Father Figures: autobiographical poems

"I highly recommend this book."

This chapbook of poems is a personal journey through childhood, into adolescence and beginning adulthood. It details the struggles of finding an identity, and overcoming adversity through experience and sheer will. Filled with subtle texture, detail, and atmosphere, these poems are relatable and touching to anyone who grew up without a biological parent in their life.

They are a vivisection of what it means to be a bastard in the modern world. Touching on many themes, here you will find poems by a poet who has experienced intangible loss, mental and physical abuse, and found a way to cope through words. The work here is meant as catharsis, a documentation of events through metaphoric memoir. It speaks for itself.

A review by poet Jennifer MacBain-Stephens, author of EveryHerMustDie: Jay Sizemore's collection, "Father Figures" will punch you in the gut with a harsh dose of reality and starkness. The struggle and search for serenity and safety in the home is ongoing. These poems will make you grateful if anyone tucked you into bed at night at all throughout childhood. Mr. Sizemore's heart is on the page. Somehow he survived being bounced around amongst unstable care givers, or adults too consumed with their own hurt and circumstances to have anything left over for anyone else..To his credit, he puts his sweat, tears, and memories on the page. As readers, we evolve, having read these pieces, and they are a reminder to just keep putting one foot in front of the other -- keep going, get out. Survive. You can flourish too.Buy this work, and see if you can find the worth in the poet's attempt at healing.

From poet Gina Clingan: This collection of poetry drew me in, I couldn't put it down. The raw vulnerability that went into the creation of this book is unmatched. Some of the poems knocked the wind out of me. The honesty in the retelling of such a tainted childhood made some lines difficult to read, because they were so relatable. Thank you for putting the trauma into words. This book is so important.

From poet Grace Black: This bite-sized chapbook packs a punch, straight to the gut. The powerful use of imagery and pacing throughout keep the reader invested and the emotions palpable. There are many lines buried within the meat of these poems that make you want to pluck them out and roll the words themselves across your tongue. A wonderful addition to any poetry collection.