BROTHERFUL

by

BRYAN BORLAND

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"Brotherful is part tribute, part elegy to the poet’s older brother. It is rendered with depth and sensitivity. Written with unflinching candor, the collection invites us into a world where memory gives way to reverie. We are welcomed into a history both intimate and elusive—the life of a man we never truly meet, yet come to love deeply as he's remembered through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy and the adult that boy becomes. Borland weaves together personal history, fragments of family, conversations with friends, and the geography of grief to offer something both mythic and achingly real. The brother’s name is never revealed, adding to the sense that we are reading not just about a person, but about loss itself—universal, unspeakable, and enduring. The poet, still processing the loss decades later, anchors the elegy around the would-be 50th birthday of his brother. In this long arc of mourning, Borland’s voice remains unmistakable. His reflections carry the social and political awareness, and the sharp-eyed critique of American life, that longtime readers will recognize. This is a beautiful book, one that belongs in the hands of every poetry lover. But it reaches further—Brotherful has the power to move even those who don't typically read poetry. There is richness here for everyone." - Paul Romero, poetry lover, New York City

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"My dear Bryan - Your book arrived today and looks splendid. As you know, I am an avid critic of book production. But I have only approbation (!) for Brotherful - strong, memorable, appropriate. I must tell you I found very moving things there - especially 'To Oliver...', 'Lineage (Poetry),' '12th Valentine's Day,' 'Will', & 'Power.' I so look forward to (re)reading this book." - Ian Young, editor of The Male Muse & founding publisher of Catalyst Press, Canada's first gay publishing house

"Brother Bryan, I just read Brotherful and it took several minutes for my eyes to clear and for me to catch my breath and bearings. What you do, how you open a vein so beautifully, is an astonishing gift. 'Brother, Listen' is a fucking masterpiece alone! Brilliant, powerful work!" - Chuck Willman, poet and infamous gay smut writer with a sweet spot 

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