The Wrenching of the Hip That Precedes the Blessing

What do you get when you cross the Good Samaritan, existential androids, and Midwestern pastoral scenes? Either a bad joke or the first poetry collection from Daniel R. Jones. In equal parts levity and contemplation, Jones delivers a uniquely accessible poetic voice. Whether he's exploring spirituality, the far-reaches of speculative fiction, or the tedium of life in a fly-over state, each piece is poignant and filled with a sense of quiet wonder. The poems oscillate between lighthearted quipping (as seen in "To Caligula, from His Horse" and "Odin and I Race for the Runes"), wide-eyed introspection (as seen in "Veering" and "The Brunt of the Curse"), and spiritual rumination (as seen in "The Sheen in Dirty Things" and "Beyond the Balustrade"). Whatever the subject-matter or style of the poem, these pieces are sure to satisfy, inviting the reader into transcendence--whether that be through laughter, contemplation of God, or self-reflection.