Customer Reviews

Rush Hour

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This collection of poetry contains some real gems, short stories that summarize many difficulties regarding the human condition. Some describe unusual conditions, such as the boxer with one arm, but most are about daily events in the lives of people. My favorite is on page 65

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I stand all day
and bone chickens
I've done this for years -
dump the meat on one belt,
and bones on the another,
to carry them away.
I'm only fifty-three,
But my feet are all sores
from diabetes and the floor
wet with running water.
My doc says to quit
while I'm still walking.

This short verse sums up the dilemma of so many people, forced to continue working at the cost of their health. Another of my favorites is on page 52.

STARTING OVER

My dream is simply to go,
with the door wide open, the TV blaring,
my money scattered across the dresser,

grabbing nothing
not even consulting a map,

Destination unknown.
let the landlord think
I've gone for cigarettes.

At rent time he'll remove the remains
to a locker in the cellar.

This short verse nicely summarizes the fantasy that everyone entertains at some point, simply walking away from his or her life and starting anew.
Fitzpatrick is an excellent poet and he demonstrates that over and over again, you cannot help but feel that some of the poems are about you.