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Whiskey Shots Volume 14: Rollicking Anthropomorphisms And Other Observations On The Human Condition
by Richard Satterlie
Category: Family/Relationships/General Nonfiction EPIC eBook Award Finalist
Description: Is it possible to approach, with a straight face, the question of what it means to be human? We are the only animals capable of sitting around and thinking of such things, capable of laughing at ourselves, capable of making comparisons and formulating generalizations about our species. Consider this collection of poems a mirror that reflects our human nature--without make-up and hair gel, tweezed eyebrows and a fresh shave. It is glorious to be human. It's also humbling. Richard Satterlie is the author of the historical fiction book PHOENIX, the 2007 Arizona Literary Contest and Book Awards First Prize for Novels, and an EPPIE AWARD Finalist as a contributor to FEAR: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HORROR AND SUSPENSE.
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2008
eBookwise Release Date: December 2008
 
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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [53 KB]
Words: 7714
Reading time: 22-30 min.
Introduction Is it possible to approach, with a straight face, the question of what it means to be human? For me, the answer is no. Furthermore, I feel that the poetic medium of communication, although stylistic and proud, exacting and thoughtful, can also be fun and entertaining. This collection contains some serious pieces, but it also includes a lighter side--some contributions carry a gut-punch final line, others seem somewhat sophomoric at first glance. Yet, they all come together with a common theme. Each highlights one of those little peculiarities that wrap us all into a common yarn-ball of being human, bound by the thread of what we call human nature. This extends to how we view and interpret the world around us. So each poem addresses, overtly or subtly, a small stitch in the fabric that makes us such strange (and predictable) beings. We are the only animals capable of sitting around and thinking of such things, capable of laughing at ourselves, capable of making comparisons and formulating generalizations about our species. And we tend to project our values and judgments onto all of the other organisms around us. To me, each set of our observations has a vector, pointing out a characteristic of human nature as it exists today. I have tried to define some of these vectors. What I've found is the sharp tips of the arrows that represent these vectors tend to swirl around and jab us humans right in the butt. Consider this collection a mirror. The reflection it gives lacks make-up and hair gel, tweezed eyebrows and a fresh shave. It's from the squinty-eyed gaze just before the hot mist of our morning shower fogs the mirror and softens all of our hard edges. It's about how we see ourselves at this vulnerable time, but also about how we see our world around us with those bloodshot eyes. It is glorious to be human. It's also humbling. * * * *
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