Joe the Body Pro

John Gearen has created a series of terse yet conversational poems that seem almost found instead of written. There are riffs of anecdotes stories and opinions all laced with rueful humor. Indeed Joe has made up his mind and one cannot miss the poets admiration for a character who gives scant attention to nuances counterarguments or pleasantries. Joes declarations about jobs daughters and wives money friendship death and the follies of youthful decisions are curated from his lifetime of hard-earned experience in difficult dangerous work. In Joe the Body Pro Gearen renders this life with faithful observation and appealing affection. John Gearen has a great ear. He nails the unique voice of Joe the Body Pro - irreverent wise loyal funny moving. Getting to know Joe was a delight.