The Son's Shadow

by Ben John Smith

New poetry from Ben John Smith.

Genres: Poetry

34 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Arthur Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben John Smith is BACK and better than ever! Tackling themes of illness, depression, fatherhood, and sobriety, “The Son’s Shadow” marks the long-awaited new release from HST’s oldest friend and founding editor.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, raw and completely relatable. More, please.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting a collection of poetry but instead I got a confession of sorts, Ben John Smith has a lot to get off his chest and he unloads a lot of that in this book. An insight into a man struggling with sobriety, the dark days, the darker thoughts all mixed in with those things in life he is focusing on to get through it, being a husband and a father. He is very honest about times with his son, at one time admitting he is a better monster than a father. I loved the ending, the last 10 lines is what pushed this over to getting 5 stars. It does seem to ramble at times, I recommend reading it a second time right after as it gives you a better understanding.

Cracking stuff as always from Ben John Smith.

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day, maybe, Ben will write poetry that doesn't make me laugh out loud, cringe, and try so hard to hold back tears that I'm shaking. But today is not that day. Incredible collection. Ben's writing has always tugged at my heartstrings and helped me to sit with the best and the worst of myself. You still write beautifully when sober, BJS.

[Stephen McQuiggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben John Bukowski gets sober and.... blows me away. There's humor here, attention to the base vulgarities of existence (Ben is a kindred spirit in that sense), and anger at a fucked up world - nothing less than I expected. But the truth is, the more I read, and re-read, the more I was genuinely touched by The Son's Shadow. Ben John Smith sheds his 'wolf's skin', shows his vulnerable, self loathing core to himself and the world, and finds a ragged redemption in the process.
The book ends in beauty and realization:

'You found me daddy'
And he's too young to know
what I mean
But I whisper
'I have dude.
I've found you
And I think
I've found myself
as well.'
'Thank you,
Hunter.'

Thank you, Ben John Smith.