Gary Fincke Livres

Moving at surprising angles between the personal and the public world, Gary Fincke’s poems lead to discoveries that are both exhilarating and unsettling. In long sequences and precisely observed shorter poems, he explores terrorism, mass hysteria, climate change, political calamity, and the necessity of sustaining belief. He references science and history as well as myth. He grounds his poems in experience. Gary Fincke’s poems speak to the reader with an urgency driven by the elusiveness of truth.

Exploring the complexities of human emotion, this collection features ordinary individuals grappling with pivotal decisions shaped by personal trauma, anger, and desire. Through keen observation, each short story delves into themes of cultural shifts and the intricacies of work and relationships, transforming everyday struggles into profound narratives that resonate deeply with readers.

Exploring the intersection of personal experience and historical disaster, the poems delve into the author's visits to significant sites like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Through a lyrical voice, they weave narratives of faith and skepticism, offering diverse perspectives on the implications of nuclear technology. The work features vivid characters and locations, transforming these landmarks into profound reflections on human existence and vulnerability. Each poem invites readers to contemplate the delicate balance between hope and fear in the face of catastrophe.

The collection features interconnected short stories that explore the impact of newsworthy events relayed through secondhand accounts. Themes of violence, tragedy, and societal issues are woven into narratives about a policeman's shooting, a house flipper's murder, a teacher's dismissal, a gay man's accidental drowning, and a school fire caused by a juvenile. This poignant exploration of contemporary issues reflects on how such events resonate within communities and shape individual lives.

The memoir delves into the author's personal struggles with the concept of 'weakness', a term that encompassed various flaws in his family. It reflects on his disappointments related to physical, mental, and professional aspects of his life, stemming from his relentless pursuit of perfection. Through this introspective journey, the author examines the impact of these expectations on his identity and relationships, offering a poignant commentary on human imperfection and the quest for acceptance.

Gary Fincke’s The Sorrows explores the human dynamics, gone wrong and right, of family, of loss for women who never “said they needed their husbands to come back from the dead,” of the ghosts that populate the world.  There are filthy people in the world of sorrows, collecting porn and drinking beer; racist and sexist, dangerous and blind despite the disasters.  Yet, the grotesque often brings the saints through the darkness to redemptive light, and Fincke is adept at guiding his reader toward such consolation.  After all, the reader is “someone who needed me.  Or, at least, a presence, a voice.”

The collection features poems inspired by a wide spectrum of films, from 1950s B-movies to acclaimed horror classics. Fincke explores themes of fear, nostalgia, and the impact of cinema on our lives, blending vivid imagery with emotional depth. Each poem serves as a reflection on the cultural significance of these films, offering readers a unique lens through which to appreciate both the art of poetry and the world of cinema.

Exploring themes of memory, permanence, and the intersection of history with science and myth, this collection features a mix of individual poems and longer sequences. Fincke's work reflects a blend of personal narrative and fantastical elements, showcasing his ability to connect everyday experiences with deeper truths. His poems resonate with intelligence, humor, and empathy, drawing comparisons to notable poets like Philip Levine and Carl Dennis. Recognized in esteemed literary journals and with multiple awards, Fincke's voice captures the complexities of human existence.

These poems begin in the coming-of-age moments that change us by forcing recognition of physical weakness, the power of sex. the importance of family, the presence of evil, and the prevalence of mortality. The book opens with narratives taken primarily from childhood and then, divided by long poem sequences, moves to adulthood and confrontation with the identity we acquire through close relationships and the pressures of our appetites, finally ending with what reads as a universal prayer of redemption. "Writing Letters for the Blind presents the reader with visions of this world and all its beauty and sordidness, joy and disappointment. This poet reports the breaking news just in from the heart and soul, and the body as well."My father has taught me the beatitudes of sight," Fincke tells us, always aware of what we owe to those who brought us here. He stays up through the starry darkness in the insomnia of one who feels it his duty to pay passionate attention, a poet engaged in "the basic defense of simple things."