Pottstown Poet Publishes First Collection

Pottstown native Chad Repko has published his first collection of poems with the book “Touch and Moonlight,” which has a focus on erotic poetry .

“Erotic poetry would be any poems that have a sexual fervor to it,” Repko said in a correspondence with Pottstown Patch. “It could be spiritual, romantic or straight up pornographic, I suppose.”

Further description of this poetic sub-genre to love or romantic writings may be seen through the first stanza of his poem “A Prayer so Long Forgotten”:

I want to touch this temple,
and feel the smoothness of its skin
I want to kneel down at the alter
and feel the fire that burns within

But, to exactly define the meaning of erotic poetry, Repko said, would be, “like reaching in the air and pulling something down.”

“For erotic poems, it is a longing to dig in and take the visual, the smell, the sensations that all come through our atoms and just find the proper words to describe it,” he said.

“Touch and Moonlight” was published in 2012 through LuLu publishing. The 42-page book, dedicated to Venus – the ancient Roman goddess of love – contains 30 of Repko’s more erotic poems. He said that he has been writing poetry since the age of 12, pondering subjects of fantasy, spirituality, social consciousness and dark issues.

“Ever since I was little, I had a few dreams. I wanted to make movies, write a book and also perform comedy,” Repko said. “I guess the real reason to want to publish a book of poems is to throw seeds out there and see if any of the feelings or words catch root in other people.”

“But, for some reason, it just made sense that erotic poetry would be my first,” Repko said.

Turning the Page

Repko, who currently works in IT, said that he has always longed for creative releases. His youthful exploration into writing was influenced by Alfred Hitchcok and Edgar Allen Poe, later to be joined by the socially conscious beat poets of the 1950s.   

In 1991, at the age of 16, Repko broke his femur in a bicycle accident, which put him in a half-body cast for a long recuperation period. He said, during that time events on television became made an increasingly large impression on him, such as the First Gulf War, L.A. riots, the notoriety of Jeffery Dahmer; while cultural events, such as the airing of Jerry Springer and Beavis and Butthead, as well as the musical genres of Grunge and Gansta Rap, also influenced him.

“It was a weird time,” Repko said. “And, as I look back, that was a catalyst for my worldview, both culturally and spiritually.”

Repko then attended Montgomery County Community College prior to studying film at Temple University.

He had made three short films, one of which was shown through Drexel TV. He said that writing fit well with filmmaking, but found it a difficult leap from poetry to screenwriting. He did have one of his short stories published in the university’s annual writers’ magazine.

Upon graduating Temple in 2001, Repko said had found himself suddenly busy with life. He became married and had a son.

However, Repko never lost sight of his dreams and began pursuing poetry groups through Facebook.

“One man there, Adam Kiger – a fellow poet – was publishing his own work and wanted to help me get published,” Repko said.

He began working on “Touch and Moonlight” in 2008, after his divorce, and during the following four years, saying that all the poems featured in the book come from that time period.

Karmaophonics Art and Poetry

Prior to publishing “Touch and Moonlight,” Repko had helped start a Facebook page called “Karmaophonics Art and Poetry." The page features Repko’s writings coupled with the artwork of Steve Kent. Kent’s work reflect the subject matter and tone of Repko’s work.

“The original idea for this site was to melt my poetry with Steve’s artwork,” Repko said.

He said the purpose of creating the page is to attract the attention of other writers and artists, creating a community of creativity.

“My main thought, a long time ago, was to have an umbrella called ‘Karmaophonics’ that would have musicians, artists, poets and filmmakers all get together and work for each other,” Repko said. “But, once again, my energy always gets diverted sometimes. I’m a dreamer.”

For a preview of “Touch and Moonlight,” visit www.Lulu.com.

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Oh My God She's Beautiful

By Chad Repko / "Touch and Moonlight"

I can't remember

 what I was thinking

or doing

 the moment she floated in

the music in my head

all ramblings stopped

 even the clocks

as the light glistened on her skin

Eyes infinite

 like the stars

gazed brightly on the world

 as a wedding day

A body gliding in

 like Pegasus

or some ancient Goddess

 hidden very far away

Hair like Classic cinema

 a turn on in any style

or color

 A plethora of essence

The voice so golden

 that moves the earth

and brings solace

 something that is obsolescence

I do stand there and gaze

because I don't get a chance to appraise

 not in a pull down her pants kinda way

 although wild thoughts do raise

and to know

I would never let that beauty

fall apart

but it's a game

 that I lost the rules to

and gladly adore an ancient heart

and she, was art.

 what I was thinking

or doing

 the moment she floated in

the music in my head

all ramblings stopped

 even the clocks

as the light glistened on her skin

Eyes infinite

 like the stars

gazed brightly on the world

 as a wedding day

A body gliding in

 like Pegasus

or some ancient Goddess

 hidden very far away

Hair like Classic cinema

 a turn on in any style

or color

 A plethora of essence

The voice so golden

 that moves the earth

and brings solace

 something that is obsolescence

I do stand there and gaze

because I don't get a chance to appraise

 not in a pull down her pants kinda way

 although wild thoughts do raise

and to know

I would never let that beauty

fall apart

but it's a game

 that I lost the rules to

and gladly adore an ancient heart

and she, was art.