Poet's Model

Come in please. I'd like you to pose for a poem. The title poem blurs the line between the solitude of written art and the more social realm of the visual arts. If you like the poetry of Robert Creeley, Frank O'Hara, Marianne Moore, and Alan Dugan, odds are good and you'll enjoy Poet's Model. The poetry in this collection spans more than half a century, and covers a wide range of subjects and moods. The poet's love of art pays homage to Henry Moore and Brancusi, as well as to the sensuality of the Venus de Milo. The grittier side of his experience comes to life in brawl, Juke-Joint and The Drunk. Delight in the humor (sometimes sardonic) of Spell My Name Right, Grant Applications and To The Judges, as well as in many of what the poet considers miniature takes. The common issue of Clutter causes it to be in demand at readings, while baseball finds voice in The Lasting Value of Diamonds. Depth, originality and perceptive insights are pervasive throughout the collection. Read these poems quietly to yourself, or read them aloud to another person, or to a room filled with people. Michael McGrinder is also a playwright: a deeply sensitive writer who entertains, even when it hurts.