Join us for an evening of poetry with William May, where he will be reading from his debut poetry book, Blaze without Burning.
About the Book
Blaze without Burning, William May's debut collection, offers readers of poetry a deeply personal, intricately structured exploration of resilience, transformation, and human connection. Published in May 2025 from Finishing Line Press, this chapbook stands out for its innovative approach to form: each poem in the first section is paired with a "twin" poem in the second section, two poems sharing a title but presenting distinct perspectives. More than a simple stylistic choice, this twinned structure forms the heart of the chapbook, allowing a thematic and emotional resonance that provides an opportunity for the reader to reinterpret and re-experience what has been presented. As in life, nothing in these poems is singular or fixed, but every moment, emotion, and choice communicated within this work has its counterpart. William May's Blaze without Burning exemplifies the ways poetry can illuminate, and ultimately connect us all.
About the Author
William May, a fourth-generation native of New York’s Greenwich Village, dubbing himself a "Neurodiverse Language Wizard," began writing poetry when he was 9 years old while a student at The Stephen Gaynor School, a pioneer in special education. There he received individualized support, allowing him to thrive academically, and, eventually, enabling him to attend New York City’s highly competitive Collegiate School. His work has been featured in SoFloPoJo, Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets, and The Centifictionist. His debut poetry chapbook, Blaze without Burning, was recently published by Finishing Line Press. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of North Carolina’s MFA program in creative writing, William shares his work through performances, newsletters, and his podcast, Argh! Not Another Podcast About Book Publishing. Find more of his work at WilliamMayWrites.com.
Order your book here:
https://midtownreader.com/book/9798899900099?ic_referral=JgZMDbPY96ISj-JQzeBWpWNcu4SAO9uL4AT195T3p-owM02dl6OV1u4BfFIYKu6CuJCCmiZG90uSdOFZqvi8KBf4E5dJzxn8z9Sxd37cNnA2Z3aSKf_uYzMjaI4cUYD3GxjS
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