According to Lord Polonius in Hamlet, brevity is the soul of wit. In the poetry of J. R. Solonche, brevity, soul and wit co-exist superbly. Start with any of his poems. You'll find, unlike much of what is written these days, the wit is never far from the surface. As for the brevity, imagine an appetizer that's as filling as a main course. And, after the meal, after the laughter, the soul will be what lingers.John Grey, author of What Else Is There, Main Street Rag's Editor's Poetry SeriesSolonche is productive and prolific, but that doesn't water down his poetry... He can compress a philosophical treatise into three lines... His epigrammatic tidy poems are philosophic gems. Solonche sees humor and encapsulates it; he frames a thought in perfect verse... He's playful and profound - the more he writes, the more he seems to know. Beneath the Solonche simplicity are significant social comments, and his goodwill reinforces the best in us.Grace Cavalieri, Washington Independent Review of BooksSolonche, an accomplished poet, employs various forms in this compilation, including haiku, prose poem, and free verse. The poems often imaginatively enter into the natural or material world via anthropomorphic similes... Many works have an aphoristic quality that recall Zen koans, and they can be playfully amusing or even silly... A strong set of sympathetic but never sentimental observations.Kirkus ReviewsIn a style that favors brevity and pith, J.R. Solonche brings a richness of experience, observation, and wit into his poems. Here is the world! they exclaim. And here, and here, and here! Watched over by ancient lyric gods - Time, Death, and Desire - we find the quotidian here transformed.Christopher Nelson, editor of Green Linden PressThe best feature of Solonche's poetry is its diversity. Everyone who encounters this volume (including the postman who delivers it to you) will find something in it to understand and remember -- and a great deal to enjoy.Tony Beyer, author of Anchor Stone, finalist for the New Zealand Book Award
