In his recent collection, The Things of This World (Kelsay Books 2026), poet and professor Michael David Blanchard tasks his poems with finding a reckoning, thereby inviting readers toward a parallel accounting. Anchored by this theme of moral inventory, the collection showcases Blanchard’s deep appreciation for the art of poetry and his talent for shaping […]
“Waking Up Alone,” poetry by Michael Hettich
September 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Tender. Poignant. Evocative. Unflinching. Waking Up Alone (Redhawk Publication, 2026) by multiple award-winning poet Michael Hettich is all that—and more. Heartbreaking and authentic, these are elegiac poems by a poet at the height of his talents writing about the loss of a much-beloved wife after 44 years of marriage. Dedicated to Colleen Ahern-Hettich, there are […]
“Free Hugs” poetry collection by Jefferson Carter
August 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Jefferson Carter’s grand collection of poetry, Free Hugs (Coyote Arts 2025) is a delight, displaying a perceptive talent for phrasing and filled with apt observations and acute insights. While Carter was an academic for a long while, these poems are not per se academic poems with heavy literary allusions but rather they are a kind […]
“Fish Kill” by Dennis Mitch Maley
August 18, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Can a quirky coalition comprised of a determined, grief-stricken widow, an aged political consultant nearly out of the game, and two alternative media journalists with gonzo journalism proclivities bring down some sleazy Florida politicians? And while they are at it, can this same gang find out who killed an outspoken activist who not incidentally targeted […]
Read of the Month: “Abundant Life: New and Selected Poems” by Hank Lazer
August 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Eclectic in theme and form, powerful in reach, and electric in impact, Abundant Life: New and Selected Poems (Chax Press 2025) by poet, scholar, and educator Hank Lazer is an intelligent collection of works selected from fifteen prior books, as well as new poems. This generous sharing of his poetry spans the years from 1994 […]