Vice Grip by Mel Sherrer is a brave outcry over the brutal and inhumane victimization of the marginalized Black community, the voices that hope to bring a positive change in the world. Mel Sherrer protests strongly against the moribund atmosphere of the decadent society -Maryam Quereshi, Songs of Cardinal The power and tragedy of Mel Sherrer’s Vice Grip both lie in its simultaneous timeliness and timelessness. This collection is an indictment not only of justice and lethal force applied unequally on the basis of color, but also of the expectations placed by those who are not Black on how those who are should respond to each latest searing pain. Sherrer asks: Can the strangled be expected to give eulogies, to speak? That question echoes throughout Vice Grip, demanding an answer we all know but still struggle to grasp. Steve Brisendine, The Words We Do Not Have Vice Grip by Mel Sherrer is poetry written at the apex of form, emotion, and social justice. The rich brevity of each piece culminates in clever, calculated lines which provoke and refuse to be disillusioned about the realities of this world. -Ashley Elizabeth, You Were Supposed to Be a Friend