Author Spotlight: Robert Perkins, author of “Let Us Give Thanks”

Robert Perkins hails from Springfield, Ohio, where he has been living since the age of 4. He is the author of Let Us Give Thanks, a wonderful collection of poetry that expresses the author’s gratitude for everything through his verse.

Perkins was born in West Liberty, Kentucky in 1957. At an early age, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and lost his eyesight when he was two. Due to his medical condition, Perkins had to battle fits of seizures, though he was aided in no small way by the medications prescribed by his doctors.

Later in life, he was introduced to the art of writing poems by a college friend, a turning point in his silent search for what could add meaning to his life. He was invited to join a poetry competition at school, an annual event that aimed to hone the literary skills of students. At first, he doubted his ability to compose verses with the proper rhyme, having no previous exposure to poetry. Despite his uncertainties, he landed third place in the contest.

It did not occur to him that his rather unexpected experience in college would mark the beginning of his journey in poetry. However, a much bigger challenge came when he set out to pursue his goal of publishing a poetry collection. Thus, “Let Us Give Thanks” came to life.

In the book, Perkins finds every reason to be thankful for everything that takes place and comes to pass around him – from seeing a firetruck pass by in times of emergency to receiving a simple gesture of comfort from friends and family when he’s feeling down.

Perkins was happily married to Linda for 20 years before she succumbed to multiple sclerosis, resulting in her death in December 2016.