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just sand beneath my feet
from wasted broken time"
In this book of “brews” (otherwise known as poems), readers are led through the ins and outs of life, unique places, broken relationships, and inner existence by an observant speaker. This speaker possesses a distinctive voice that adds a grittiness to their observations. At times, the speaker waxes political, making statements like “we, the people, are the struggle. / and the struggle is what makes us, we, the people.” At other times, the speaker is aware of their situation in life as “a permanent stain on this burnt bar countertop.” Throughout the collection, readers also experience how the speaker’s struggle against nature is a metaphor for the immense struggles in life and the individual experiences which only make them stronger. Nonetheless, centering the collection is the speaker’s message about how one must constantly change and adapt in order to “serve a purposeful cause.”
The author’s collection is bold and honest. The poems utilize a variety of forms, ranging from traditional poetry structures to essay-like monologues. Selections like “Bret Wain’s Poetic Dream” are both darkly romantic and psychologically surreal. For example, such poems celebrate “the beast within.” Other pieces, such as “rldp,” present a more realistic scenario: a broken relationship and the true cost of its cyclical ups and downs. Experimental in its own way, this collection will appeal to poetry readers who appreciate Bukowski-like verses fueled by a Baudelaire-like existence. Its focus on the day-to-day and even night-to-night happenings of a self-aware speaker makes these unique poetic offerings accessible and engaging.