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Recommend this book:
A Selection of Poems and Short Stories
Maree Alaina Graham
2026 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite
A Selection Of Poems And Short Stories by Maree Alaina Graham covers a wide variety of subjects that pertain to everyday life, from the author’s personal experience with marriage, divorce, and the pain of being at odds with her daughter to learning to live with the personal choices she made along the way. In the short stories, Willie The Worm teaches other worms to hide from birds and how to help keep the soil of the garden nourished. Willie and his students are taken with Mrs. Mac’s garden to a planet called Zanaria. Can Willie and his students find a way back home, or are they stuck on this distant planet for good? Mrs. Miller tells a fascinating story to the girls her daughter invited to a slumber party. Casey has a dream that isn’t quite finished. She visits Japan with her best friend Timiki, where she has a strange and magical encounter.
The poetry in this book rings true to the author’s personal experiences. Each poem is uniquely written so that it tells a story with a deep emotional impact that will keep readers moving forward to enjoy the wisdom on each page. The short stories are absolutely adorable. Each one has interesting characters that connect the reader to each individual plot. I am a huge fan of poetry books and anthologies of short stories. This volume contains the best of both. I recommend A Selection Of Poems And Short Stories by Maree Alaina Graham to readers that enjoy poems and heartfelt, whimsical, and entertaining stories.
A Selection Of Poems And Short Stories by Maree Alaina Graham covers a wide variety of subjects that pertain to everyday life, from the author’s personal experience with marriage, divorce, and the pain of being at odds with her daughter to learning to live with the personal choices she made along the way. In the short stories, Willie The Worm teaches other worms to hide from birds and how to help keep the soil of the garden nourished. Willie and his students are taken with Mrs. Mac’s garden to a planet called Zanaria. Can Willie and his students find a way back home, or are they stuck on this distant planet for good? Mrs. Miller tells a fascinating story to the girls her daughter invited to a slumber party. Casey has a dream that isn’t quite finished. She visits Japan with her best friend Timiki, where she has a strange and magical encounter.
The poetry in this book rings true to the author’s personal experiences. Each poem is uniquely written so that it tells a story with a deep emotional impact that will keep readers moving forward to enjoy the wisdom on each page. The short stories are absolutely adorable. Each one has interesting characters that connect the reader to each individual plot. I am a huge fan of poetry books and anthologies of short stories. This volume contains the best of both. I recommend A Selection Of Poems And Short Stories by Maree Alaina Graham to readers that enjoy poems and heartfelt, whimsical, and entertaining stories.
Recommend this book:
Dividing Untangled Light
Verses of the Finite Heart
Eufe Tantia Jr
2026 Honorable Mention
209 Pages
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Rosalba Mancuso for Readers' Favorite
Dividing Untangled Light: Verses of the Finite Heart, by Eufe Tantia Jr., is a vibrant and vivid hymn to the spiritual dimension of life. In this sweet and silken poetry collection, every event of human existence becomes an occasion for spiritual connection and self-awareness. Nature, weather, and life experiences, as well as loss and diseases, are described as pure light connected to a divine order, where things and people have sense and purpose and serve to heal us. “What matters is who you are” emerges with stunning strength and clarity in these poems. Darkness and night are also elements of love, alongside the day, because everything is crossed by light, and the author moves through these luminous rays with soft elegance and poetic mastery.
In Dividing Untangled Light, Eufe Tantia Jr, a medical laboratory scientist by profession, explores the depths of the most intimate emotions and fragments of everyday life. The neighbor who prunes a garden is described as an angel with the bright duty to defend nature. Childhood spent under the gentle hues of rainbows yields verses that upend the order of the English language, transforming it into a kind of melody. The digital world is described in powerful terms that make us forget the risks this reality poses to human creativity and guide us toward a mystical world. This poetry collection speaks to hearts and cradles our souls. The lyrical flair is exceptionally inspiring and engaging. Moreover, the poems relax and educate us. I found great pleasure in reading the verses of this book. It is highly recommended to readers who love the meditative approach of this type of contemporary poetry.
Dividing Untangled Light: Verses of the Finite Heart, by Eufe Tantia Jr., is a vibrant and vivid hymn to the spiritual dimension of life. In this sweet and silken poetry collection, every event of human existence becomes an occasion for spiritual connection and self-awareness. Nature, weather, and life experiences, as well as loss and diseases, are described as pure light connected to a divine order, where things and people have sense and purpose and serve to heal us. “What matters is who you are” emerges with stunning strength and clarity in these poems. Darkness and night are also elements of love, alongside the day, because everything is crossed by light, and the author moves through these luminous rays with soft elegance and poetic mastery.
In Dividing Untangled Light, Eufe Tantia Jr, a medical laboratory scientist by profession, explores the depths of the most intimate emotions and fragments of everyday life. The neighbor who prunes a garden is described as an angel with the bright duty to defend nature. Childhood spent under the gentle hues of rainbows yields verses that upend the order of the English language, transforming it into a kind of melody. The digital world is described in powerful terms that make us forget the risks this reality poses to human creativity and guide us toward a mystical world. This poetry collection speaks to hearts and cradles our souls. The lyrical flair is exceptionally inspiring and engaging. Moreover, the poems relax and educate us. I found great pleasure in reading the verses of this book. It is highly recommended to readers who love the meditative approach of this type of contemporary poetry.
Recommend this book:
Tenebrae
A Memoir of Love and Death
Dan Flanigan
2026 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Dan Flanigan’s Tenebrae is a collection of original poetry that examines a marriage carried into widowhood through memory and confession. Among them, in the poem Quills, quoted speech and recurring porcupine imagery show spouses mistaking self-protection for devotion until sobriety alters their life together. Certain Proceedings in the Tribunals of a Vanity Called Hope uses courtroom allegory with black comedy to recast cancer treatment as repeated appeals against death. Verse returns in Strepitus: Like a Fallen Empire, where imperial ruin beside a coastline becomes an image of bodily survival after purpose has vanished, with late rhyme marking the courage shared by the couple.
Dan Flanigan’s Tenebrae is a beautiful collection whose language gives every poem a truly enduring grace and power. Most poems use free verse, yet Flanigan is still somehow able to give the form a musical quality. Others read like essays, more prose than poetry, and still his shifts in cadence make each piece distinctive within the collection’s intimate voice. My favorite poem, That Sunday Morning, is excellent because it follows a sixteen-year-old boy watching Sara and Renée leave St. Paul’s, then shows how that moment becomes lifelong guilt over Sara’s fate through biblical allusion. My other favorite is a narrative poem, 72nd & Amsterdam, and I love how one Manhattan corner becomes the exact point where forty-five years of marriage meet medical uncertainty, giving the husband’s return to that place a measured emotional and moral charge. Readers drawn to autobiographical poetry shaped by love and loss will adore this.
Dan Flanigan’s Tenebrae is a collection of original poetry that examines a marriage carried into widowhood through memory and confession. Among them, in the poem Quills, quoted speech and recurring porcupine imagery show spouses mistaking self-protection for devotion until sobriety alters their life together. Certain Proceedings in the Tribunals of a Vanity Called Hope uses courtroom allegory with black comedy to recast cancer treatment as repeated appeals against death. Verse returns in Strepitus: Like a Fallen Empire, where imperial ruin beside a coastline becomes an image of bodily survival after purpose has vanished, with late rhyme marking the courage shared by the couple.
Dan Flanigan’s Tenebrae is a beautiful collection whose language gives every poem a truly enduring grace and power. Most poems use free verse, yet Flanigan is still somehow able to give the form a musical quality. Others read like essays, more prose than poetry, and still his shifts in cadence make each piece distinctive within the collection’s intimate voice. My favorite poem, That Sunday Morning, is excellent because it follows a sixteen-year-old boy watching Sara and Renée leave St. Paul’s, then shows how that moment becomes lifelong guilt over Sara’s fate through biblical allusion. My other favorite is a narrative poem, 72nd & Amsterdam, and I love how one Manhattan corner becomes the exact point where forty-five years of marriage meet medical uncertainty, giving the husband’s return to that place a measured emotional and moral charge. Readers drawn to autobiographical poetry shaped by love and loss will adore this.
Recommend this book:
Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics
Jan Sikes, Rick Sikes, Sydney Klein, Dianne Rich
2026 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes, Rick Sikes, and Sydney Klein is a collection of original speculative and literary fiction short stories and poetry. Among them is The Forgotten, a story of a fading population on Egluna, whose existence changes when two visitors awaken a dormant ability. She Dances with a Memory centers on Gertrude McNabb as she prepares a birthday ritual for Hiram and enters a shared presence shaped by recollection, presenting memory as an active bond that maintains connection beyond physical absence. The Blind Man in the Night presents an early morning meeting that reframes vision as moral direction, showing that perception is defined by how a person chooses to move through the world and what they follow when certainty is not visible.
Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes, Rick Sikes, and Sydney Klein brings together short stories that dance between the surreal and the soulful, and the combination of stories and poems works well. Throughout, I felt like the collection was the perfect balance with its three parts, and they are all beautifully written and entirely self-contained. There are common themes, but the individual pieces stand alone. While difficult to pick a favorite, two stood out to me. In A Story of Love and Time, an aging billy goat living on a quiet Texas ranch forms an attachment to a single wild rose, and that simple bond becomes a way of looking at devotion across the passing years. Fairytale shifts into a poetic form, following a princess, a siren, and a lost boy as their paths echo and reshape one another. This is a collection for readers who value short fiction that blends stylized storytelling and deep poetry in a meaningful, accessible way.
Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes, Rick Sikes, and Sydney Klein is a collection of original speculative and literary fiction short stories and poetry. Among them is The Forgotten, a story of a fading population on Egluna, whose existence changes when two visitors awaken a dormant ability. She Dances with a Memory centers on Gertrude McNabb as she prepares a birthday ritual for Hiram and enters a shared presence shaped by recollection, presenting memory as an active bond that maintains connection beyond physical absence. The Blind Man in the Night presents an early morning meeting that reframes vision as moral direction, showing that perception is defined by how a person chooses to move through the world and what they follow when certainty is not visible.
Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes, Rick Sikes, and Sydney Klein brings together short stories that dance between the surreal and the soulful, and the combination of stories and poems works well. Throughout, I felt like the collection was the perfect balance with its three parts, and they are all beautifully written and entirely self-contained. There are common themes, but the individual pieces stand alone. While difficult to pick a favorite, two stood out to me. In A Story of Love and Time, an aging billy goat living on a quiet Texas ranch forms an attachment to a single wild rose, and that simple bond becomes a way of looking at devotion across the passing years. Fairytale shifts into a poetic form, following a princess, a siren, and a lost boy as their paths echo and reshape one another. This is a collection for readers who value short fiction that blends stylized storytelling and deep poetry in a meaningful, accessible way.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/long-lost-puzzle-pieces-second-edition&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61xl-q+9wPL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Author Thom Kudla brings readers a mesmerizing collection of poetry and short writing pieces in Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces: Second Edition. "Past Judgement" is a beautiful poem that follows a person's journey in life, navigating adulthood and worldly vices until they find clarity and meaning. "The Greatest Disappointment" is a critique of the misguide...){kind=link}
Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces, Second Edition
The Subtext Songs and the Dark Side of Waking Up at the Gates
Thom Kudla
2026 Silver Medal
72 Pages
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Author Thom Kudla brings readers a mesmerizing collection of poetry and short writing pieces in Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces: Second Edition. "Past Judgement" is a beautiful poem that follows a person's journey in life, navigating adulthood and worldly vices until they find clarity and meaning. "The Greatest Disappointment" is a critique of the misguided attempts to seek meaning and purpose through material pursuits. Pain is felt by everyone at some point in their lives, and "You Need a Unique Identifier to Access This Account" makes it clear that our suffering is not unique. "Rearview Mood" explores how humans tend to seek freedom from things outside their control, when true liberation can only be found one way. "The Only Way to Dabble in Space Travel" illustrates the power of human imagination.
Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces: The Subtext Songs and the Dark Side of Waking Up at the Gates is an illuminating poetry collection that explores themes of life, human nature, and existence. Thom Kudla's writing style makes his poetry both intimate and universal to the reader. This is the fourth book I've read by this author. What I like about his writing is that it makes you think about the human experience in general and our place in the world. And this collection is no different. The book is divided into three parts, each of which focuses on different aspects of the human condition. Another interesting fact is that it's immensely re-readable. You will probably discover new insights every time you revisit Kudla's poetry in this collection. For poetry aficionados, this is one of the best collections of the year.
Author Thom Kudla brings readers a mesmerizing collection of poetry and short writing pieces in Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces: Second Edition. "Past Judgement" is a beautiful poem that follows a person's journey in life, navigating adulthood and worldly vices until they find clarity and meaning. "The Greatest Disappointment" is a critique of the misguided attempts to seek meaning and purpose through material pursuits. Pain is felt by everyone at some point in their lives, and "You Need a Unique Identifier to Access This Account" makes it clear that our suffering is not unique. "Rearview Mood" explores how humans tend to seek freedom from things outside their control, when true liberation can only be found one way. "The Only Way to Dabble in Space Travel" illustrates the power of human imagination.
Long-Lost Puzzle Pieces: The Subtext Songs and the Dark Side of Waking Up at the Gates is an illuminating poetry collection that explores themes of life, human nature, and existence. Thom Kudla's writing style makes his poetry both intimate and universal to the reader. This is the fourth book I've read by this author. What I like about his writing is that it makes you think about the human experience in general and our place in the world. And this collection is no different. The book is divided into three parts, each of which focuses on different aspects of the human condition. Another interesting fact is that it's immensely re-readable. You will probably discover new insights every time you revisit Kudla's poetry in this collection. For poetry aficionados, this is one of the best collections of the year.
Recommend this book:
Beauty of Colors Poems
Cleanne Johnson
2026 Gold Medal
62 Pages
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
Beauty of Colors: Poems by Cleanne Johnson reminds us of the beauty found around and within us that we often overlook and take for granted. The poet talks about the need to appreciate people based on their character and not their skin color. She encourages people of color to embrace their features, their dark skin, hair, and culture. The book covers freedom from oppression, justice, ancestry, and the lies about Africa that many believed for years. The poems honor mothers and the natural world, showing how both nurture us in ways we barely recognize, pointing out how often we ignore those quiet sacrifices, even though they shape our lives. This book takes you through it all—the love for material things, wrestling with vanity, growing together, soaking up the beauty of God's creation, and hanging onto hope that tomorrow will be kinder and full of love.
Beauty of Colors: Poems is a powerful collection that reminds us of what matters most: our humanity, loving ourselves, self-acceptance, and diversity. Cleanne Johnson writes with passion, making each poem feel close to the heart. It lets her authenticity shine through every page. She does not just write verses; she tells stories of girls who are uncomfortable in their skin and fearful of people judging them before they even get to know them, and of the world crying for help. The poems challenge societal norms and beauty standards, celebrate melanin, and inspire readers to appreciate their uniqueness and not put others down for their differences. The imagery, metaphors, and emotions will stick with you forever. I loved how the author uses nature to express growth, resilience, and the cycle of life, showing how we are all connected to one source. The photos of nature, birds, waves, and the land add depth to the poems and give readers a visual story. I enjoyed this book because it directly confronts racism, colorism, environmental destruction, and societal injustice, while promoting hope and liberation.
Beauty of Colors: Poems by Cleanne Johnson reminds us of the beauty found around and within us that we often overlook and take for granted. The poet talks about the need to appreciate people based on their character and not their skin color. She encourages people of color to embrace their features, their dark skin, hair, and culture. The book covers freedom from oppression, justice, ancestry, and the lies about Africa that many believed for years. The poems honor mothers and the natural world, showing how both nurture us in ways we barely recognize, pointing out how often we ignore those quiet sacrifices, even though they shape our lives. This book takes you through it all—the love for material things, wrestling with vanity, growing together, soaking up the beauty of God's creation, and hanging onto hope that tomorrow will be kinder and full of love.
Beauty of Colors: Poems is a powerful collection that reminds us of what matters most: our humanity, loving ourselves, self-acceptance, and diversity. Cleanne Johnson writes with passion, making each poem feel close to the heart. It lets her authenticity shine through every page. She does not just write verses; she tells stories of girls who are uncomfortable in their skin and fearful of people judging them before they even get to know them, and of the world crying for help. The poems challenge societal norms and beauty standards, celebrate melanin, and inspire readers to appreciate their uniqueness and not put others down for their differences. The imagery, metaphors, and emotions will stick with you forever. I loved how the author uses nature to express growth, resilience, and the cycle of life, showing how we are all connected to one source. The photos of nature, birds, waves, and the land add depth to the poems and give readers a visual story. I enjoyed this book because it directly confronts racism, colorism, environmental destruction, and societal injustice, while promoting hope and liberation.
Recommend this book:
Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies
A Poetic Memoir of Spiritual Materialism
Sean P. Russell
2025 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite
Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies: A Poetic Memoir of Spiritual Materialism by Sean P. Russell is a collection of poems with a deeply powerful exploration of the human experience. Through verses, personal memories, and honest reflections, it takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and spiritual awakening. The poems in this collection don’t shy away from truth but instead offer a glimpse into the messy yet beautiful process of change. This is an engaging and thought-provoking collection with its ability to express deep truths without forcing them on the reader. I felt that the author's words weren’t preachy; instead, they encourage you to discover your truths, often in the moments of silence and pause between the lines of each poem.
This book has a way of making you confront your doubts, desires, and vulnerabilities while also guiding you toward a deeper understanding of who you really are. If you’ve ever felt lost or disconnected or struggled with your sense of identity, this collection helps to remind you that you’re exactly where you need to be in life. Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies encourages you to embrace change and find beauty in just being. Sean P. Russell has truly done a wonderful job in creating this literary masterpiece and I find myself in awe of the impact of this collection. There are poems I have bookmarked simply for the fact that they have inspired me to look at my own life and shift my perspective and way of thinking. This collection is one I will be recommending to as many people as I can.
Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies: A Poetic Memoir of Spiritual Materialism by Sean P. Russell is a collection of poems with a deeply powerful exploration of the human experience. Through verses, personal memories, and honest reflections, it takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and spiritual awakening. The poems in this collection don’t shy away from truth but instead offer a glimpse into the messy yet beautiful process of change. This is an engaging and thought-provoking collection with its ability to express deep truths without forcing them on the reader. I felt that the author's words weren’t preachy; instead, they encourage you to discover your truths, often in the moments of silence and pause between the lines of each poem.
This book has a way of making you confront your doubts, desires, and vulnerabilities while also guiding you toward a deeper understanding of who you really are. If you’ve ever felt lost or disconnected or struggled with your sense of identity, this collection helps to remind you that you’re exactly where you need to be in life. Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies encourages you to embrace change and find beauty in just being. Sean P. Russell has truly done a wonderful job in creating this literary masterpiece and I find myself in awe of the impact of this collection. There are poems I have bookmarked simply for the fact that they have inspired me to look at my own life and shift my perspective and way of thinking. This collection is one I will be recommending to as many people as I can.
Recommend this book:
Was It a Dream?
Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry
Larada Horner-Miller
2025 Honorable Mention
132 Pages
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
Was It a Dream? by Larada Horner-Miller is a deeply personal collection of poems that chronicles the author’s journey and love of poetry. It covers her struggles and reflections over fifteen years. She talks about humanity and her connection to the Maya, sharing her time in Mexico and Canada, and observations of nature. The author has included a love poem from her wedding and pays tribute to her father and great-grandmother while recounting her upbringing. She discusses the pain of not having a child by the age of forty, the loneliness she felt, and her struggle with the perception of failing to pass on her heritage, which made her feel less of a woman. The book details her introduction to poetry, illustrating how it transformed her view of the world and highlighting the importance of sharing her experiences with others. It also covers aging, storytelling, teaching poetry, and actively creating a meaningful life.
Was It a Dream? is a beautiful collection that delves into themes of love, loss, identity, healing, and spiritual connection, all inspired by Larada Horner-Miller's personal experiences. Influenced by poets such as Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, and Joy Harjo, her work combines free verse, magical realism, and haiku to convey her evolving understanding of herself and the world around her. The collection is both a catharsis for the author and an invitation for readers to find beauty and meaning in life's ordinary and extraordinary moments. The author skillfully balances profound, emotionally charged subjects like alcoholism, motherhood, love, heartbreak, and miscarriage with reflections on simple, everyday experiences. This juxtaposition creates a relatable and heartfelt narrative that will resonate deeply with readers, emphasizing that even amidst life's most intense struggles, there are small, meaningful moments worth cherishing. The book has photos of people mentioned in the poems and colorful images that are eye-catching. Overall, this book conveys inspiring messages and is a compelling read for anyone seeking connection and insight through poetry.
Was It a Dream? by Larada Horner-Miller is a deeply personal collection of poems that chronicles the author’s journey and love of poetry. It covers her struggles and reflections over fifteen years. She talks about humanity and her connection to the Maya, sharing her time in Mexico and Canada, and observations of nature. The author has included a love poem from her wedding and pays tribute to her father and great-grandmother while recounting her upbringing. She discusses the pain of not having a child by the age of forty, the loneliness she felt, and her struggle with the perception of failing to pass on her heritage, which made her feel less of a woman. The book details her introduction to poetry, illustrating how it transformed her view of the world and highlighting the importance of sharing her experiences with others. It also covers aging, storytelling, teaching poetry, and actively creating a meaningful life.
Was It a Dream? is a beautiful collection that delves into themes of love, loss, identity, healing, and spiritual connection, all inspired by Larada Horner-Miller's personal experiences. Influenced by poets such as Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, and Joy Harjo, her work combines free verse, magical realism, and haiku to convey her evolving understanding of herself and the world around her. The collection is both a catharsis for the author and an invitation for readers to find beauty and meaning in life's ordinary and extraordinary moments. The author skillfully balances profound, emotionally charged subjects like alcoholism, motherhood, love, heartbreak, and miscarriage with reflections on simple, everyday experiences. This juxtaposition creates a relatable and heartfelt narrative that will resonate deeply with readers, emphasizing that even amidst life's most intense struggles, there are small, meaningful moments worth cherishing. The book has photos of people mentioned in the poems and colorful images that are eye-catching. Overall, this book conveys inspiring messages and is a compelling read for anyone seeking connection and insight through poetry.
Recommend this book:
Under Your Nails
Poems of Love, Loss, and Healing
Lauren Marelli
2025 Bronze Medal
74 Pages
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Under Your Nails: Poems of Love, Loss, and Healing by Lauren Marelli is a collection of original poetry, each piece ranging in length, tone, and tenor. The titular poem, Under Your Nails, describes an act of forced exposure, where one’s body and identity are unwillingly pried open, leaving lasting remnants. Picnic presents a scene in a cemetery engaging with the dead, describing the shifting sky, changing weather, and the gradual sinking into the softened earth. Alone focuses on self-dialogue, portraying imagined conversations and dramatic monologues while questioning the presence of an unseen observer. Ethereal explores the concept of devotion by comparing a figure’s appearance and influence to deities and the celestial, leaning into the power such presence holds. Through these poems, Marelli harnesses the impact of both the physical and emotional.
Under Your Nails by Lauren Marelli is a thoughtful collection of writing that is beautifully fluid and rich, conveying candid and thoughtful moments from the heart of the poet to the page. I have two favorites that I found especially touching. In the piece Reborn, Marelli gives the forest the feel of both a refuge and a haunting embrace, wherein she symbolizes the painful but necessary shedding of one’s past. Knock, on the other hand, is a powerful testament to the realization that not every demand for connection is worth answering, in a bold statement on reclaiming one's own power. Marelli’s ability to capture some of humanity's most complex emotions and make them feel extremely personal to a reader is a true demonstration of her talent, especially in an age where the art is slowly being chipped away. Marelli gives me hope that there are still incredible poets out there. Very highly recommended.
Under Your Nails: Poems of Love, Loss, and Healing by Lauren Marelli is a collection of original poetry, each piece ranging in length, tone, and tenor. The titular poem, Under Your Nails, describes an act of forced exposure, where one’s body and identity are unwillingly pried open, leaving lasting remnants. Picnic presents a scene in a cemetery engaging with the dead, describing the shifting sky, changing weather, and the gradual sinking into the softened earth. Alone focuses on self-dialogue, portraying imagined conversations and dramatic monologues while questioning the presence of an unseen observer. Ethereal explores the concept of devotion by comparing a figure’s appearance and influence to deities and the celestial, leaning into the power such presence holds. Through these poems, Marelli harnesses the impact of both the physical and emotional.
Under Your Nails by Lauren Marelli is a thoughtful collection of writing that is beautifully fluid and rich, conveying candid and thoughtful moments from the heart of the poet to the page. I have two favorites that I found especially touching. In the piece Reborn, Marelli gives the forest the feel of both a refuge and a haunting embrace, wherein she symbolizes the painful but necessary shedding of one’s past. Knock, on the other hand, is a powerful testament to the realization that not every demand for connection is worth answering, in a bold statement on reclaiming one's own power. Marelli’s ability to capture some of humanity's most complex emotions and make them feel extremely personal to a reader is a true demonstration of her talent, especially in an age where the art is slowly being chipped away. Marelli gives me hope that there are still incredible poets out there. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Death Kindly Stopped For Me
A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson
Corey Elizabeth Jackson
2025 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Poetry - General
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Death Kindly Stopped For Me: A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson by Corey Elizabeth Jackson is a collection of original work that contemplates death, existence, and transformation through various poetic forms. In Rather an Odd Quirk of Death, death is personified as a constant yet uninvited companion, creating a dialogue about fear and curiosity about mortality. How Good to Be Safe in Graveyards explores the tranquility of death, imagining it as a peaceful release from life's problems. Barbie Could Not Stop for Death reinterprets Dickinson's classic poem, contrasting Barbie's perfect world with the harsh realities of adulthood and self-awareness. I Go to the Place Where Stillness Waits speaks about the solace found in nature and spiritual tranquility, with vibrant imagery and a lyrical tone, offering peace even in the face of life's chaos.
Corey Elizabeth Jackson's Death Kindly Stopped For Me is a wonderfully thoughtful collection of poems and a truly skillful mix. Jackson is clearly prolific but I genuinely felt that each piece spoke to me differently. I have two favorites: Owl Ensconced on Oaken Branch and Awaiting the Solar Flare, both of which stood out to me. In the former, Jackson captures the silent wisdom of an owl, embodying stillness and spiritual insight against a cinematic backdrop of celestial beauty. The latter ventures into the cosmic, imagining a collective transcendence as humanity faces an impending disaster, seeking unity and peace in a transformed world. Throughout the book, Jackson’s language is powerful, effectively balancing the philosophical with imagery, making the exploration of mortality accessible. Very highly recommended.
Death Kindly Stopped For Me: A Book of Poetry Inspired by Emily Dickinson by Corey Elizabeth Jackson is a collection of original work that contemplates death, existence, and transformation through various poetic forms. In Rather an Odd Quirk of Death, death is personified as a constant yet uninvited companion, creating a dialogue about fear and curiosity about mortality. How Good to Be Safe in Graveyards explores the tranquility of death, imagining it as a peaceful release from life's problems. Barbie Could Not Stop for Death reinterprets Dickinson's classic poem, contrasting Barbie's perfect world with the harsh realities of adulthood and self-awareness. I Go to the Place Where Stillness Waits speaks about the solace found in nature and spiritual tranquility, with vibrant imagery and a lyrical tone, offering peace even in the face of life's chaos.
Corey Elizabeth Jackson's Death Kindly Stopped For Me is a wonderfully thoughtful collection of poems and a truly skillful mix. Jackson is clearly prolific but I genuinely felt that each piece spoke to me differently. I have two favorites: Owl Ensconced on Oaken Branch and Awaiting the Solar Flare, both of which stood out to me. In the former, Jackson captures the silent wisdom of an owl, embodying stillness and spiritual insight against a cinematic backdrop of celestial beauty. The latter ventures into the cosmic, imagining a collective transcendence as humanity faces an impending disaster, seeking unity and peace in a transformed world. Throughout the book, Jackson’s language is powerful, effectively balancing the philosophical with imagery, making the exploration of mortality accessible. Very highly recommended.
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