Suffolk News-Herald

Nathan M. Richardson is every serviceman’s dream, especially when that person is trying to relate to a relative, girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse back home while he is far away.

The Army inspired Richardson to become a writer, and today he has had over 250 poems copyrighted and has published a book.

Richardson, 44, is a 1978 graduate of the former Forest Glen High School and attended Paul D. Camp Community College. He also joined the Army in 1978 and retired in 2001 at age 42.

Since his retirement, Richardson has been employed with the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) for two years, has recited some poetry for East End Day Care Center on East Washington Street, and has been working throughout the years with the Suffolk Arts League on Broad Street with their antique shows. That is when he thought of the idea of introducing the league to his first book, &uot;The Incredible Likeness of Being.&uot;

The book is published by Spiritual Concepts Publishing Co., and distributed by Barnes and Noble and will be on bookshelves soon. It also can be purchased by going on the Web site www.scpublishing.com. The book is full of poetry that deals with every day life situations.

Barbara Ciara, managing editor and evening anchor at WTKR-TV Channel 3 News, said that turning each page was like opening a present on Christmas morning.

After joining the Army, Richardson said, he started writing poetry in 1982 when he was sent overseas to Germany.

&uot;The motivation to write, missing home and the community of people in Suffolk were my first inspirations. Soldiers around me noticed how I was writing most of the time and asked if they could see some of it. I then started getting requests from some of them to write their girlfriends back home and even requests to write fellow soldiers,&uot; he said.

The poems deal with a variety of topics, such as war and peace, and have a spiritual theme. The publishing company’s mission is to break down the racial and religious barriers of society through unique messages of God’s unconditional love.

He also has two additional manuscripts out &uot;Nature’s Turn,&uot; and &uot;A Groom for Abco&uot; The first includes pictures that are inspired by nature and love. This second is a fairy tale set in Africa about a young tribal prince whose tribe is at war and whose father is trying to bring peace to the region with a unique twist.

&uot;A lot of my poetry is inspired by people, churches, local events and just happenings going on,&uot; he said.

Open mike poetry takes place every Tuesday night at Alice Mae’s Restaurant in downtown Norfolk on Bank Street, and Richardson reciting his favorite selections then.

He is a lifetime member of Piney Grove Baptist Church on Deer Path Road.