“Bortz delivers a subtle portrait of violence and endurance, and an intriguing work that places varied experimental forms in dialogue with one another.” —Publishers Weekly
“A luminous and consistently breathtaking exploration of grief, Bortz’s stunningly crafted writing will stay with you long after its final exhale.” —Ruben Quesada, author of Murmuration
“William Bortz has an impressive ability to reflect upon the genuine, often harsh realities of life with profound writing that is equally candid and hopeful.” —Davis John Patton, singer/songwriter
“In The Grief We’re Given, William Bortz shares poems that cause you to tremble and quake. Taking you through moments of loss, breakthroughs of clarity, and all that encompasses catching and releasing memories we are made of— like feathers falling into our palms.” — Cheyenne Raine, co-founder of Raine Publishing
“The Grief We’re Given is a brilliantly tender exercise of remembrance, of rearranging darkness and reaching toward that “distant light.” —Christine Jewel, author of Fading Through
“The most valuable piece of Will’s poetry is his considerate spirit when it comes to re-evaluating and appreciating things that are often seen as mundane in day-to-day experiences. It is like being challenged to be more thankful.”
“Shards is the beautiful & reflective journey of William Bortz. These poems feel like peace and a cup of warm, fragrant tea on a rainy afternoon. Will writes stunning pieces about love, loss, and healing with so many stand-out lines:
“I lie my head/ on the bedrock of/ necessary change/ and become the strongest/ thing that has ever been/ so silent.”
Highly recommend.”