About the book

This Is Not the Book That Will Save Your Life is my ninth collection of poems. As of 15 December 2023, it is out of print. (The ebook edition is still available.)

The title refers to an insight I had one day while browsing in my favorite book store: many of us who spend a lot of time in book stores are hoping to find that one book that will magically make everything in life make sense, and keep the inevitable from happening—but that book doesn’t exist.

Softcover 5.5 x 8.5 in., 186 pages
Alarm Cat Press #ART 65
ISBN: 9780998878119
28 April 2017

Smashwords e-book edition (ePub & Kindle)
ISBN: 9781370081424
21 April 2017

Amazon Kindle e-book edition (Kindle)
ASIN: B06Y5WWD4C
21 April 2017

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What’s in the book

The contents are divided into five sections (plus a prelude and postlude):

Blitzed explores the world of the blitz poem, a 50-line form that uses repetition and prohibits punctuation, resulting in stream-of-consciousness, almost slam-like pieces that often move in unpredictable directions.

Sample poem: Said and done (for Toshio Nakanishi 1956–2017)

Ekphrasis á Gogo delves into ekphrastic poems—poems written about, or in response to, art. Ekphrastic poems may be framed by the works of art that inspire them, but they reflect the imagination of the poet.

Sample poem: The dancer

Musings collects those small moments and introspective episodes that occur in everyday life.

Sample poem: Two cosmic jokes

Dystopia Now reflects those times when everything seems to be falling apart, and how we react when they do. (Disclaimer: these poems may or may not reflect current events.)

Sample poem: This is not who we are

Slices of Pi (and other short stuff) focuses on shorter poems, with an emphasis on the Pi-Archimedes form, which consists of six lines with word counts based on the first six digits of Pi. Many of these poems have a haiku-like quality—often contemplative, occasionally whimsical.

Sample poem: Most people don’t hear male mosquitoes because they don’t bite

Throughout the book, I continue my exploration of unadorned language and honest expression, with the occasional pop-culture reference thrown in for good measure. This book may not save your life, but I hope you will relate to something within its pages.

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(Revised 15 December 2023)