mere memory the past grace.
To time the present is small,
Suffering only a moment occupies.
Memory telling its duration to recall.
And the future its limit supplies.
Pain long lasting, resignation befalls.
In the end ceases with the call.