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by James Schutz (Author)
Finally - a book that gets it. These poems capture the soul of local
government with honesty, heart, and just the right amount of humor.
If you've ever served your community - as an elected official or as
staff - you'll feel seen, understood, and proud. And if you haven't, this
collection offers a rare and moving window into what it's really like to
do this work: the quiet frustrations, the small triumphs, and the deep
commitment that keeps us coming back.
- Kate Colin, Mayor, City of San Rafael, California
It's rare in poetry to be privy to the minute particulars of a given
profession. As the former city manager of one of the Bay Area's lovelier
cities, though one not without its civic problems, Jim Schutz acts as our
Virgil through the not-so-divine comedy of running a municipality.
His tone can be biting, whimsical, impassioned, and/or funny, but his
disposition is always one of deep concern for "the commons," and a
profound appreciation of those who serve our local interests. As Jim
says in his preface, these are really love poems to a work force too many
take for granted. So, let him entertain you as he informs you. In these
benighted times, maybe you'll find yourself among "Those optimists
who inhale conflict/and exhale unity."
- Thomas Centolella, author of Almost Human
Who knew local government could be poetry? Jim Schutz did! This
gem of a book makes you feel the joy, pain, and sheer craziness that
come with being a public servant in these turbulent times.
- Kip Harkness, former Deputy City Manager,
City of San Jose, California
More than ever in these times, we need those who honor words for their
precision and beauty. Jim Schutz has done just that. He has explored
the craft of poetry and brought it into City Hall, into the offices of
government workers who don't get enough praise for their tireless work.
We thank him for his world of "pensions, Ford Fusions, fluorescent
lights, taxes, and gavels in the small chambers of democracy."
- Kathy Evans, author of Trespassers Welcome and Imagination
Comes to Breakfast
