"Minds of Madness, Thoughts of Sadness" is more a work of art than a piece of literature. This collection of poetry was written by Rick Smith, ThD in the late 1970s during an extended hospital stay and rehabilitation period. The author went through physical therapy so he could regain the use of his legs after waking up paralyzed from the lower back down. He was alone and unable to contact anyone. After two days of fruitless attempts to get help, his neighbor came home from a business trip and summoned authorities after noticing the front door was ajar with the safety chain hooked. "Minds of Madness" came out of this struggle and express the range of feelings and ideas that he experienced during that time. It is a work of art that speaks to the reader on a deep, emotional level.