Extra Pith is Jesse Kates' first book of poems, but he writes with the subtlety and assurance of a well-seasoned veteran in this powerful debut collection. Mixing sharp, crisp, imagery with the sonorous wit of his song lyrics, Kates brings the full package to the page. In the daily struggles to balance love, family, marriage, and love again, he is always alert to the subtle emotional shifts that can so easily topple us. When all else is dark, Kates is out there trying to make out the faint glimmers for himself, and for his readers. - Jim Daniels, author of Rowing Inland and other books