“A joy to read and feels incredibly alive. The poems have a gorgeous momentum…a singular voice.” – Andrés Cerpa, author of The Vault

“Fabulous – vivid and breezy and urgent and tragic all at once.” – Abeer Hoque, author of Olive Witch

“Hilarious. A ‘double double’ of delights.” – Rosebud Ben-Oni, author of If This Is The Age We End Discovery

OOO

What is the funny thing about a panic attack? Is it that you think you’re dying? Is it that you actually live?

Is it that, afterwards, it’s 2:00 am and you’re in your living room surrounded by three giant gorgeous paramedics, who look like April, May, and June on next year’s calendar, and since your heart didn’t actually stop, they won’t be needing that gurney after all?

Yes, maybe that’s the funny thing! Or maybe you just need something – anything – about this to be funny.

With his signature style and singular voice, award-winning writer Ben Kassoy invites readers into his darkest chapters, deepest relationships, and wildest dreams – the spectacularly original world of his debut poetry chapbook, The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack.

Brimming with humor, heart, and defiant wonder in the face of depression, anxiety, and grief, these poems explore how one man unleashes the transcendent power of imagination and love to create a life that’s bigger, fuller, and more possible – and how all of us can, too.

Excerpt: “Safety”