Old Friends

Frank C. Modica

ISBN: 978-93-95224-21-5

Copyright 2022, Cyberwit

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

Frank Modica calls upon the muse of poetry with the first poem in this adorable chapbook.  The poem doesn’t really call out to Calliope (the muse of Epic poetry), but it harkens towards the feelings invoked perhaps by an epic play.  It’s a nice introduction and sets the stage, so to speak, to what awaits the reader in the next pages of this new collection.

“Old Friends” is a chapbook of poetry dedicated to and/or really about the author’s dog, Nero.  Once you read through these heart warming adventures and sometimes deeper moments, you may long for a furry companion of your own.  Or at the very least, you may want to read more poems about animals and pets.

Authors, painters, sculptors, musicians alike often have used a loved one as the inspiration behind their works.  Modica has found his poetic artistry in tales of life with his dog.

The poems are mostly written in free verse.  There are some prose poems and a haiku included as well. 

From the poem “Dilemma”:

“He likes riding in my car—he’s a warm weather dog. On our way
back home we face potholed roads and the damn wind. In the back
seat I carry his bowl, bottled water, a baggy of doggy treats. A row
of flashing red lights slow down in front of us. Our trail home inter-
rupted, we crawl behind the musty fog of buses and trucks. My car
skids on loose gravel, I brake in time but his snack spills on the
floor. Oh, dog we do not care for the cold and wind. Tired and
hungry, we search for safer, highways.”

Modica has successfully created a life of a special dog in these poems.  The poems are relatable and full of empathy and compassion for a dog’s life.  If you’re a pet owner, they are certainly part of the family. 

He examines all aspects of a pet and a pet owner’s existence together.  The poems are placed well within the book and also are written with special glimpses into how owner and pet interacts and spends their days, nights, and weekends. 

Through the good and the bad, it’s quite an accomplishment for a poet to see their vision through to the end.  Modica has been able to do this with ingenuity and imagination.  However, it is impossible to ignore the very real and loving influence Nero must’ve had on this poet’s life.

Curl up with your own special friend and enjoy this touching book.  Then after you’re done, be sure to pass it along!

~LB Sedlacek is the author of “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” “Ghost Policy,” “I’m No Robot,” “Words and Bones,” “Swim,” “Four Thieves of Vinegar & Other Short Stories,” and “The Jackalope Committee & Other Short Stories.”