I Love Juice, I Hate Almost Dying, by Peter Soucy

Poetry, chapbook, 36 pages, from Bottlecap Features.

I Love Juice, I Hate Almost Dying is a debut chapbook by Peter Soucy. Within its pages, Soucy intertwines emotions, objects, and places, crafting a loose narrative that examines the tumultuous terrain of mourning, shedding light on the profound impact of a mother’s absence, the catharsis of tears, and the solemn rituals of funerals. Through these contemplative explorations of loss and familial discord, Soucy explores the profound resonance of everyday artifacts, from bikes and carpets to kombucha and soppressata, imbuing them with unforeseen depth. 

Interwoven with the explorations of loss and mourning are poems in the form of rhythmic lists that invite readers to meditate on the complexity of phrases, products, and ideas that define contemporary American life. In such moments, I Love Juice, I Hate Almost Dying, finds moments for light and resilience. In another instance of levity, Soucy paints a tender portrait of a mother watching her child's little league baseball game, capturing the quiet scenes of joy and pride that punctuate a journey through grief. The chapbook culminates with the long poem, “Endless Moment,” that juxtaposes the freedom of biking in Prospect Park against the harsh realities of traffic accidents. In this final poem, Soucy confronts the fragility of life head-on, suggesting that poetry may not be able to change the past, but it can help us heal for the future.

Peter Soucy currently works, writes, and resides in Central Massachusetts. He received his MFA in Poetry from Brooklyn College in 2021. His writing has been published in Big City Lit, Solar, and Works & Days. In his free time, he enjoys walking around reservoirs and looking at birds.