Second O of Sorrow

Publisher’s Weekly describes Sean Thomas Dougherty as “A blue-collar, Rust Belt romantic to his generous, enthusiastic core,” and Dorianne Laux praises him as “the gypsy punk heart of American poetry.” He is the author or editor of fifteen books including All You Ask for is Longing: Poems 1994-2014 (Boa Editions), and Double Kiss: Stories, Poems, Essays on the Art of Billiards (Mammoth Books 2017). His awards include a Fulbright Lectureship to the Balkans, and an appearance in Best American Poetry. Known for his dynamic readings, he has performed at hundreds of venues, universities and festivals including the Dodge Poetry Festival, the Old Dominion Literary Festival and across Albania and Macedonia where he appeared on national television, sponsored by the US State Department. He works as a Med Tech and Caregiver for people with brain injuries. He lives in Erie, PA.

“A blue-collar, Rust Belt romantic to his generous, enthusiastic core, Dougherty has filled eight prior volumes with character sketches, pool hall odes (he now works in a pool hall), vaunting declarations, outcries, celebrations, protests, and promises, ‘in the rusting cities in the rusting places where we leaned against the wall, in the smoky haze of bar smoke and breath.’” —Publisher’s Weekly“Sean Thomas Dougherty’s poems vibrate with ‘red and blue braids of light’, in a voice that resonates and transports. Arresting, precise imagery from a poet of grand and memorable vision, this is the gypsy punk heart of American poetry.” —Dorianne Laux“Sean Thomas Dougherty's poems are singing knives that cut your heart so that it beats again!” —Phil Metres“Every poem Sean Thomas Dougherty writes is holy, a psalm for the damned.” —Sheryl St. Germain