Boss Hogs Kill Firedogs
Austin-based poet David Bray has published his collection of poems, Boss Hogs Kill Firedogs: Rhythm & Rhyme of Texas and Beyond. The title poem “Boss Hogs Kill Firedogs” is an elegy of sorts for his hometown (and a nod to Marcia Ball, whose seminal band was Freda & the Firedogs). Bray has been around for much of Austin’s legendary heyday as “The Live Music Capital of the World.”
The title poem is six pages long. So at David’s request, we’re going to do something a little different here. He has asked that we run just a brief excerpt of that poem as well as of “A Waltz Without.”
The nine poems in the book are listed with Roman numerals. “Boss Hogs Kill Firedogs” is first, and “A waltz without” is seventh. The collection ranges from the aforementioned lament for the Austin music scene, to traveling in Texas, and also some compelling autobiographical episodes.
The book concludes with several bonus sections of tips for writing social media posts, syllabic and rhyming verses vs. free verses, and an invitation to the ongoing Fortnightly Writing Challenges on his Instagram account. The book throws in a few examples to get you started.
Boss Hogs Kill Firedogs: Rhythm & Rhyme of Texas & Beyond is available for purchase on Amazon.