"I can't separate what's serious from what's funny. I'd like the mix in my poems to reflect a range of emotions and ideas." - Bob Hicok
At a certain point in every marriage or romantic relationship, after the belly butterflies of early infatuation have flown away, after lust and love mellow and mature, a kind of teetering equilibrium sets in. From this middle vantage point, poet Bob Hicok has written "Sex & Love &," one of the most profoundly entertaining poetry collections we've read in years.
The subject matter is clearly stated in the title - explored in all its naked, personal, hilarious and awkward glory. But Hicok's light touch mitigates the often blunt and heavy subject matter - a special talent that has made him one of contemporary poetry's most popular writers.
Couples age, love deepens, and life goes on - but not forever. Hicok confronts middle age, lost youth, the mundane details of everyday living, and the prospect of death with wild swings of humor and poignancy. And in those swings this collection leaves its lasting impression.
A recipient of six Pushcart Prizes, a Guggenheim and two NEA Fellowships, Hicok is the author of nine poetry collections, and his books have been awarded the Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress and "Notable Book of the Year" by Booklist. Hicok is an associate professor of creative writing at Virginia Tech and an associate professor of English at Purdue University. | 
