He drifts away under sunny leaves And stands beside the waiting bus, a skinny boy of thirteen, As soft good-byes expressed in his ear tilt the smile off his face ... In this collection of poetry, Andrew Byrne combines a strong voice with a keen wit as he explores conflict and resolution and questions whether fate determines the course of our lives. Byrne, a seasoned poet, uses clever wordplay to observe how vulnerable we are in personal relationships as well as in society. In an animated, open, and unsparing style, he shares lyrical verse about love and loss, violence, death, and betrayal reexplored not only through modern eyes, but through mythical and ancient figures such as Orpheus, Heracles, and Achilles. First Words is a diverse collection of poetry that shares one man's view of the world, designed to provoke emotion, humor, and most importantly, reflection on the beauty of life."A journey to remember." -Albert DeGenova, poet, editor, and publisher of After Hours magazine "A catholic sensibility and untrammeled imagination combine to create an original poetic voice that is ... wry, witty, dark, and hilarious ..." -P. Hertel, editor of After Hours magazine