Average angels surround us. They give more than they take. They make life worthwhile and they light up our lives. Do you know any? This is about them… Life is a game of opposites. Positive and negative, pleasure and pain… life and death. There are many who cannot reconcile the good from the bad because there seems to be such little hope without some form of unseen intervention. This book reflects upon this reconciliation through a compelling journey of emotion, imagery, and metaphor. Some truths are obvious concerning what is right and wrong, yet others are not. Our natures do not allow them to appear easy, if they even translate at all. There is no perfect answer to discern what constitutes a good life. Yet practical themes of humor, dignity, humility and strength overcoming weakness reverberate throughout this book like a divine whisper in an indelible dream. They all represent the permanent take away… for an average angel. Average Angel is Matt Elmore's second published poetry collection. Following on the heels of his successful debut collection Constellation Road (2023), Elmore builds on his unique rapid-fire, rhythmic style to tell his off-beat stories of love, loss and lament. His internal rhyme schemes captivate and enthral, and his wry humour and wit draws the reader into a maelstrom of images rich with emotion and charged with energy as he weaves his poetry. His ability to conjure up intriguing and surreal titles for his poetry make Elmore a compelling poet to read. Matthew Elmore truly is a unique talent on the contemporary writing scene and is certain to have a significant mention when the history of 21st Century new wave of poetry is recorded.
What they said about Average Angel:
There's wonderful and playful argument in this collection. The word-play, wit, and rhyme nicely clash with the contemplative and spiritual heft that flows like a cold current below the surface of these engaging poems. This is honest artistic work, and a pleasure to read. - Maurice Manning, Pulitzer Prize nominated author
Matt Elmore’s Average Angel is a true pinnacle of modern poetry. - Brandon Adam Haven, Author of Into the Grey
Matt Elmore is as prolific in his work as he is diverse, each engaging piece inspiring in its context, cleverly crafted and singular in scope. His words are entertaining even while they deliver powerful insight, transporting the reader to his vision of reality. Tender messages intermingled with wisdom, wrapped in erudition. - Imelda Zapata Garcia, Author of Beyond the Pyre
