Pyrrhic Victory

The body of this collection of work is derived from the experiences of my life and the lives of other's that have been effected directly or indirectly by the social conditions of the early twenty-first century in the US, and by extension much of the rest of the world. These conditions are due in large part to the hegemonic nature of US foreign policy. My involvement in the Iraq war serves as the motivation for much of this work on the personal level, while the lives of so many others that have been touched by this conflict serve as the motivation for other portions.
Chemical dependence, depression, mental illness, accidental suicide, unintended realizations, and an overwhelming sense of guilt derived from a profound sense of responsibility for one's actions despite the pardoning given in accordance with society's norms are all addressed within this collection poems. This is not a feel good sunshine and roses body of work. It is uncomfortable, unsettling- even jarring, in both its delivery and presence on the page. Each of these poems have been crafted with the intention of being read aloud and to able to stand the test of life on the page as literature. Pyrrhic Victory shines a light on the darkest recesses of American society and calls the reader to personally take stock of their position within the larger whole and assess how these conditions shape their daily actions and relationships with their fellow human beings. Pyrrhic Victory connects personal issues to the global scale, thrusting the intersectional nature of numerous issues to the forefront in a such a way that is unabashed in its honesty.
Thanks to Jay and Amy Jean for all your help on this.