Oyster Perpetual: Poems
A measured light-heartedness emanates beneath the natural pathos of Austin LaGrone s Oyster Perpetual. His humor sneaks up on us, not for the sake of a rehearsed laughter but for an echo of truth wandering the halls of mirrors. LaGrone knows how to pull off the masks of his speakers, and at first they (we) don t know what has happened, what s been revealed. Read Oyster Perpetual, and at times, be ready to laugh until the tears come. There s maturity in this first collection, and its terrain is illuminated by a personal tune that enters us as we enter. --Yusef KomunyakaaAustin LaGrone has written a first book of exceptional singularity, wholeness, and focus of vision. He can be playful and tragic. His poems are deadly serious, even when they are funny, and he is unafraid of being understood. He is also unafraid of making fun of himself (or his persona) because he understands he is part of the great human joyful mess. He sings from right in the middle of it, he praises, he satirizes, his heart is broken yet he, his poems, still have hope. --Thomas Lux