Jim Sells' micro-review of "Famous Train Wrecks of Ohio"

https://milkandcakepress.com/product/my-life-and-other-famous-train-wrecks-of-ohio-by-bill-abbott/?fbclid=IwAR2yA1RelBjIjyI3IvOxO2o6dtiCz7g4emvZ9V5JMEY8E4aIRXHe-pnem8A

As I age, poems are akin to fights. At 52, win, lose, or draw, they are all going to hurt. Thus, the question becomes “Is it worth it?” and, no, more often than not, it isn’t - writing or reading them. Very occasionally, it is, though.

“Famous Train Wrecks of Ohio” by Bill Abbott is one of those rare times. I suppose I should state somewhere around this point that I have known Bill for a couple of decades now, and we’ve shared stages in a couple of states. I should also state that all of that would mean bupkis if his poems weren’t worth the hurt. The opener, “Starting Over,” establishes where we all are, “forgetting that a life happens with or without what I have …" Here is honesty, the truth. Life goes on, often in spite of our actions, careless as to our intent.

Life is also mundane, and the titles of some of his poems reflect this - “Another First Date” and “Fear of Flight” - but the poems … brother, nothing is mundane there.
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If you read this, you're in for a Hell of a fight. Is it worth it? Damn right, it is.

Jim Sells is a stagehand, former Marine, slam poet, music columnist, and sports columnist.