Richard Parks, Jr., known to his friends as RiP or Goldie, is a 26-year-old Brother from Montgomery, Alabama. He is currently serving in the U.S Air Force and lives in Virginia outside of Washington, DC.

While many hobbies occupy his time such as sports, school, “a lot of work”, writing is the one thing that keeps him level headed. An expansion of his horizons has brought the start of his first novel Reunion. He has received an Editor’s Choice award from the National Library of Poetry, written various pieces and articles for local newspapers and magazines and is a proud member of the TB2 family.

RiP describes his style of poetry as “frontporchin”,“curbkickin” or just putting something in your ear. Linking his southern dialect and upbringing to everyday life in a realistic way that is confusing to some but understanding to others who can relate. “I feel everybody should understand poetry because it can elevate minds in a very fast way. I get more pleasure if a man on the street feels what I’m saying that any so- called expert could give.”