No Shelter

by Henry Doyle

Infused with the spirit of Charles Bukowski, these down to earth poems take readers on a hard-scrabble journey, starting from Doyle's early years as a runaway from foster homes, an incarcerated youth, a boxer, and a homeless wage-earner living in shelters and on the streets of Ottawa and Toronto, to his eventual arrival in Vancouver to work in the construction labour pools before landing work as a custodian and maintenance man. Doyle's potent combination of gritty realism, weary wisdom, and wry humour make No Shelter an unforgettable collection.

Poetry.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2022

Reviews

[Mark Sunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such raw poetry without pretention, yet some of the most engaging poems I have ever read. From the story of a little boy befriending a horse in a field and feeding it carrots, to a meeting with his father and the reality of the harsh life of downtown Vancouver to everything in between, Doyle has a an ability to root into the tender sensitivity and complexities of being imperfect human beings getting through life. These poems are some of my favorite poems. I rarely encounter poetry that is as easy to read and identify with. I am grateful I found this book on my journey.