Cream Soda Blues - Food for the Psyche

Nevin Compton Trammell is onto something in his light-hearted deep existence poetry. It's so easy to enter . . . not so easy to leave behind." -- Minton Sparks, spoken-word artist, author of the CD recordings, Sin Sick and This Dress.

Cream Soda Blues – Food for the Psyche

NASHVILLE - Nevin Compton Trammell may just be the next Dr. Suess – for adults, that is. Infusing wit and rhyme into poignant and provocative life scenarios, each page of Cream Soda Blues: Poems for Adult Children of Life (Cold Tree Press) reads like a miniature one-act play–full of colorful characters; toes that get stepped on; some people we know and some places we’d dare to go.

With a whimsical wisdom reminiscent of Shel Silverstein hobnobbing with the social edginess of Jack Kerouac, Trammell’s simple bluesy style is wholly inviting and disarming at the same time. As one reader says, "he sneaks up on you, then hits you where you live."

Trammell’s uncanny way of capturing the absurdity and grace residing in the human condition comes naturally. Besides having a penchant for writing brief, memorable, rhyming life scenarios, he is also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with a doctorate from Vanderbilt University who has held highly appointed government positions and counseled hundreds of people about their careers and work relationships. His work has led him to cross the paths of prisoners and parolees, the elderly and dying, politicians and government officials, soccer moms and students, corporate executives and entrepreneurs, artists and musicians, church folks and non-believers, civil rights and social justice activists, and people in various stages and forms of recovery.

"I’ve been through a lot of personal and professional changes myself," says the author. "My experience is that we all seem to be recovering from something–be it a bad boss, a deep loss, or a world view that’s changing. I guess one thing I’ve learned is that humor and brevity can go a long way."

No wonder people from all walks of life and ages get hooked once they read just a couple of his poetic vignettes. The sighs and giggles and groans of recognition are audible. There’s something oddly healing about summing up so much life in so few words.

The only
thing
that kept me
from falling
down the
well
was I tripped
sideways
when I
fell

If, indeed, we are all recovering from something, Cream Soda Blues is just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Nevin, that is.

For more information about Cream Soda Blues, please visit creamsodablues.com or coldtreepress.com. For review copies, requests for interviews and all other information, please contact Cathy Gurley at Gurley & Co. at 615-269-0474 or cathy@gurleybiz.com.

-30-