Exits

"Pollock's poetry is brilliant"
— Kristiana Reed, editor-in-chief, Free Verse Revolution

Stephen C. Pollock's poetry collection Exits nods to the literary traditions of years past while simultaneously speaking to the present moment. Multilayered and musical, the poems in Exits have drawn comparisons to the poetry of Seamus Heaney and the sonnets of William Shakespeare. With bold imagery, attention to form, and a consistent through-line rooted in the theme of mortality, Pollock's collection responds to contemporary anxieties surrounding death and the universal search for meaning in life's transience.

"Exits . . . is a magnificent work"
— Readers' Favorite Reviews, 5.0 stars

"Exits exemplifies the musicality of language"
— Foreword-Clarion Reviews

"Full of wit, insight and provocative imagery, Exits is a masterful collection"
— IndieReader, 5.0 stars

"Exits is a book that has profoundly impacted the literary world"
— Midwest Book Review

The poems in Exits explore human mortality, the cycles of life, and the potential for renewal. Many of the images and metaphors are drawn from nature. In addition, each poem is paired with a piece of artwork intended to resonate with the writing and enhance the reader’s experience.

The collection presents a potpourri of styles, ranging from traditional forms to free verse to hybrid works. Nine of the poems have appeared in literary journals, and six have been recognized in regional or international poetry competitions.

Every life is finite. Awareness of death’s inevitability profoundly affects each person’s perspective on their life and its meaning. In a world ravaged by contagion, climate change, famine, and war, Exits dovetails with the prevailing zeitgeist.