{"product_id":"possible-lives-jon-ballard-9781952326790","title":"Possible Lives","description":"In this collection of deeply introspective poems, Jon Ballard offers us lives ranging from the fantastic to the mundane.\u003ci\u003e This morning you are like Chekhov \/ at Yalta, coughing up a lung, \u003c\/i\u003e he writes in \"Restoration,\" a poem in which a man dreams of love, while in \"Previous Life\" a man promises\u003ci\u003e now that I'm gone I'm here to help.\u003c\/i\u003e The contradictions live side by side without paradox in these short, powerful poems. Ballard shows us the quiet wonder of lives where\u003ci\u003e The woman of the house is washing \/ radishes from the backyard garden \u003c\/i\u003ealongside the father, who is a\u003ci\u003e rabble-rouser, disturber of the peace, lout. \u003c\/i\u003eA world of glorious possibility.\u003cp\u003eCharles Rammelkamp, author of\u003ci\u003e Ugler Lee\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTen years ago, I read a magnificent poem, \"Railroad Crossing.\" I loved this poem so much that I reached out to Jon to express my appreciation for it. How could I not with lines like \u003ci\u003eIt's not that kind of train' \/ I say, watching her lips \/ after my explanation \/ fashion the word boxcar\/ with the same scary awe \/ the Pentecostal daycare \/has taught her to say \/ Jehovah. Possible Lives\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful read. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Carolynn Kingyens, author of \u003ci\u003eBefore the Big Bang Makes a Sound \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePossible Lives\u003c\/i\u003e is a well-sculpted book of poems. Jon Ballard can craft a potent image and use language to express a heart's craving as well as anybody. When you read this book, you will be surprised at what is \u003ci\u003epossible\u003c\/i\u003e and, as Ballard writes, at\u003ci\u003e the staggering flavor of make-believe.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDavid James, author of \u003ci\u003eA Gem of Truth \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eNail Yourself into Bliss\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jon Ballard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1952326796\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781952326790\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Kelsay Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/05\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 82\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.27lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.17d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jon Ballard","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48445971235071,"sku":"9781952326790","price":18.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_084e056a-b7a0-4413-a7f4-63ace2b416a2.jpg?v=1777221825","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/possible-lives-jon-ballard-9781952326790","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}