Poet Tree: Root, Branch & Sap

The poetry of Phillip A. Ross was written pretty early in his life, though he also wrote many books as an adult and is mostly brief snippets of his conversation with God. It’s not profound, though it likes to pretend differently. And you need to know in advance that Ross has a wry sense of humor. So does God, and maybe that’s why they get along. If humor is funny because it contrasts odd things in unexpected ways, then the best humor isn’t all that funny. The best humor is ridiculously weird. Ross often says that he is half joking. Some call it joking on the square. Mostly, his poetry is just raw emotion looking for a connection, an idea looking for a place to be. Like most poetry, it sings lonely songs decorated with hopeful expectations. Too much of it is existential angst tinged with silliness.