We Scare Ourselves

About the Book

We Scare Ourselves is a fresh, new book of poetry with an occasional bit of prose thrown in for good measure. Ortega’s poetry plays with decomposition by capitalizing and centering each line, indicating that every line standing alone is entitled to its own interpretation, its own meaning. Love, revolution, relationships, and music are the principal themes of this new, daring work. In this, the author of We Scare Ourselves exposes his own vulnerability by drafting a poem, then revising and recycling the poem until the better poem reveals itself right before your very eyes. We Scare Ourselves will draw you into a world of contradictions and surreal absurdities by echoing strong, crafted images and emotional truths about love and loss.

About the Author

Gail Ortega, currently retired from his career as a nonprofit executive, continues to advocate for the poor and downtrodden in our communities. We Scare Ourselves is his first published work of poetry. He serves as a minister at Shiloh UMC, is married to Bridgett, and lives in Hampton, Georgia.