The literature of a people defines their character and the best of it defines their valuation of talent and intellect. Insight, imagination and the liberation of captive truths presented on the point of a sword are the virtues of superior literature. To render the present state of the world in historical context, in clear, lucid, original prose poetry that is full of love, sex, crime, compassion, the human comedy and natural wit are the aims of The Velvet Meat Grinder. To create a readable work of poetry it is necessary to be an enemy of pretense and all things narcissistic out of simple respect for the intelligence of the reader and I strive to maintain these standards. I have tried to shake the status quo and antagonize the smug, the complacent, and the pretenders. Please let me know if I have succeeded.