The recently released third chapbook of poetry by David James of the Hope College faculty celebrates the seemingly small but sometimes surprising moments and realizations that become the component parts of the individual.

"Psychological Clock" has been published by Pudding House Publications of Columbus, Ohio.  The latest volume follows "Lost Enough" (July 2007) and "A Little Instability without Birds" (July 2006), both published by Finishing Line Press.  James is credited in each as D.R. James, since another published poet has the same first and last name.

The new volume's 24 poems explore and reflect on a mix of common and singular events, ranging from the familiar rituals of a hometown basketball game, to the agility of squirrels as they raid the birdfeeder, to a conversation with the condominium to which aging parents will soon move.  The chapbook's title is shared by one of the poems, which considers the value in taking a new look at old assumptions.

James has been teaching writing and literature, and directing the writing and study skills tutoring program and the Summer Seminars, at Hope since 1987, and helped develop Hope's initial PATH writing program for gifted and talented adolescents. Previously, he taught English, French and theatre at Holland High School, SaugatuckHigh School and the now long-closed St. Augustine Seminary for high school boys, formerly located in what is now Saugatuck Dunes State Park. He has been a consultant to school districts and intermediate school districts on the teaching of writing at the kindergarten through 12th-grade level, and facilitated an Ottawa-area writing project for teachers for three summers.

He graduated from Hope in 1976 with majors in English and French, and received his M.A. in English in 1980 from the University of Iowa.

Copies of all three of James's chapbooks are available at the college's Hope-Geneva Bookstore, located on the lower level of the DeWitt Center on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street, as well as at Reader's World and Tree House Books.