33 Poems at 33: And Other Works

33 Poems at 33 explores the complexities and varying forms of love as W.J. Louis works through the tension between love as an act of free will and love as an inescapable destiny, writing about the reality of divorce, the sacrifices one may be forced to make as a parent, what it means to be reconciled with once unloved parts of the self, and the inherent vulnerability of devotion. Louis juxtaposes poems inspired by the Japanese tanka to create a story alive with reversals, reminiscent of the lyrical resonance of the blues. This collection also includes revised poems from Louis' debut chapbook, Mountains in Miniature.