Urban rhymes for modern times [Book blurb Friday #28]

Too often poetry written for teenagers misses by a country mile.  Joshua Waites wouldn’t thank you for country:  his attitude and intelligence re-define ‘streetwise’, his vision is 20:20 urban and there’s hardly a leaf or a blade of grass to be seen.   ‘Rhymes’ is a misnomer too – many don’t, nevertheless his sensitivity and observation is astonishing, not only for a young man (he is not yet twenty-two) lacking much in the way of formal education, but would be equally impressive were he a prize-winning scholar from any of England’s most eminent educational establishments.

 “Born on the streets, lived on the streets and will likely die on the streets” (Beth Waites, wife)

“A Shakespeare for the twenty-first century” (Benjamin Jonson, Minister for Culture)

[Warning for the super-squeamish - contains sex, violence and bad language – all very relevant]

[137 words]

Week #28’s response to Lisa Ricard Claro’s Book Blurb Friday challenge Joseph Claro’s photograph,    Each week Lisa posts a photograph which represents a book cover.   Participants are challenged to “Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book”  
http://www.writinginthebuff.net/p/book-blurb-friday.html