Sonic White Poise

Patrick Cotter is a force of nature. There is simply no other way to describe the comedy, the wisdom, the eloquence and light touch of his work. One thing for sure: this poet is not boring. This poet won't leave you guessing at what exactly he meant to say. This poet is willing to be vulnerable, he is willing to speak of this precise moment in time, yet it is his passion that survives this moment, it is his syntax that woos us in. Yes, you will get here that uncompromising, direct, playful tone - but it will also be the tone that will speak of our ruined economies, our regrets, our lost lives, and also our delight, our surprise.

Here you will get portraits of real humans, of a man who abandoned his lover to go wonder in the cemetery, of a man who slept in the cowshed, leant on the cattle for warmth ...

Ah forget about humans! Look at the dogs in this book! You will be astonished by the dog that knows Morse code. You will be surprised by a dog that barks out the word "smellualize" ...

There is life in these pages - life that is both real and miraculous, life that teaches us wisdom. Wisdom of what? you might ask. That "before the revolution it is time to play guitar in a park." Indeed. I love this book.

- Ilya Kaminsky, author of Deaf Republic and Dancing In Odessa