Who Am I Today

"Deftly delivered, elegantly crafted, the volume subtitled "Poems of Identity Crises" cements Steven M. Gerson's rank at the forefront of contemporary American poets. Timeless, yet evocative of our troubled present, Who Am I Today? opens with gorgeous odes of great, requited love. Section by section, bridged by apt quotes from literary masters, it then radiantly encapsulates the travails of immigrants amid xenophobia, women confronting misogyny, veterans grappling with PTSD, and individuals facing anxiety, infirmity, and mortality. This is Americana writ large with the dream/idea/promise beset by harsh, enervating reality in a land of mass deportations, male chauvinism, memory lapses of soldiers' sacrifices, and economic spoilation alongside unfathomable wealth. But no matter the subject matter, the luminous language employed by this Poet Laureate of the Everyday, of the American 99.99%, elevates one's spirits, quiets tension, and provides hope regarding humanity's fate."

-Dr. Robert C. Cottrell, author of the forthcoming The Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey: New York City Baseball's Golden Age Amid Integration.

"Who Am I Today? is a poetry chapbook that showcases the vast array of human experience and emotion. It captures myriad facets of human identity, the highs and lows of love and heartbreak, the dichotomy between inclusion and exclusion, the hope of youth and experience of age, the bloom of health and the withering of the infirm. Whether these poems offer readers explorations of the familiar or insights into new territory, they'll resonate with all and leave them thinking and wanting more."

-Stacy Harken, JD, Information Architect/Technical Writer, Garmin Industries

"Steve Gerson's eighth book of poetry brings to the reader his deep feelings about relationships and social justice as embedded in the natural human process of self-reflection and self-actualization. As Steve begins all his books with a poem dedicated to his wife, Sharon, Who Am I Today? presents a longer selection that speaks to not just love but meaningful connections and the dedication one feels through a strong, long-lasting relationship. Consistent with his latest books, Steve's observations about justice and human caring emerge thematically, especially with the early poems reflecting the value of immigration to our culture. When seeking to understand 'self, ' as the title suggests, Steve readjusts his writing from historical perspectives to the human soul. Embracing his love for nature expressed through metaphor and imagery, he shares insights with harsh realities affecting the human condition as described in 'Travel's Travail' and 'In this time of anxiety.' Taking the human condition to the maximum, 'Existential Cataract' reflects on aging and life change-a natural order. This latest collection speaks to the mind and soul of the reader while reaffirming that as a living society, we are all just humans seeking to understand our role in a very complex and confusing world. Steve Gerson helps us answer our own question: Who Am I Today?"

-Bill Lamb, Ph.D.