After a career as a newspaper editor, Eric Chiles began teaching writing and journalism at colleges in eastern Pennsylvania. He is the author of What Was and Will Be (Resource Publications, 2024) and the chapbook Caught in Between (Desert Willow Press, 2019). His poetry has appeared in 3Elements Review, Comstock Review, Main Street Rag, Pembroke Magazine, Rattle, Tar River Poetry, and elsewhere. In 2014 He completed a 10-year section hike of the Appalachian Trail.
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PRAISE:
Eric Chiles‘ Carbon Footprint is a haunting exploration and meditation on the present moment. His poetry references fake news, the “digital illusion of connectivity,” and an empty mall with locked doors and display mannequins that look back at no one during COVID. Yet, Chiles has a knack for addressing our turbulent times with humor and sincerity. In “When the gods retire,” he imagines Apollo finding eternity through social networking and working with Hermes to pioneer Instagram. Even when addressing mortality, there’s a sense of persistence in Chiles’ work and a willingness to laugh during tough times.
–Brian Fanelli, Ph.D., author of Waiting for the Dead to Speak
Eric Chiles‘ Carbon Footprint invites readers on a journey to observe the ordinary with amusement. It is a collection that insists that life is funny, and there is wordplay to be found, even in the shadow of something more serious, like an “Early morning E.R. visit,” “Hospital time,” or the Great Depression. In these poems, there is no escaping hardship or death, but there is a way to locate the irony and laugh through it. Chiles is an expert guide, at times rerouting the GPS but always pointing out “the satisfaction / of getting there // together.” These poems will be mapped on the minds of all who indulge, and are sure to leave a lasting footprint.
–Abigail Michelini, Ph.D., author of Brace
Discover the transformative power of poetry with Eric Chiles’ 2026 chapbook, Carbon Footprint. Perfect for both seasoned poetry lovers and curious newcomers, this chapbook collection brims with vivid imagery, compelling metaphors, and a masterful blend of storytelling and contemporary poetic techniques. Each poem invites readers to explore themes of humanity, resilience, and introspection through a lens that is at once relatable and profound. With a tone that ranges from poignant to playful, this chapbook is an unforgettable journey into the heart and mind of modern life – crafted with precision and artistry by a poet whose voice deserves to be heard.
–Michael Hathaway, Publisher of Chiron Review
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