In The 13th Round by Jake St. John, these are poems you can sit ringside with, walk with, reminisce with, try to dance with, play with and get a drink with. These poems sing like the best corner man in the business, directing us to go ahead and take the hit, duck and weave and know when to work the inside because you might as well go for the glory. -------- Jake St. John is a poet's poet. If you're looking for poetry slicing the page up with an economy of words, look no further. THE 13TH ROUND is a knock-out collection-rich in mood, raw in feeling. In short, it resonates. Whether your day is chaotic or quiet, take a moment-read, reflect, and let these poems hit where they matter most. -Michele McDannold, publisher, Roadside Press ---- Jake St. John has taken his punches, and he gives back with equal force. His book, THE 13TH ROUND, lands solidly with the poetics of vitality-a vitality that sings of comedy, horror, and, most importantly, the movement through the everyday, with all its dreams and body blows. These knocks shape us into more than the sum of our parts, keeping us fighting the good fight all the way to the grave. -John Greiner, Clouded Saints and Kinky Shadows ----- Jake St. John writes precise, unadorned poems that move quickly to the heart of things, pulling the reader along and offering a shared humanity and some hard-won wisdom along the way. Unflinching, and dusted with grim humor. Bukowski without the bravado. A welcome balm for these times. -William Taylor Jr., Pretty Things To Say