DOWNEY – This month’s edition of Poetry Matters – Thursday, May 8, at Stay Gallery – features poet, musician and clinical psychologist Rick Smith. Smith has had several parallel and intertwining careers. A virtuoso harmonica player and accomplished songwriter, his early career as a musician included rubbing shoulders with Bob Dylan and Richie Havens in New York, opening for Smokey Robinson in Venice Beach, and playing of the sound track for the Oscar-nominated film “Days of Heaven.”

In another professional life, Rick has a strong Downey connection. He has a long career as a clinical psychologist working with brain-damaged patients. During that time he spent years in the acclaimed neurology service at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.

Throughout all this Rick has maintained his love for lyric poetry. His fourth collection, “Whispering in a Mad Dog’s Ear,” is just out.

When asked what it is about, Smith answered, “love and death and drugs - the usual.”

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Published: May 1, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 03