Matthew Siegel's disquieting first book of poems, Blood Work, explores the inner workings of a life lived in vulnerability. The narrative voice here is vulnerable to his sickness-Crohn's disease-as well as the "sickness" of loving. These poems are raw, exposed, and deeply authentic attempts to reconcile all that is difficult to look at in one life. They capture a constant striving for more: more understanding, more unfolding, more opening, in spite of a difficult and complex world; yet there are moments of quiet humor and lightness, reminding us not to take life too seriously.

Though there is plenty of darkness in Blood Work, it is ultimately a hopeful statement. The relief comes in the form of small moments of pleasure and letting go, where we're brought to see the simple things: dewed grass beneath a streetlight, flowers tossed under the house and recovered, or sour strawberries at the farmers' market.

About the Author
Matthew Siegel is a poet and essayist living in San Francisco, USA. He was a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, USA and his works have appeared in Indiana Review, The Rumpus, Tusculum Review, and Southern Humanities Review.


Book Information
ISBN 9780299304041
Author Matthew Siegel
Format Paperback
Page Count 80
Imprint University of Wisconsin Press
Publisher University of Wisconsin Press
Weight(grams) 156g