A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming Your Parents
Assure Press, 2021
A Beginner's Guide to Becoming Your Parents is a collection of poems that function as an operating manual for navigating the adult machine through the modern world. Mastery of that machine, however, is contingent on a working knowledge of its component parts. Thus, A Beginner's Guide aims first to teach the reader how to fall in love, put down roots, and let go of angst. These are also the book's three parts, each of which is voiced by a single speaker. Sometimes contemplative and full of wisdom, and other times nostalgic and wholly unreliable, the speaker reflects on a stalled coming of age and the great lengths he must still go to mask dysfunction. His is a path forward towards goodness, marked by frivolity, near tragedy, and a few lucky breaks consistent to a generation.
Elegy for a Star Girl
Swimming With Elephants Press, 2017
“These poems illustrate great depth within the soul, body, and mind, and the illuminating language and imagery express the universe as a metaphor. Life is questioned and answers are hard to find. Life is a journey that must be experienced from above. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”
“A little bit mystical with a sprinkling of science, I discovered a beautiful and bittersweet mixture of hope and heartbreak between the pages. Christopher Grillo’s poetry is nothing short of enchanting...”
Heroes' Tunnel
Anaphora Literary Press, 2015
“No other poet has ended a section with a poem about running off with a beer keg on his back while his friend Frank runs interference “barking at frat boys, clearing me a path”...These are not poems that can be sailed out into the night. They will return to boomerang the heart.”
“The voice rings true. The places, people and themes are familiar but are brought to life with unique insight from this author’s young life.”
The Six-fold Radial Symmetry of Snow
Zoetic Press (2015
“An amazing collection of poetry that covers the themes of masculinity and sportsmanship with a delicate poetic touch. Excellent.”
When Rain Fills the Chasm
Finishing Line Press, 2014
“When Rain Fills the Chasm makes me want to write one thousand love poems, but I don’t think any of them would stack up to what he’s given us dozens of times.”
“Grillo will have you walking lonely avenues looking for your first love at midnight.”