Poet / Author, Rodney O'Neill (previously published as Rodney O'Neil  Jones) has sculpted his love of poetry, writing, and music to release a number  of creative projects starting with his debut collection of poetry, "Thoughts: a thousand times over . . ." (independently published 2008 by his own imprint J.L.R. Media & Publishing) [preview provided by Google Books]. Since then he has published books, performed spoken word poetry, recorded spoken word pieces, written and produced songs for aspiring artists, assisted in publishing other writers, as well as continues to bring forth his own works. "It's a necessary purging process to chronicle my thoughts. That was the motivation of the first collection and the central theme would become my thoughts. So to return to the reflection or examination of my thoughts is what I feel that my poetry should be about." I would say that my greatest influences in writing poetry would be Life, God, the works of the late great literary legend Langston Hughes, and so many of my favorite poets, music, and the arts. I just want to use this wonderful outlet to the fullest" says O'Neill. 2022 marks the fourteenth year of book publication for him. The release of new material  is the desired objective as he expresses what being a poet means to him. "It is the riches seldom seen or acquired. It is the understanding beyond the common eye. It is living, loving, forgiving, yet it is intense. It is pain. It is aggression. It is progression. It is expression."