Hell and High Water by Wolfgang Carstens

                               
                                                Publisher.

                                                Six Ft. Swells

                                

    

 From a perfect introduction written by poet and publisher Todd Cirillo.

This book starts out guns blazing with what I do consider one of the best books I have had the true pleasure of reading in a long while. 

Wolfgang displays that razor sharp wit from the starting gate with writes like.

Slave Lake, 2014.

A write that displays tremendous humor and a determination to stand one's ground literally come hell and high water.

Moving on to writes like, i passed.

Once displays a love between two people on the deepest of levels.

This collection moves extremely quick and will have you turning the pages only yearning for more.

In later writes such as, when Raven is a perfect example of a father's worry over a missing child

And in all truth one of the best poems I have read in awhile. 

Wolfgang can shift gears easily and with expert precision upon his choosing.

His style is personal yet tremendously infused fantastic wit.

Hell and High Water is not a good book it is a great book.

And all the way till it's closing write, strange.

It commands your attention.

Wolfgang is a force unto himself.

I highly recommend picking yourself up a copy today.

As this is truly a one of a kind book.

Keep drinking and reading.

John Patrick Robbins. 

https://www.amazon.com/Hell-High-Water-Wolfgang-Carstens/dp/0985307560

DIFLUCAN by Wayne F. Burke

Publisher 

       BareBackPress

There are poets and then there is Wayne F. Burke.

If you are familiar with this pull no punches writer then you will certainly want to grab a copy of Wayne's newest book from BareBackPress.

DIFLUCAN.

Wayne's style is fast and extremely well crafted.

And from writes early in this collection like
Happy Birthday.

We see a poet that would make Bukowski proud.
And clearly displays a man you do not want to test.

Into other writes like 2.
That show the wisdom of a life lived and the quick witted brilliance of a true poet.

This is a extremely well put together collection.

That moves quickly delivers that brilliant sarcasm and grit Wayne has in spades.

With writes that take us back to better days.
Like Batman.

Once reminds the reader of far more simple times yet still fully displays that signature style.

And further writes like The Ruler.
Which clearly display why I am damn glad to not be a child anymore and the hell of school years.

This collection takes us through the past of one's life growing up.

And is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Once any true poetry fan will go through this book like a hot knife through butter.

As once you pick this one up you certainly wont want to put this one down.

And as the collection winds down Burke shows no signs of taking his foot off the gas pedal.

And in later writes like Suspect.

He displays that hard edged style I have truly come to admire.

DIFLUCAN is a pull no punches book.

And I will say for any true fan of poetry.
You would be doing your bookshelves a great disservice by not having this title in your collection.

I highly recommend this book once is available on Amazon.

Check it out and get yourself a copy on the link below.

Until next time folks keep drinking and reading.

Cheers.

John Patrick Robbins

https://www.amazon.com/Diflucan-Wayne-F-Burke/dp/192644924X

Spaghetti & Meatballs: Poems for Hot Organs. By Mendes Biondo

Publisher.

Pski's Porch 

From the start of  this book I knew it  was going to be far from you're typical poetry collection .

And after reading I can truly say I wasn't disappointed .
This fun and often abstract poets work shows a true and original voice that often includes fantastic quirky humor with great heart.

Mendes takes the reader along for a ride they will truly will not forget with writes like .

Bye Bye - Fuck you -Bye (I'm a Weird Bastard and Know It

Once fully displays that quirky humor that is definitely a trademark of Mendes and always makes me laugh .

To writes like.

Farewell To Hollywood .

Once shifts gears and shows the heart of a true poet and a truly original emerging voice .

Other favorites include .

Earth's Reasons .

The write packs a hell of a punch and connects on a deep level .
And shows Mendes ability to take turns and risks other poets seldom do.

This book was a fast read for me and I do believe for any poetry fan that enjoys a good mix of humor with a dash of a twisted heart .

This is a book for you .

It's a great read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Mendes or new to his work.

For a first collection Mendes has shown he has a true and one of a kind voice.

Pick yourself up a copy .

And keep drinking and reading .

Cheers

Smash & Grab Poems. by Ryan Quinn Flanagan

                               Publisher
                            Weasel Press


For anyone who is a fan of Ryan's work they will always come to expect his fast style and sharp humor once is definitely his trademark and has  drawn so many to his pages over the years.

But what impresses me so very often is a haunting quality and great observations my friend puts into so many writes in this fine collection.

As always the titles jump from the page.
Such as to name a few.
I Am Not Bruce Lee, but I Could Probably Kick Your Ass, once always impresses me with how easily he comes up with such great titles.

To others such as.
You Look like Late Stage Syphilis in a Bathing Suit.

Once if the titles alone don't grab you the lines certainly will.

This book is packed with twists and turns humor abound and heart.
Smash and grab poems is not simply a good book.
It is a great book and one that holds the readers attention to the end.

To one of my favorite poems in this collection Pier Review.
Ryan displays what what few poets can deliver and he does with ease.

And as I am sure upon writing this Ryan is probably finishing up yet another collection to show that he is nowhere near slowing down.

Smash And Grab Poems is a great display of a writer that can take the page wherever he does so choose to go.

And and as a reader it is also a pleasure to tag along for the ride this book is well worth the purchase.

And if you have somehow not read Ryan's work before  then this would certainly be one hell of a introduction.

But seeing how this talented writer has probably penned more damn poems than any other writer I know I truly doubt few have who love poetry have not stumbled upon his work by now.


Smash And Grab Poems is available on Amazon.

Please do yourself a favor and pick up yourself up  a copy today.

There are many poets out there but none are as  prolific or damn talented as the man I am honored to call a friend.


Smash And Grab Poems.
Is one hell of a book from truly one hell of a writer.


Keep drinking and reading.


John Patrick Robbins


https://www.amazon.com/Smash-Grab-Poems-Quinn-Flanagan/dp/1948712091

Smoking At The Gas Pumps . Review By Todd Cirillo

Soma Publishing  

To start off with, Smoking at the Gas Pumps (Soma Publishing, 2018) is a killer title and one that creates a clear and clean visual for the reader; that is both intriguing and entrancing with a shot of danger. This is also accomplished, to the same effect, in the best poems of John Patrick Robbins’ latest book. Not every poem accomplishes this, but that does not mean it is not a wonderful collection from a relevant force in modern poetry. It simply means that his barroom, drinking alone, I don’t get along with people, poems have been widely written about and received their rightful praise in many other reviews. For me, the most powerful poems in this book are the ones when the poet allows the poem and experience to just be alone on the page, much like the writer may have been when he wrote it. This allows the story, the emotion and the core feelings to shine through naturally. Most importantly, they are poems of connection. They are poems such as: Exit Wounds, People are Different, Writers are Worse, Already a Stranger in the Making, We All Eventually, Burbank, Role Reversal, Escape Route, Crack is Cheap, So was She. 

What sets these and others apart is the vulnerability Robbins allows to take over the poems. What makes them most interesting and enthralling is that, though the subject matter may be the same as his barroom poems, the style with which he lets the poems flow give the reader a direct arrow shot to the heart. In these poems, Robbins does not tell the reader what to do, how to live or what his life is like…he shows them. He lets the images lead the reader. That is where a connection occurs. The poems let us feel how alone he really is in a life lived like “time capsules of poor choices.” No matter how tough many of the poems are, the toughest have the most tender connections between their subjects; he and his mother (We All Eventually), he and a lover in bed at the end of love (Crack is Cheap, So was She), the theft of a book by a critic (People are Different, Writers are Worse) or is just an observer (Burbank). 

In these particular poems he writes the simple lines where his talent and the entire poem come together as in, “she whispered in my ear/are you okay?/I’m alive sweetheart how about you?/better now/“ (Crack is Cheap, So was She) or “some things were never meant to be taken away/I love you mom/sincerely your son.” (We All Eventually). 

I recommend buying this book, wholeheartedly. It is good to have Smoking at the Gas Pumps out in the poetry world, a welcome addition of honesty, guts, and grit where John Patrick Robbins “captured the stories one glance at a time” and wrote them down for all of us to connect with.

--Todd Cirillo, poet, publisher, Six Ft. Swells Press

"The news is bad today, in America and for America. There is nothing good or hopeful about it--except for Nazis, warmongers, and rich greedheads" HST

Where Angels Fear. by Wayne Russell

                       Soma Publishing 


Wayne Russell can easily be described as the poet's poet. 

From the beginning his work is a unflinching look at a life lived hard .
Russell doesnt sugar coat anything.

From personal demons to the loss of loved ones to even the struggle of being homeless.

He bleeds everything into his pages once is quality I greatly admire in a writer.

From poems such as .
Alone In A Room , once tells the truth of addiction .

And others like.
When Lonliness Calls , once displays such courage to bare ones soul .

This is not good work this is great work .

Wayne's style to me is almost confessional poetry and it displays a willingness to bare all without fear of judgement .

Art is never safe and make no mistake this is art at it's finest.

Wayne Russell hasn't simply written a good book he has paid the price of the pains of this life and created a great book .

I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy today.

You certanly will not regret it.
As Russell can show us all just when we think the best lines have all been written in the past.

There comes writers like Wayne Russell to blow others out of the water .


Please get yourself a copy using the link 
below .




https://www.somapublishing.com/2018/12/where-angels-fear.html?m=1

Zero Evidence Of Life . By Tracey Sivek

.

Available on  Lulu. 

A poetry book that isn't afraid to explore the full range of emotions .

In battling ones own demons and falling in and out of love the book takes you through it all.

The book is extremely well crafted throughout. 

And doesn't flinch in getting dark very quickly .

Tracey's style can often boarder on a quasi fantasy at times with a hint of sarcastic humor.

It's a journey from start to finish .

There is definitely a spiritual side to the work without becoming preachy one thing this book is not.

Is boring .

With gems like.

Liars , Beggars and Fools ~ (oh my).

And other stand out writes like .

Bittersweet Sorrow .

The book moves at a  steady and often dark pace that always has bitter truths of a life lived .

Tracey Sivek displays a true voice one that is not afraid to cut through bullshit and get straight to the marrow of the situation.

Zero Evidence Of Life .

Takes its reader on a journey and is altogether a damn fine read .

Pick yourself up a copy today .

Until next time keep drinking and reading . 

http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/tracey-sivek/zero-evidence-of-life/paperback/product-22836091.html