Sharp Stick in the I is Controversial Poetry Book from High Hope Publishing

June 10, 2010 - PRLog -- High Hope Publishing announced its newest release, Sharp Stick in the I.  This is the second volume of poetry from the author Rick Tobin.  Tobin was asked about his latest work, a compendium of poems mainly from the years 2006 to 2010.  “I take a lot of twisting roads while I’m looking at the quirkiness of life.  In the dedication I state that these poems are a voice for those of us in shock, finding the promise is gone that was given long ago.  Our loves, our hopes, our savings and our jobs are vaporizing around us.  We don’t know what to hold onto anymore.  It seems that those who tell the biggest lies are making the biggest fortunes…but we all have our dark little secrets—our own lies and deceits.”

Some of the poems are award winning, including, “Barbed Wire.” Rick wrote this as a protest years ago against what he saw as a failed effort in Afghanistan.  “I come from a military family.  I didn’t see the value in our losses in Viet Nam, or any war sense, that doesn’t target victory, but rather long running conflicts that simply enrich the military-industrial complex.  Our brave young men and women put their lives on the line for us, but the politicians care little about our losses of our children, our brothers and sisters, spouses and parents.”  

Tobin believes in the protection of America.  After visiting what he terms, “the holy space at ground zero in New York City,” he wrote “Char Pits.” He has over three decades of experience in emergency management.  Tobin said, “I’ve had children die in my arms.  Life is so precious.  We cannot take it for granted.”  He was deeply troubled by the poor emergency response during Hurricane Katrina.  His six-word poem (one of his favorite poetry styles) from Sharp Stick in the I is titled “Left Behind.” It was written for those who lost their lives in New Orleans:

Flood waters
Raise coffins.
Tears don’t.

Sharp Stick in the I is available through Amazon books, along with Rick’s other poetry book, Heather ‘Round the Stone.  Some of Rick’s other books featured from High Hope Publishing on Amazon are The Cat with Fourteen Kittens (song lyrics) and Curse of the 8th Buddha (a Knights Templar adventure novel set in San Francisco in 2013).

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High Hope Publishing is a general fiction and poetry publishing company located in Spring Branch, Texas.