Joe the Body Pro

John Gearen has created a series of terse yet conversational poems that seem almost found instead of written. There are riffs of anecdotes, stories and opinions, all laced with rueful humor. Indeed, "Joe" has made up his mind, and one cannot miss the poet's admiration for a character who gives scant attention to nuances, counterarguments or pleasantries. Joe's declarations about jobs, daughters and wives, money, friendship, death, and the follies of youthful decisions are curated from his lifetime of hard-earned experience in difficult, dangerous work. In Joe the Body Pro, Gearen renders this life with faithful observation and appealing affection. John Gearen has a great ear. He nails the unique voice of Joe the Body Pro - irreverent, wise, loyal, funny, moving. Getting to know Joe was a delight.