Blaze without Burning, William May's debut collection, offers readers of poetry a deeply personal, intricately structured exploration of resilience, transformation, and human connection. This chapbook stands out for its innovative approach to form: each poem in the first section is paired with a "twin" poem in the second section, two poems sharing a title but presenting distinct perspectives. More than a simple stylistic choice, this twinned structure forms the heart of the chapbook, allowing a thematic and emotional resonance that provides an opportunity for the reader to reinterpret and re-experience what has been presented. As in life, nothing in these poems is singular or fixed, but every moment, emotion, and choice communicated within this work has its counterpart. William May's Blaze without Burning exemplifies the ways poetry can illuminate and ultimately connect us all.
William May, a fourth-generation native of New York's Greenwich Village, dubbing himself a "Neurodiverse Language Wizard," began writing poetry when he was 9 years old while a student at The Stephen Gaynor School, a pioneer in special education. There he received individualized support, allowing him to thrive academically and, eventually, enabling him to attend New York City's highly competitive Collegiate School. His work has been featured in SoFloPoJo, Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets, and The Centifictionist. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of North Carolina's MFA program in creative writing, William shares his work through performances, newsletters, and his podcast, Argh! Not Another Podcast About Book Publishing. Find more of his work, links to publications, and social media contact information at WilliamMayWrites.com.
“William May‘s chapbook Blaze without Burning reminds us what it is like to be human, alive to the joys and fears the world provides in amplitude. These direct poems are steady on their mark, yet explicate the essential tensions of the human condition: “a blue bird/landing to perch upon/my shoulder signals/good luck,/but the talons/on my flesh/don’t feel like fortune.” A fine debut collection.”
– Stuart Dischell, author of The Lookout Man and Good Hope Road
“The well-crafted, luminous poems in Blaze without Burning are beacons of light guiding the poet through a world that at times is confusing and out of focus. The use of clear, concise language complements the gracefulness of the poet’s voice that is always vulnerable and compassionate. Every line is filled with observations of his immediate world and its mysteries as they move towards a greater truth through the poet’s explorations of the self and his search for a place in it.”
– Kevin Pilkington, author of Playing Poker With Tennessee Williams
Blaze without Burning, William May's debut collection, offers readers of poetry a deeply personal, intricately structured exploration of resilience, transformation, and human connection. This chapbook stands out for its innovative approach to form: each poem in the first section is paired with a "twin" poem in the second section, two poems sharing a title but presenting distinct perspectives. More than a simple stylistic choice, this twinned structure forms the heart of the chapbook, allowing a thematic and emotional resonance that provides an opportunity for the reader to reinterpret and re-experience what has been presented. As in life, nothing in these poems is singular or fixed, but every moment, emotion, and choice communicated within this work has its counterpart. William May's Blaze without Burning exemplifies the ways poetry can illuminate and ultimately connect us all.
William May, a fourth-generation native of New York's Greenwich Village, dubbing himself a "Neurodiverse Language Wizard," began writing poetry when he was 9 years old while a student at The Stephen Gaynor School, a pioneer in special education. There he received individualized support, allowing him to thrive academically and, eventually, enabling him to attend New York City's highly competitive Collegiate School. His work has been featured in SoFloPoJo, Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets, and The Centifictionist. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of North Carolina's MFA program in creative writing, William shares his work through performances, newsletters, and his podcast, Argh! Not Another Podcast About Book Publishing. Find more of his work, links to publications, and social media contact information at WilliamMayWrites.com.
“William May‘s chapbook Blaze without Burning reminds us what it is like to be human, alive to the joys and fears the world provides in amplitude. These direct poems are steady on their mark, yet explicate the essential tensions of the human condition: “a blue bird/landing to perch upon/my shoulder signals/good luck,/but the talons/on my flesh/don’t feel like fortune.” A fine debut collection.”
– Stuart Dischell, author of The Lookout Man and Good Hope Road
“The well-crafted, luminous poems in Blaze without Burning are beacons of light guiding the poet through a world that at times is confusing and out of focus. The use of clear, concise language complements the gracefulness of the poet’s voice that is always vulnerable and compassionate. Every line is filled with observations of his immediate world and its mysteries as they move towards a greater truth through the poet’s explorations of the self and his search for a place in it.”
– Kevin Pilkington, author of Playing Poker With Tennessee Williams
