Deviant traces a trajectory of queer self-discovery from childhood to adulthood, examining love, fear, grief, and the violence that men are capable of in intimate same-sex relationships. Richly engaged with the tangible and experiential, Patrick Grace’s confessional poetry captures profound, sharp emotions, tracking a journey impacted equally by beauty and by brutality. Coming-of-age identity struggles are recalled with wry wit, and dreamlike poems embrace adolescent queer love and connections as a way to cope with the fear and cruelty that can occur in gay relationships. Later poems in the collection recall vivid moments of psychological trauma and stalking and explore the bias of the justice system toward gay men. Collecting memories, dreams, and fears about sexual identity, Deviant makes important contributions to queer coming-of-age and intimate partner violence narratives.

Table of Contents:
I Why Not Dastardly Nick the Dick The First A Cone of Light Watergun Ravine Traffic Light Nightcallv II Layover Strawberry Island Arthur Teardown Student Debt Caterpillar The Dark Gap It’s Like That, Is It The Circuit III The Big Dark Someday You Will Ache You look older Afloat Touch Anywhere to Begin As If The Floor Was Water The Gaslighter As You Were switchrail IV A Violence Heatwave document Vermilion Therefore soft stalker The Tunnel Tilt The Mayfly Make Good V The Calling fullblown Fission Meanwhile"