"Joe was larger than life, but he was also deeply scarred. The death of his mother at a young age; a childhood spent in a bleak orphanage; years as an indentured farm servant; riding the rails with hobos and criminals during the Great Depression; working in a remote CCC camp along the Canadian border; and violent combat experiences during WWII. Armed with a deep mistrust of organized religion, he had an innate spiritual sense and an insight into the natural world. To express his deepest feelings Joe used many creative outlets such as writing poetry and music."--Dust jacket.