A key theme in his most recent books, "Rosicrucian in the Basement" (2001), "Heavenly Sex" (2002), "The Collected Poems, 1957–2004" (2004), and "God is in the Cracks" (2006), is fathers and sons. Sward's father, Dr. Irving M. Sward, was a podiatrist and something of a mystic, combining his practice of Rosicrucianism with a study of the Kabbalah. Of "Rosicrucian in the Basement", Robert Bly writes, 'There are many mysteries between father and son that people don't talk about... There's much leaping Sward's poetry, but each line, so to speak, steps on something solid.' In commenting on the father and son series Dana Gioia adds, "The CD is terrific... "Rosicrucian in the Basement" unfolds perfectly at its own pace and never loses the listener." Source: "Robert Sward: Poetry, Review & Interview with Jack Foley, Recorded for KPFA-FM Berkeley, CA with readings from Heavenly Sex & Rosicrucian in the Basement" (2002), "Uncle Dog Audio", Number 1002 (2002), and "The Collected Poems," Black Moss Press,"1957–2004" (2004).