Age might be the main factor in determining whether or not you’ll like the sentiments expressed in this collection it’s a packet of poems about teenage romantic and/or sexual frustrations. There are titles like Why Me? and Romantic Soldier. Lines like “They are sitting there alone/away from their friends/lost in a sea of discussion” are not even as bad as it gets. The drawings, including the giant half-rooster, half-squirrel, and the molars in the top right hand corners of the pages are the chapbook’s most charming touches. I’m glad I got to see those, at least. Honestly though, the poet’s still in a phase of self-indulgence where it’s hard to tell if he has any promise. I’m sure his friends appreciate the little collection for what it’s worth. All it does for an old fart like me is make me nostalgic for the first time “it” happened. (Donato Mancini)
chapbook, $?, Phill Feltham, 23 Resnik Drive, Newcastle, ON, L1B 1H5.