Little Bird with One Wing What It Means To Be Whole

Little Bird with One Wing is an imaginary tale about a community of birds whose way of life is interrupted by a new birth which many of the inhabitants later see as a threat to their aerial colony. This illustrated poem vividly creates a world of feathered creatures living in a place called the "Tree" where decisions made embody many of our human tendencies and failings regarding important issues and the challenges of life. Little Bird with One Wing encourages each of us to look inside ourselves and examine the role that we play in whether others experience the gift of life. The story casts a vision that many of us have forgotten: everyone deserves to be protected, respected, and seen as whole no matter when, where, or how we enter this journey called life.

Iowa native James W. "Bill" O'Clock was born in Iowa and raised in South Dakota. Though his professional career spanned over 40 years in disciplines such as engineering, management and bioethics, Mr. O'Clock continued to enjoy many other activities including writing poetry. Over 50 years ago Bill began writing poems that dealt with a variety of visionary ideas that take place in otherworldly settings but relate to our human condition. The dream of sharing these stories in rhyme is now becoming a reality through the partnership between himself, his artistic son Peter, and editor wife Pirkko. The author's interest in poetry first started when he was in college, and continued to grow as writers such as C.S. Lewis and songwriters like Harry Chapin inspired him to convey symbolic values and ideas through his poems. Now retired in Maryland, Bill O'Clock enjoys doing volunteer work, yard work, and collaborating with his son and wife to create thought-provoking illustrated poems that mirror issues we face during these challenging times. The author and his wife have been married 47 years and have four adult children.
The illustrator Peter D. O'Clock was born in Arkansas, spent his formative years in Maryland, and is the adopted son of the author and his wife. His gifting for art was evident at a very young age, and as soon as he could pick up a pencil he started drawing. Peter's parents encouraged his creativity and it wasn't long before he went from doodling during classes to pursuing his passion using computers. As technology advanced, both 2D and 3D imagery captured his eye, revealing many fascinating opportunities for the future of art. Peter attended the Art Institute of Washington Summer Studio prior to his enrollment and received the "Best in Show" award. Soon after completing a bachelor's degree in Media Arts and Animation, Peter began to undertake various projects that allowed him to display his amazing artwork. His ultimate goal and dream is to start his own animation company and impact the creative world on the level of Walt Disney.