Thank you to Peter Mladinic for this excellent review of Ken Tomaro's latest collection. [Sensitive Content Warning]
The House of Representatives: a review of You’ve got it all wrong, by Ken Tomaro. Prolific Pulse Press. Raleigh, NC. 2025. $12.95 paper.
Reviewed by Peter Mladinic
Just as there are representatives in politics, poetry too has its representatives, one difference being: there’s no party line to the imagination. Ken Tomaro, in the state of Ohio, is reminiscent of two poets in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, John Yamrus and Dan Flore III. Like them, he eschews capitalization and standard punctuation, and like them, his comments are blunt, succinct, and direct. Yet all there are distinct voices. Ken Tomaro, like the hero in Frank Capra’s film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, speaks for all of us. Three things worth noting in Tomaro’s poems are his imagery: his syntax, particularly his interpolated interjections, and his use of the first-person plural we.
Tomaro’s images are exacting, “on the mark, in that they are essential to the whole poem. In “I remember the distinct aroma” as the title indicates, the olfactory takes precedence. The speaker, in a coffee shop smelled an aroma reminiscent of “Polish donuts…from childhood.” The coffee shop workers “couldn’t tell me which pastry it was because I couldn’t describe it.” At the end, his question “but it goes deeper than that, doesn’t it?” is like the donut image at the start, absolutely essential to an appreciation of this imagist poem about memory. “Make it stop” relies on a tactile image. The speaker is irked or annoyed by people violating his personal space.
they were standing 3 feet from my desk talking about their kids, comparing all the sports they were in all the after-school activities which coach does his job, which one needs to retire blocking the isle so I couldn’t escape if I wanted to
This tactile image leads to a comment on society that is both poignant and funny. His pain is his readers’ pleasure as he says, “death is 5 feet away from me in the living room every night.” "Cash,” paper money, in “I can’t give you that” is what the speaker wants for Christmas. It leads him to say, “I can’t give her her old life back / I can’t give her a new set of legs / I can’t give her a million dollars.” This poem is similar to, yet opposite from “Playing God.” In that poem he looks out a window, “down on the traffic / speeding down the highways.” Rather than the person painfully aware of his limitations in “I can’t give you that,” here, in “Playing God” he pretends the cars are little race cars, “toys / running on an electric track / and I am …deciding how fast or slow they go.” The interpolated interjection is an element of syntax Tomaro uses to achieve compactness in his poems. It is particularly effective in “Summer of ‘89, where he puts one complete comment inside another.
the cement blocks we walked along were perfect squares but now, after years of Lake Erie slapping against them made them worn down and smooth there were little pockets along the surface
“Lake Erie slapping against them made them warm and smooth” the complete comment within the other complete comment “The cement blocks …were perfect squares / but now …there were little pockets along the surface “layers the texture of those blocks, adds to these things readers can touch. In “Chickens,” the speaker, running errands, sees something out of the ordinary, “two chickens pecking away at a pile of leaves …in suburbia.” He says, “I laugh for a moment at the absurdity of what I’ve seen / this is truly absurd; I can’t be the only one who thinks so.”
The comment within the comment— “this is truly absurd” accents his surprise at seeing “chickens where chickens shouldn’t be.” Other poems in which interpolated interjections play a vital part are “Reminiscence” and “Bad genes. In “A glittering shitshow of smash-faced adults” the interpolated interjection acts as a bridge of time linking adulthood to childhood:
I’m sitting in the office listening to John Prine pining for that good old country life feeling all weepy and shit he knew the deal he knew how it was and there I was a 14-year-old boy with a half-assed mustache surrounded by a town full of smashed-faced kids
The interjections “he knew the deal / he knew how it was” are followed by “I was,” and a memory of childhood.
Like the hero in Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ken Tomaro speaks for we, the people. One of his talents is that his deeply personal voice speaks for all of us. Like us, the speaker is an imperfect person living in an imperfect world. If he could he’d tell God that “this masterpiece he created / is just a pile of mud and sticks / slapped together haphazardly.” The title of the book comes from the first line of “We all carry anger.” With his direct address, the speaker conveys empathy. “I think you’ve got it all wrong / but I can see your grief from losing something.” Farther along, “I know you had a plan / and maybe it didn’t go as planned.” And finally, (profoundly), “you continue to do all these things / you say you can’t do /without even realizing you’re doing them.” This book does not lack for humor. “The big God damned bang” gives a unique spin to Adam and Eve’s fall from grace:
This is for you and only you. Go forth and explore, take in all the beauty and the glory. Go wherever you want, do whatever you want. Think and feel however you want. Just don’t touch that fucking apple, is all I’m saying. Give me a fucking break, man. Don’t invite me into your house for a party and tell me eat, drink, be merry, just don’t sit on the couch in the family room. It’s an antique, my grandmother’s, in pristine condition…
This irreverently funny passage conveys an exasperation people must feel at one time or another when thinking about Adam and Eve’s being cast out of paradise, to toil and sweat and grow old and die.
This passage of satire depicts the human condition of transience and mortality. Ken Tomaro’s topic is the human condition. The quotable passages in his poems are many. He is poignant, funny, irreverent, inquisitive, and contemplative. With an attentively attuned ear and a sharp eye for beauty, he makes the subjective objective, the local universal. He says things his way, as he simultaneously instructs and entertains. At the end of the book, he addresses his readers. “Here’s wishing you well and safe travels.” He means it. And his book is deserving of many readers. ... Peter Mladinic was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and earned an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas in 1985. Professor emeritus at New Mexico Junior College, where he was a member of the English faculty for thirty years. During that time, he was a board member of the Lea County Museum and president of the Lea County Humane Society. He is the author of seven books of poems; his most recent book, Maiden Rock, is available from Uncollected Press (2024). An animal rights advocate, he lives in Hobbs, New Mexico, USA.
We gathered together on Tuesday night to celebrate prolific poetry. I thought I would share this event. There are some announcements included and more.
A Celebration of “Prolific Poets of 2025” #poetrylovers #poetry
Roberta Batorsky is a Biology teacher and freelance science writer. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, their lived experiences and science. She lives in NJ with her husband and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. she writes with empathy, knowledge and humor and has been published in Heron Clan, Fine Lines, NJ Bards, Delaware Valley Poets and other collections. This is her first book. https://www.prolificpulse.com/robertabatorsky #poetrycollection #poetsofnewjersey #perihelion
Loralee Clark is a writer who grew up learning a love for nature and her place in it, in Maine. She resides in Virginia now as a writer and artist, with two awesome kids and a loving husband. She writes poetry and non-fiction. Myth is her love language. https://www.prolificpulse.com/loraleeclark #myth #poetsofvirginia #solemnity #rites
Zaneta V. Johns is a world-class author of three poetry collections and What Matters Journal. She has co-authored five international bestselling collaborative books and co-edited three poetry anthologies. Johns is an editor of Fine Lines Journal and Women Speakers Association Poet Laureate. Johns resides in Colorado, USA. https://www.prolificpulse.com/zan-johns #poetlaureate #coloradopoets #colorado #awardwinningpoet #poetryeditor
Melissa Lemay lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with her children and cats. She writes about God, addiction, trauma, healing, motherhood, and many other things. She enjoys spending time with family, drinking good coffee, and being outdoors. She loves animals. Her poem, “Ephemeral,” was chosen as Poetic Publication of the Year for 2023 at Spillwords Press; she was Author of the Month for July 2024 and Author of the Year for 2024. Find her at melissalemay.wordpress, collaborature.blogspot, and at dVerse Poets Pub. https://www.prolificpulse.com/melissalemay #rengay #pennsylvaniapoets #poetrycollection #collaboration #humor
LindaAnn LoSchiavo is a dramatist, writer, and poet. A native New Yorker, LoSchiavo has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize, Rhysling Award, Best of the Net, the IPPY Award, CLMP’s Firecracker Award, Balcones Poetry Prize, and Dwarf Stars. She is a member of Science Fiction Poetry Assoc., The British Fantasy Society, and The Dramatists Guild. She has won Two Awards for Cancer Courts My Mother. https://www.prolificpulse.com/lindaannloschiavo #cancer #grief #caregiving #parentchildrelationship #newyorkpoets #awardwinningpoet
Never until recently did Ken Tomaro consider writing poetry. Not when he slid from the womb. Not when he felt the first tingle of teen hormones. Not after he got married, divorced, moved to another city, lost a couple jobs, moved back. It just sort of happened. Ken Tomaro, self-proclaimed poet laureate of the Cleveland sewer system, has been writing poetry for a few short years. He’s not famous, rich, recognized or read in schools across America. He has been published in several literary journals, done a couple podcasts, started the YouTube channel, Screaming Down the Poetic Highway, and that’s pretty damn impressive. Ken Tomaro.com https://www.prolificpulse.com/kentomaro #poetry #lifesterms #contemporary #ohiopoets
We are pleased to announce that “Perihelion” by Roberta Batorsky is now ready for your bookshelf. Her debut poetry book, “Perihelion” is a poetry collection which has been carefully crafted, critiqued, and polished for the best of reading.
About “Perihelion”
This book uses powerful, colorful imagery and often humor, applied to everyday life situations, to delve deep into the realms of love, loss, childhood, memory, aging, relationships, partnership and friendship. The writer’s command of language, including colorful and strong vocabulary, will appeal to poetry readers of all stripes in its accuracy, insight and universality. Her critical insight and unsparing explorations of feelings will bring readers into her circle with recognition of the beauty of her words and the similarities with their own experiences. Her love for nature and ability to describe people’s lived experiences, mental problems, societal upheaval, relationship struggles, love for family, and deep love for, and familiarity with, literature will inspire all who pick up her book. Her style is a giving and loving one which will be meaningful to all readers.
Note the cover design by Kelli Jackson of KRynae Design Co. She really captured the meaning of the poem by the same name.
What others have to say:
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Perihelion, the debut collection of poetry by Roberta Batorsky. Roberta’s poetry has taken the literary community by storm, her words will make you want to sit up and think, stir emotions, as she pulls you into her world. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, through lived experiences and the world of science. Each one is full of humour, pathos, and empathy. She is incredibly articulate and precise, reflecting her intellectual ability as an educator.
This collection has over one hundred poems; each one is a masterpiece in its own right, beautifully crafted to perfection. Each poem gives you an insight into her life and the lives of others, incredibly observant and full of wit, as you are transported to her world.
This book will appeal to readers of all ages and genders because it is relatable, to enchant, move and delight. Stand out poems include “American Standard or The Loo’s Lament,” “Social Dancing on Neptoon,” “Lost Lives Matter,” “Unstrung, for Richard,” “I Remember It,” “If I die first,” “Picking Apples in Stilettos,” “Bismillah,” “Autumn Finds Me,” “My Dis Connect,” “Drinking with Mom,” “Man to Man,” “The Walkers in the Rain,” and “Gasp.” This poignant book of poetry is an entertaining read, will make you laugh out loud, smile in places and shed a tear, extremely relatable and utterly brilliant, it will be a welcome addition to your bookshelf, a classic in the making.
Sarfraz Ahmed, Poet and Writer (UK)
Roberta Batorsky’s “Perihelion” carries rich layers of meaning in the context of poetic creativity. Like planets drawing close to the sun, the poet’s voice circles the most intense experiences of human life: mental health struggles (“Unit 4,” “New Year to Be Born”), grief (“Irreplaceable, for Mariana”, “Tremolo”), and love (“You Are All I Need”). These are moments of most excellent exposure, where both illumination and pain work together. It suggests that poetry itself becomes a perihelion. In this space, the poet dares to move nearest to the burning core of experience, and in doing so, offers illumination to the readers. In “Perihelion”, readers encounter humour, grief, survival, and renewal in equal measure. It is a collection that burns close, like its namesake, leaving the reader illuminated.
Roberta Batorsky is a Biology teacher and freelance science writer. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, their lived experiences and science. She writes with empathy, knowledge and humor and has been published in Heron Clan, Fine Lines, NJ Bards, Delaware Valley Poets and other collections. This is her first book. She lives in NJ with her husband and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
and made stew from the leftover lamb my sister didn’t eat
I’m tired, it’s cold and dark here
and I am afraid of what’s out there
beyond the glass of the balcony door
beyond the neighbor who yells at his wife,
and kids, and brother
I’m afraid I’ll never find
what it is I don’t even know I’m looking for
or maybe I’m afraid
I won’t be able to change those things that need it…”
This is Ken Tomaro, so easy yet so profound.
Ken Tomaro’s collection “You’ve Got it All Wrong” explores nostalgia, loss, and the absurdities of existence through poignant, reflective poems. It is a collection of poetry that resists lyric ornament in favour of blunt realism, irony, and dark humour. Written in a conversational style, these poems traverse memory, absurdity, faith, mortality, and working-class identity.
The first poem, “I remember the distinct aroma,” begins with the scent of Polish doughnuts, using this family memory to reflect on the passing of time, the loss of childhood innocence, and fleeting moments that cannot be reclaimed.
“I was robbed” is a fierce monologue where Tomaro likens life to a thief: it brandishes a gun, steals sanity, dreams, and certainty, yet he refuses to yield.
“Playing God” conjures the fantasy of manipulating fate, depicted through cars on a highway—miniature models in the mind’s grip. “Summer of ‘89” is a lyrical meditation on teenage nights at Lake Erie.
“Life is very much a horror movie” is a standout poem that likens office life to an unending nightmare.
“If I believed in God” and “The big God damn bang” both question religious belief, exposing the flaws Tomaro perceives in the idea of a universe created by an indifferent force. In contrast, “Chickens” injects humour with its absurd image of chickens wandering a city road, disrupting the poet’s brooding thoughts.
“We all carry anger.”
A compassionate poem speaking to grief, persistence, and the will to keep breathing. “Make it stop” is among the darkest, most unflinching poems:
“word of warning –
It’s not a happy ending.”
“Breathworks” is a brief yet powerful poem that reminds us that trauma begins at birth. “Bad genes” is a satiric poem wrapped in humour and rage. Tomaro’s bluntness, “fuck all of you!” is cathartic. “Rosemarie” is a deeply nostalgic and tender poem that evokes memories of childhood winters, fireplaces, and Christmas music from 1976.
“Sometimes a dog’s butthole” leans into shock value, but its humour reveals genuine affection for Cleveland, using the city’s quirks—potholes, pierogies, grey winters—to illustrate imperfect love.
“A glittering shitshow of smash-faced adults” distils Tomaro’s outlook: absurdity, bluntness, and unyielding truth. The poem confronts adolescence, broken towns, and fragmented adulthood.
“Beyond the Glass” is one of the most vulnerable poems by Tomaro. It captures the threads of loneliness, seasonal depression, and the fear of the unknown that linger in the human heart. The “cold and dark” beyond the balcony glass becomes a metaphor for uncertainty and existential dread. “Well, hello” is the closing poem. It is structured around the word “well,” and ties together themes of health, survival, and cautious hope.
Tomaro writes with honesty and sharp wit, never sugarcoating his words. His poetry speaks to those who want the truth, humour that doesn’t hold back, and a clear-eyed look at life. “You’ve Got It All Wrong” reminds us that being human means living with contradictions and sometimes finding reasons to laugh anyway.
“You’ve Got It All Wrong” isn’t for readers who want romance or flowery language. Tomaro’s poems are stripped down, gritty, and often hit hard. He writes about life’s odd moments, the pull of memory, and the humour that helps us get by. This is poetry about surviving with honesty and wit, not by escaping reality. Fans of Charles Bukowski, Diane Seuss, John Prine, or anyone ready to face life’s absurdities with a grin must grab a copy:
“and it’s time for your annual wellness check/ to make sure you and your doctor/ remember each other’s faces.”
We are pleased to announce the new release of Nolcha Fox’s Poetry Collection, Writing Between the Lines”
Each natural jewel has its own unique brilliance. Catch the fire in a diamond and it’s like no other. As Nolcha catches the fire from other’s poems, these reflections create a whole new light show. As you read through the poems, you may find remnants of life’s experience weaving through. Like the light streams through stained glass windows, there are illuminations, sun dogs of brilliance, fractures melded into brilliant streams of color, of light. ~~~
Nolcha Fox is fearless. She walks the literary tightrope between success and failure with grace and elegance and she never ever disappoints. For my money, she’s simply one of the most remarkable writers to come along in years.
John Yamrus, author of Don’t Shoot the Messenger: Just Give Him a Good Place to Hide
*** Nolcha Fox’s new poetry book, Writing Between the Lines, is a keen collection of poems that begin and end with two lines from another poet’s poem. Although two lines are credited to another poet, the reader is taken into a new story and resolution decorated with vivid imagery and metaphors.
Barbara Leonhard, author of Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir
***
“Writing Between the Lines”by Nolcha Fox is a collection that surprises at every turn. Written as part of a 30-poems-in-30-days challenge, each piece begins and ends with borrowed lines from other poets, yet what happens in between is unmistakably Fox’s own voice.
The poems move effortlessly between humour and heartbreak. In “Drunk,” night, sleep, and dawn stumble together like a merry band of revellers, while “My Father’s Death” cuts deeply with raw grief and memory. “Dog Days” transforms the sun into a mischievous dog splashing through a creek, while “Keep Things Simple” delivers biting dark wit.
Nolcha Fox excels at capturing the contradictions of human experience, sorrow and absurdity, longing and laughter. Her imagery is sharp, her tone daring, and her honesty uncompromising.
As a teacher, I will always remain a student. In the classroom of life, l wish to work with and educate others. Whether you’re a teacher, student, or just your average person, here are a few of my "TEACHERble" moments.
Hi! my name is Sebastian (You can call me Seb!) ...welcome to my Blog. I'm a photographer from Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy my work.
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