A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Michael B Gushue

Latest Title: Sympathy for the Monster
Sympathy for the Monster
Sympathy for the Monster by Michael B Gushue

Within these pages, Gushue masterfully captures the essence of the silver screen, infusing his verses with the haunting allure of the celluloid world.

“Sympathy for the Monster” unveils a highway-laden landscape, where each automobile becomes an iron lung of speed, enveloping its driver in a relentless pursuit. The roads themselves emerge as frames, holding captive those who traverse them, reminding us that escape is but an illusion. With poetic finesse, Gushue delves into the depths of taxidermy, unraveling the enigmatic process of transforming sawdust into a pure substance that breathes life into inert bodies. The truth of skin and the gestures of fight or flight take center stage, revealing that our outer appearances shape our very existence.

Contemplating the enigma of freedom, Gushue invites readers to ponder whether it lies in being true to oneself or in the process of becoming who we are meant to be. He deftly weaves together the metamorphosis of identities, from Clemens to Twain, revealing the complex interplay between personal transformation and the shackles of societal expectations. The author’s exploration of the role of money as an answer to the yearning for freedom adds a thought-provoking layer to the tapestry of his verses.
In a poignant address to the Monster, Gushue unearths the inner turmoil that propels one into a world steeped in hate. The Monster’s reflection in the lake mirrors a broken face, a drowning flower, perpetually pursued by men whose blood surges with an unquenchable flicker. The haunting struggle of the Monster to find solace becomes a shared experience, as the windmill of torment burns through its very core. Together, we navigate the barren moors of asphalt and gravel, stepping outside the movie theater to confront the realities that resonate within us all.

A spellbinding tapestry of words, infusing the cinematic realm with an ethereal quality that captivates.

About Michael B Gushue

Michael Gushue has been published in many journals, including the Indiana Review, Third Coast, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Gargoyle, and American Letters and Commentary. His latest book — poems about movies — is “Sympathy for the Monster,” from Alien Buddha Press. His first book, “Gather Down Women” — poems in the voices of women from Greek myth — has been re-issued in a revised edition by Souvenir Spoon Books. His other books are “Conrad,” “Pachinko Mouth” and — in collaboration with CL Bledsoe—”I Never Promised You A Sea Monkey” and “The Judy Poems.” He lives in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Author Schedule:

Venue(s):

Edgar Allan Poe Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:

10:15 am

Presentation End Time:

11:05 am

Signing Time:

11:15 am