Possible Lives

by Jon Ballard

In this collection of deeply introspective poems, Jon Ballard offers us lives ranging from the fantastic to the mundane. This morning you are like Chekhov / at Yalta, coughing up a lung, he writes in “Restoration,” a poem in which a man dreams of love, while in “Previous Life” a man promises now that I’m gone I’m here to help. The contradictions live side by side without paradox in these short, powerful poems. Ballard shows us the quiet wonder of lives where The woman of the house is washing / radishes from the backyard garden alongside the father, who is a rabble-rouser, disturber of the peace, lout. A world of glorious possibility. Charles Rammelkamp, author of Ugler Lee Ten years ago, I read a magnificent poem, “Railroad Crossing.” I loved this poem so much that I reached out to Jon to express my appreciation for it. How could I not with lines like It’s not that kind of train’ / I say, watching her lips / after my explanation / fashion the word boxcar/ with the same scary awe / the Pentecostal daycare /has taught her to say / Jehovah. Possible Lives is a powerful read. Carolynn Kingyens, author of Before the Big Bang Makes a Sound Possible Lives is a well-sculpted book of poems. Jon Ballard can craft a potent image and use language to express a heart’s craving as well as anybody. When you read this book, you will be surprised at what is possible and, as Ballard writes, at the staggering flavor of make-believe. David James, author of A Gem of Truth and Nail Yourself into Bliss

82 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2020

About the author

Jon Ballard’s poetry and fiction have appeared in over fifty journals since 2006, including Cimarron Review, Flint Hills Review, The Valparaiso Poetry Review, New Mexico Poetry Review, Fifth Wednesday Journal, Blue Earth Review, The MacGuffin, Boxcar Poetry Review, Connecticut River Review, and Broadsided. He is the author of five poetry chapbooks: Lonesome (Pudding House, 2007) Sad Town (Maverick Duck Press, 2007), Trees Make You Think of Other Things (Foothills Publishing, 2008) Such Small Rain (Pudding House, 2009) and most recently, Somewhere Between (Finishing Line Press, 2013). His debut novel, Year of the Poets, is forthcoming in May 2014 from Loose Leaves Publishing.