The Child HELP Partnership at St. John’s University was founded in 2001 with the mission of protecting children
from interpersonal violence and its emotional impact. They use best practices in mental health and education
to empower children, caregivers, and individuals serving them.

POETRY

In Monsoon Solo—the book in which the poem “Happy Hour” appears—psychological undercurrents are explored with the speed and ferocity of the Mississippi River, that vast artery that cuts through America’s heartland. These poems travel — from the river’s muddy banks to roadside motels; from buses packed with after-schoolers to rush-hour-congested commuter trains; and from desolate alleys to city streets teeming with lap dogs, trash cans and newsstands.

The poems’ speakers, even when in a crowd, are alone. They harbor secrets. Like hungry ghosts, they feed on the unspoken, grapple with the stuff of nightly news: sex, death and other people’s money. Haunted by the past, they tell urgent stories.

Buy the book and help make a difference:

Cinematography, Editing and Sound Mix: Eve Cuyen at Harlem Pictures
Music: Kevin MacLeod
Cover Photography: 85 Photo Productions
Cover Design: Julie Metz Design