Purgatory Road: Poems - Paperback

by Charles Coe (Author)

"Coe is a poet's poet, a jazzy, postmodern Ben Johnson . . . understated, but shimmering with wit, compassion, integrity of purpose." -- The Phoenix

His most powerful collection of poetry to date, Charles Coe is renowned for his powerful readings and unusually warm and compassionate voice, Charles Coe's poems speak to the heart and mind as well as the ear. Combining subjects as diverse as Afro-American history, myth, jazz, and family as well as surprising observations of those unexpected moments of joy to be found in a work-a-day inner city life. Above all, Coe's poems touch upon what is essential in us all and speak of life as a gift that is far from perfect but all we have.

Author Biography

CHARLES COE is the author of two previous volumes of poetry, both with Leapfrog Press: "All Sins Forgiven: Poems for my Parents" (2013) and "Picnic on the Moon" (1999). He's also the author of "Spin Cycles," a novella published by Gemma Media. Charles is the winner of a fellowship in poetry from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and was selected by the Associates of the Boston Public Library as a "Boston Literary Light in 2014." He teaches poetry in the MFA programs at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.