The Brave Never Write Poetry

First published in 1985, when Daniel Jones was just twenty-six, The Brave Never Write Poetry, the poet/critic/novelist's lone collection of poems, was a cult hit, turning 'poetry' on its head before its author (then known simply as 'Jones') swore off verse entirely. Written in a direct, plainspoken, autobiographical and at times confessional style in the tradition of Charles Bukowski and Al Purdy, these confrontational poems about sex and boredom, drugs and suicide, document Jones' depressive, alcoholic years as an enfant terrible. This long overdue revised edition brings Jones' unforgettable voice to a new generation of readers and includes the complete text of the original collection (including Jones' own sardonic assessments of his own poetry) and a new postscript by poet/critic Kevin Connolly. 'Mostly the book tours the bars, detoxification centres and psychiatric wards that have been Jones’ homes away from home. Along the way there is much smoking, drinking, eating and vomiting – so much of the last that Jones makes a fair bid to become the poet laureate of puking.' – Globe and Mail