Poor Substitute by Brianna Ferguson

The second poetry collection by Brianna Ferguson, POOR SUBSTITUTE sketches a tragic comedy of growing up and growing wise as a young pariah and an old soul. Through sharp-witted observations on education, relationships, pop culture, and identity, Ferguson’s poetry draws on a personal history of disillusionment and discovery, contending with the artificiality of modern life, the imposed ideals of others, and the encroachment of new technology, to reach a tentative contentment with the now. Whether arriving at the sixth grade grad dance, a small town trailer park, or an upscale New York restaurant, these poems frame the dreams and convictions of a lifelong outsider unconvinced by prevailing attitudes.

112 pages, A5

ISBN: 978-1-8381789-6-3

Cover art by Marshall Reeves

Published June 2024