Ready or Not

In her first collection of published poems, Ready or Not, Robin Wright explores the universal theme of unexpected life events through images and language related to relationships, love, loss, death, and dementia. This collection begins with "Fringe," a poem about teenage loneliness and isolation. Several poems about romantic relationships follow, including "Renters," a poem about a marriage starting out differently than expected but leaving the reader with hope. Other poems ignite the emotions of relationships lost. Several lead the reader through the narrator's frame of mind and feelings during and after a break-up. "What This Woman Wants," centers on a woman's needs from her partner and is a nod to Kim Addonizio's "What Do Women Want?" The collection then segues into poems about the loss of beloved friends and a beloved uncle, taking the reader into the darkness of grief. "Like This" focuses on a different kind of loss and revolves on what we are willing to do or not do as a society. The final poem features a loved one struggling with dementia as witnessed by the narrator. Wright uses accessible language and uses images that resonate with others to make a human connection. "Like This" was a finalist in Poetry Matters Spring Robinson/Mahogany Red Literary Prize. The poems in this collection have previously appeared in the following: Amarillo Bay; Ariel Chart; Foliate Oak Literary Magazine; Indiana Voice Journal; Lost River Literary Magazine; Muddy River Poetry Review; Nature Writing; Peacock Journal; Rat's Ass Review; See Spot Run; Terror House Magazine; Zygote in My Coffee; Time Present, Time Past, the University of Southern Indiana's 50th anniversary anthology.