If you read this book of mine

And not just thumb it through,

You'll be glad you took the time

'Cause you'll love each line you view.

For in the works, you'll surely see

The contents all are true:

That in this life of you and me,

Are things that we all do.

About ways and attitudes

(in webs we're caught entwined)

From ups and downs that life includes...

All written in rhythm and rhyme.

William E. Hardison was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was schooled and graduated from New Hanover High in 1948. In 1949, he entered the US Air Force and completed four years of service while stationed in Texas, Washington, DC, Guam, and Florida. Hardison came to Newport News, Virginia, in 1952 and worked for the shipyard until 1995, and then he worked with C&O Railroad. He retired in 1987 after thirty-three years of service. He married Barbara Duling, a Newport News native in 1955, and they have three children, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. He started writing verses in 1995 with an effort to touch on many aspects that enter our lives. His verses are strictly of homespun nature, which captures the ingredients of life that we all can identify with.