Cheer Up, Jay Ritchie

Ritchie discovers and obstructs truths, like the difficulty of being at the bar and being a lilac bush simultaneously. I bought tear-resistant pants just in case I'm not a good guy underneath it all, being honest in discreet doses to underpaid retail employees. With an alternating sense of wonder and detachment, Jay Ritchie's first full-length collection of poetry grapples with death, disappointment, love, emails - the large and small subjects of daily life. His unflagging sense of humour and aphoristic delivery create a work that is personable yet elevated, witty, and honest.