Collected Poems

This is a poetry collection for adults that centers on the messy, electrifying aspects of life: desire, heartbreak, excess, and the weight of aging. The poems move through lust, lost love, drink, money, and a God who can feel distant or malign, all voiced in a tone that is bracing, witty, and unflinching. The intended reader is someone who appreciates sharp, candid verse and finds humor in life’s hard truths. Presented in chronological order, the verses chart a life across decades, shifting from light, acerbic observation to deeper, more reflective mood. The writing is clear and direct, with brisk rhythm and varied forms that keep the reading experience lively. The collection blends scathingly funny insights with moments of tenderness and sorrow, delivering a voice that is fearless and unapologetic about the messiness of existence. Readers will experience poetry that feels immediate and tactile: punchy lines, vivid imagery, and a language that rewards careful attention without sacrificing accessibility. This is a reading journey that invites you to pause on a striking image, test your assumptions, and reconsider what a life and a poet can reveal about desire, faith, and aging. - Chronological selection that traces a life across decades - Themes of desire, loss, excess, money, aging, and faith - Bracing wit, candor, and a voice that is both scathingly funny and tender - Varied f