Gary Stephen King II was in a dark place when he first put pen to paper. A former US Marine, King was idolized by a younger brother who, wanting to follow in his footsteps, joined the armed forces. The decision lead to the young man's death, leaving King devastated and guilt ridden. Poetry would help him navigate this dark period of his life.

The poems within "Life of a King" reflect King's love for his brother, his friends, and his family while chronicling his own journey of self-examination. What begins with his brother's loss becomes an evocative, haunting assessment of his own...