Vacancy

by Brett Francis Larson

A collection of 37 poems by Tucson poet Brett Larson. His first collection, self-published and handmade.

"I've been walking around with the line 'and my hands are so still.' now, for a week. It's from Brett Larson's book, a poem titled 'Frightened.' I have to stay that it's taking me a long time to give poor Brett my thoughts on this book and this is because I feel like an executioner every time I pick up this book. I feel like I want to remove my head (or arms, or legs. Or face). I feel like this is a book people should read to make themselves feel like bad writers. I mean to say, that if you are reading words and you feel like you want to murder the writer for daring to write that you which you have been trying to write for years, that's a damn fine book. You have an honesty here, like the terrible shit you did in college and beyond, that I don't think is anyone's business, but that Brett says 'I'll write that for you.' Maybe we need that, all of us. 'The bridge over you/is not you.' (Attendre). Well, yes, Brett, let me shoot myself now." - Heather Bell, author of "Expletive Deleted"

Genres: Poetry

79 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2011

About the author

Brett Francis is a graduate from the University of Arizona with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Creative Writing (Poetry focus) and French, and a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Often, he can be found correcting the grammar of prospective dates and wishing that one of them would know what he meant when he calls them pulchritudinous. His favorite word is decathecting. He has a very manly laugh and will never be seen without some form of facial hair (beards grow on you). He is in a constant state of zugzwang. His least favorite thing about writing is coming up with endings that he actually likes and truly have a finality to them, so he's just going to

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry conjures up all those feelings one goes through in their 20's - searching for themselves and seeking out answers to relationships won and lost. It does it in a sometimes gut wrenching and sometimes soft and sensual way that leaves you searching your own soul for answers to questions you have held deep within yourself. That Brett takes you there, to that place, with poems that tell stories with images soft, sensual, and harsh at times, is a tribute to his skills as a young poet. Take the time to see the images he creates and wonder at his willingness to take us to places deep within ourselves through his words. It is worth a read and then a read again.