Of Backyard Chickens and Better Days

By Jim Bates

Written throughout the course of one year, these poems reflect Jim's search for his youngest son, who went missing in late 2025. The emotional challenge was something he'd never wish on anyone, but he wanted to try to capture what he was experiencing by writing about it. Poems entitled "Bereavement," "Mountain Stream," and "Homecoming" reflect what he was going through. He was able, for part of each day, to focus on something good and positive, and for that time experience some rare moments of relief. Those moments helped heal his fragile heart.

In the middle of the night of May 29, 2026, the police knocked on Jim's door. The body of his son had been found. Two weeks later, Jim, his oldest son, Yuri, and his brother, Tom, placed his youngest son's ashes in a Montana stream and said goodbye.Jim

Though the journey to find his son is over, the healing still goes on. There is sadness and uncertainty in these poems, that's for sure, but there is also hope amid the emotional chaos. Poems entitled "Fireflies," "One Summer Day," and "Patio" reflect that hope.

Jim hopes that you enjoy them all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HK7BD564
• ISBN13: 9798237828634
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Jim Bates
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"