In Burn Diary, Joshua Chris Bouchard's debut collection, the reader is immersed in a dark and visceral world, which is both natural and deeply unnatural. Violence walks beside the reader, but so do moments of grace, whether it's in the echo of a loon call in the evening, or the sight of a friend's cancer scar and the gift of ice cream. These are unapologetic, gritty poems, which explore the impact of physical and emotional trauma in tightly stretched lines and propel the reader ever forward. There is courage here, and honesty, and energy, and a new, unforgettable, poetic voice.