Passion & Pain is JJ Johnson's second collection of poetry. Unlike his first book, Seeds and Weeds, Passion & Pain looks at the darker side of life. Spanning over 30 years of inspirations, these poems provide insight into the mind and heart of a man in search of his soul and its mate. Written in the moment, these works are often harsh, sometimes extreme and always honest. There is not so much a clash between right and wrong within as a compromise between the heart, mind and soul to understand the struggle that life is. While crossing the bridge between life and what lies beyond life, the choices made in the darkest times are the ones that most enlighten. This philosophy runs through poems that express affection, friendship, love, erotica, betrayal, contemplations of suicide and hope that is never beaten down. No matter how dark it seems, a sense of optimism shines throughout the pages of this book.