Customer Reviews

Roxy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's amazing how three diverse men can articulate so simply, yet profoundly, universal experiences. Their poetry grabs you and thrusts you back into a time of your own past- to relive an intensely real moment, if only for the time it takes you to peruse a few dynamic lines. Although I have little background reading poetry other than Dr. Seuss, I've experienced my own "Love stories and Train Wrecks" (Gainer), have felt like giving up if in store for me is "One More Heartbreak to go" (Staple), and am at the age of 25 "Waiting for Greatness" (Cirillo).

Here is a book for the masses. It is by guys, but women will really enjoy it. The poems are witty and zing you in all the right spots. It is at times fun and at others deeply significant and moving.

Todd Cirillo's slightly irreverant style is redeemed by his unabashed sensuality and sensitivity.

W.S. Gainer is the sage of the bunch who seems to have learned to live in a tempting and trecherous world while keeping his commitment to love and passion alive.

Will Staple has heart and soul that seduces and entertains drawing the reader in like an invitation for another nitecap.

All three deserve great praise for this very readable, very easy to like book of poems.

Ann Menebroker says it best in her introduction of Roxy. " Three men with three different versions of back alley romance; romance of the night, romance of the heart, romance of laughter-loss - and of getting on with it."
There is something for everyone in this heartfelt collection of romances' won and lost. From "LOVE STORIES and TRAIN WRECKS" of W.S. Gainer to the singing of song in "ONE AFTERNOON " by Todd Cirillo. You'll enjoy this very unique colleciton poems and promises.

Will Staple, W. S. Gainer and Todd Cirillo allow us to peek into the male psyche. To see how they love, are loved and at times live without either. Roxy is a wonderful collection of poetry by three of today's best writers. The poems in this collection fit so well together that it is easy to forget they come from three different poets in three different stages of life and relationship. As Ann Menebroker says of this book, "You don't have to be a poet to love these poems. You just have to have a heart beating behind your ribcage." Reading Roxy definitely made my heart beat! I highly recommend this collection to any lover of contemporary poetry.

Somehow Cirillo finds a way to subsist on the varied offerings of life with both a discretion that allows him to savor those foods that are good and a determination that prevents the bad from leaving a nasty taste in his mouth. His poetry reflects a wonderful enchantment with the sweet morsels of good moments, offering the reader a welcome break from our culture's cafeteria-style quest to explain away everything and feed it to us in 30 second sound bites.
Realistic without being cynical, Cirillo will find an audience among those who appreciate his power to put into words the simple, yet often unutterably profound experiences of daily life. He stubbornly refuses to grapple with the "why"; he finds enough inspiration in the "what". His expression is not tainted with self-deception-this is a man who doesn't care what you think and yet is kind enough to crack open his door and let you peek in.
You leave his work with the simple wish that he would come and narrate your day-to-day. You leave curious to know what you might have missed among the ordinary. With pen and scrap paper in hand, it is hoped that Cirillo will continue to conquer the monotony of the familiar as he helps us re-define, or perhaps, better yet, rightly define the experience of being alive.

this collection of poems really covers the bases.. if you dont write poetry you can merely substititute one of these poems for use in romantic situations... coming from three different people they have managed to meld the poems together into a common yet individual theme. this roxy chick must be a hellbitch, she probably gets backstage at all the rock shows... my only complaint is the lack of pornographic pictures to go along with the poems.

This book gives you a good look at the work of three lively poets whose poems catch the basic rhythms of the street. This will especially appeal to those who enjoy live readings, as the voices here are bold and engaged rather than locked inside their minds. Cirillo's work in particular interests me, especially when he stretches out and mixes humor, narrative and reflection. There is a bit of the heart-broken romantic peeking out from his poems, and he is sly enough to know it and not fall prey to sloppy emotionalism or cliche. Buy this collection and have a Dabba-Do time! I did. JC