The Fog of the Midnight hours

by G.M. Manzi

In his second collection of gritty and unapologetic poetry, writer G.M. Manzi kicks off his boots and gets down to the meat and bones as he sifts through memories of heartbreak and the real life after-effects of a devastating relationship which left him questioning his worth, value, and place. He is unswerving in his emotions, neither shying away nor exaggerating them. Torn between the great what-if of an ending without closure and the decision for self-preservation to forgive and walk away, but this time with clean hands and head held high.

Using his quick wit, self-deprecating humor, and raw spirit, these pages are sure to make you laugh and sigh, to clench your jaw and cheer on the broken to renewal. Read and let your soul be rewarded.

108 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2023

Reviews

[Tara Caribou · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say GM Manzi went deeper and more real in his second collection would be an understatement. The emotions bleed straight from the page and into your heart. I was right there feeling the pain, the anguish, the mental torture, the self-loathing, the longing. Some pieces, like “Secrets of the World,” are gentle in the memory and wistfulness, a longing for a connection that was ultimately missed. While others, such as “Holes in the Crotch”, are almost vulgar and crass, painting a vivid image one wishes to have not experienced, though not off the mark in any way. “November” is beautiful in description and filled with such longing it aches. “Termination” made me a little sad and a little angry… and the fact Manzi is able to do that without being offensive is a testament to his skill as both storyteller and poet-writer.

But by far, the most difficult piece to read was the 17-page opus “Forgotten in a Sea of Dunes”, which, upon realizing that it’s primarily truth, is painful to read. The terrifying full love and absolute betrayal and despair. Memories which sit one upon the other only to be halted by the speaker. Each line is ripped from one soul and placed on the shoulders of the reader. As if to say, I can no longer carry this burden, please help me, share the weight. Until by the finish, an ending of almost a sigh, a personal release and maybe even forgiveness of a sort. I cried reading this piece, even having never experienced such a thing, I did through Manzi’s eyes.

So a light and fluffy read? No! But that’s okay! Because overall qI wasn’t left with a dark cloud. Somehow through the day-to-day struggles and clear personal trials, GM Manzi is able to bring a little dark humor and a dose of reality: yeah, it’s tough everywhere, now keep dreaming and keep your chin up and keep going.

I give this one 4.75/5 stars and highly recommend this book for those who appreciate the darker side of humanity, poetry which tells a story, and hints of the older poets with a modern day flair.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tough read, not because of the quality of writing, but because the emotions of the author are soaking through the whole thing. When I read _We Lived Like Kings_ I said it had "a bit of darkness without fully indulging in it." This one indulges and it's unsettling.

The language is plain, often crass, but not insincere. Some of it was simply too vulgar for me. Often I was taken into the overriding self-loathing, anger, and lost hope. I could smell and feel that apartment full of dirty laundry, empty pizza boxes, and a crumb filled bed. Overall, this is a very uncomfortable tour through the catacombs of Greg's backstory.

[Jac Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone can write about a breakup, losing their job, life’s obstacles and wanting to die. Greg does so in such a distinct and unique method, you’re right there with him. You’ve just been cheated on. Your grandmother just died. You’re feeling lonely or stuck. You’re in the hole with him. Some of these pieces or hauntingly beautiful, with lines being stuck in your head for weeks. He does exactly what Hemingway said- he sat down and bled at the damn type writer. This book is an honest and raw collection of pieces that you won’t see from every other poet posting on their Instagram feed. There’s no way to describe it except to read it. Highly recommend, obviously to say the least

[Kimberly W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continuation of the first, We Lived Like Kings, it is honest and raw, sometimes hard to read because so much of it is personal. You can tell the author dug down deep and revisited some bitter places in the name of authenticity. The language ranges from somewhat flowery to crass, he doesn’t pull too many punches so some of this is a harsh read.