Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Four Deadly Horsemen: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Fear by Brandt Schubbe is a collection of poems that are, curiously, grouped thematically under different sentiments and moods. In these poems, the author explores different emotions of life, including terror, bewilderment, frustration, and fear. These emotions are very symbolic in this collection and the author rides high on them.
The opening poem makes an insightful statement and points to the mental and physical lethargy that sometimes overwhelms us when we experience chaos. The poems cover a wide range of topics, including lessons of war, the questions that life throws at us, and the experience of love and loss.

Brandt Schubbe’s style is unique and evocative, with short lines that are strong in rhythm. The diction is awesome and the author shows deftness in coining phrases that allow readers to feel what he writes about. Some of the poems are very insightful and loaded with life lessons. One of my favorite poems is “An Early Twenties Revelation,” and the following stanza caught my attention and left me mulling:

“I must focus
For this moment
Is just right…”

This is the kind of collection for readers who love poems that are simply written, intimate, and emotionally rich. The reader is pulled in and compelled to see the world and reality through the eyes of the poet or the persona. The use of the first person lends great force to the poems, elevating them to a state of intimacy. The poet ceases to be an observer and becomes the subject of the poems. The Four Deadly Horsemen: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Fear is beautifully written and evocative, sweet to the ears, and emotionally appealing.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Intimate, curiously emotional, and psychologically exciting, Poetically Unapologetic by Sophia King is a collection that features gems that readers will adore. It’s not a book for readers who are looking for erudite verses, but those who have learned to listen with the heart, to see with the inner gaze, to allow life to speak to them. The ability to feel, to be aware, and to observe seems to be a powerful quality that comes across beautifully in Sophia King’s poetry and she makes it come across to readers in a free style that combines narration with evocative lines to offer delightful and, sometimes, painful images.

This collection features random poems that have one thing in common: they reflect the author’s state of mind, a recollection of memories and emotions that many readers will identify with. Themes of love and fear, pain and rejection, nature and humanity, and many others are beautifully developed in the poems. From the first poem, the reader already hears someone crying to be heard, like a weaned child struggling to reconnect with the one thing that gave it life. It’s a cry to be heard: “Can anybody out there hear me?/ I don’t want you to cheer me, / I just need for you to feel me.” I have read many poems but rarely do I read work from a poet who bares her soul for readers to touch. The honest tone in Poetically Unapologetic makes the poems irresistible and allows readers to feel an echo of the poet’s voice in their own humanity.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

A Christian Gift: Uplifting Poetry for All Occasions is a collection of twenty-six poems by Bozena Zawisz with illustrations by Fred Khoury. In the author’s own words, they are intended to “express diverse Christian reflections aimed at nourishing faith, hope, and love.” Most of the poems are written in free verse, while some reflect tempo and rhyme. The photographs which accompany them primarily capture natural beauty with a few of people and a church sprinkled in. My favorite is of five birds flying over the surf with their shadows reflected in the sand below. While the photographs are beautifully presented, I found myself wishing that many of them were larger, full page or even spread across two pages for greater effect.

Zawisz shares her thoughts and feelings on many topics which reassure the reader. In a poem titled “Hold On,” she addresses the topic of fear: “I know what fear means too well/but I shall not drown in life’s stormy days—/for I put faith in quiet prayers, and sketches of Your love,/and in words I long most to hear—'Do not fear’—'It is I’/And surges of peace within me rise,/waters calm, waves subside./I can see the truth before me—/’Do not fear!’—It’s calling to me.”

In a poem titled “The Higher Law,” Zawisz gives voice to the power of Divine Love: “I have a language—all of my own./My constructs—they’re alien to everything you ‘know.’/My reasoning transcends your every earthly law/that governs the logic of your every thought./I am not bound by common sense,/logic just does not apply where my kindness is concerned./Compassion for me is the higher law./My justice is the outcome of care’s decisions./I govern not your world—but the Kingdom of Heaven.” A Christian Gift: Uplifting Poetry for All Occasions is something any reader or poetry lover can enjoy.

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

Blue. River. Apple. An Exploration of Alzheimer’s Through Poetry, by Nancy Nelson, is a poetry collection which allowed Nancy Nelson to face the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in a unique way: through art and sharing. It is accompanied by very moving texts including one by Elizabeth Lonseth, poems by Leonardo da Vinci and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, as well as a foreword and a preface, which all help the reader get a glimpse of what this disease is and how it affects people. The form of some of the poems mimics how the writer is feeling; her frustration, her love, her humor, even her joy!

Blue. River. Apple. An Exploration of Alzheimer’s Through Poetry, by Nancy Nelson, is much more than just another collection of poems. It may be said to represent Nancy’s internal life, the questions she ponders, the way she tries to cope with learning that she is suffering from this terrible disease, which is like no other illness as it directly changes your inner self. It touches something that makes you whole, that makes you a special and unique human being. The poems are of a rarely seen density as the author shares her difficulties with us: as simple a task as writing an email becomes “Mind-Boggling Networking” as the author “missed step 3” and “A single ten-minute mission / Takes [her] an hour… or more.”

Even if this disease makes her life extremely difficult, this beautiful collection shows that Nancy does not despair and tries to enjoy everything that can be: “Dancing through the daffodils”: “It makes me glad to be alive / Even with life’s ups and downs, / I’m happy to survive! / This is my life! / I create from it what I will. / It is up to me to find the good. / And… expand on that.” What a lesson for us all! I highly recommend these truly inspirational poems! Thank you, Nancy Nelson, for sharing this slice of life with us and giving hope to so many!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Within the Heart of Silence by James William Peercy and Jacqueline E Smith is a collection of deeply moving spiritual poems that are rich in symbolism. What immediately catches the reader’s attention is how the authors instill life into what appears to be commonplace — images like the receding footsteps on the beach, the splash of water likened to a warm embrace that “washes our woes.” Then it becomes deeper and talks about hearts that see within, “a place of comfort.” Then there is the bird and the idea of freedom.

From themes of nature, to the celebration of faith, to the essence of love, and to the sheer delight in the little joys that fill the human experience, these poems reminisce on the beauty in our humanity and our anchor in someone higher than us. Some lines are insightful, deep, and imbued with universal truths. Beautifully illustrated with images that capture the essence of the poems, Within the Heart of Silence is delightful and written with an effervescence of style that will please readers as much as the depth of its message. Each poem is short, crafted with an unusual economy of word and elegance, with familiar diction and occasional rhymes that soothe the mind. Not one of the poems is titled. In place of titles, the authors offer images that are inspiring and that offer their own interpretation of the poems. An emotion, an idle thought, a phenomenon — they are captured in short lines that will delight readers. James William Peercy and Jacqueline E Smith give words to some of the beautiful human experiences for which we find no language.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

No one needs to love poetry to appreciate this wonderful collection of poems. Between The Lines There Lies a Story of Me by Sabaine features well-written, rhythmic, and beautiful poems that will resonate with a wide range of readers, poems that cover a variety of themes. This collection can be read as the poet’s appreciation of reality, her way of listening to the throb of life within her, an outpouring of her pain. Through these poems, the author reveals her wounds with startling honesty and the reader can see a path towards healing and hope. What is most astonishing is that the persona captures sentiments that are akin to any human being. At times the writing comes out like a song, a dirge, but sometimes it flows like an enticing symphony, drawing readers into the alluring darkness of the persona’s soul.

In “Where Is the Fat on My Body?”, the poet captures the sentiment of despair in poignant terms: “Tomorrow is a broken / lie waiting to be glued. / Today is a sad promise / waiting to break. / The future is just a mirror / reflecting my imagination.” There is a pervading sense of despair that runs through the lines of many poems, and at times the reader feels like listening to the dismal cries of a weaned child, but there is a powerful current of humanity running through the poems as well. Between The Lines There Lies a Story is fraught with symbolism. A perfect example is the use of “darkness” to symbolise suffering, inner aridity, and the conflict raging within the persona. Sabaine combines the masterful use of vivid descriptions with a powerful narrative style to create verses with universal themes of love, abuse, rejection, fear, and hope. The poems are incredibly humane and the writing is utterly appealing.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Time Capsule is a poetic journey about various aspects of life, written by Ideas with Ink. Separated into different categories, such as Existence, Odes, Dreams, Questions, Answers, Love and more, the visualization created by each poem is incredible, reaching into the innermost portion of your soul. The earthly tones depict Nature, and all of its incredible gifts bestowed upon us, as beautiful, gentle and tranquil, yet fierce and ever-hungering. The varying seasons are delivered with the most picturesque imagery, yet it is all created inside the mind of the reader, as each word flows on to the next.

Many images and scenarios are created beautifully within these pages, which are so elegant yet so descriptive. Ideas with Ink has delved into each vast corner of one’s mind, and the resultant prose and poetry create mental illustrations which are so stunning ... yet so tragic. My favorite poem – Winter in my Heart – delivers an emotional punch like no other, as the author tells of a falling out in a friendship which leaves the writer feeling isolated and alone, not knowing where to turn or who to trust, what is real and what is a facade. Another is All That Remains is a Voice. As a Deaf Pagan, I was easily able to immerse myself in the familiar feelings which are embodied inside Mother Nature – sad and alone, yet surrounded by the mysteries and miracles which we call life. This is definitely the sort of book which can be easily read in one afternoon, or be paced over a month or more, as the reader searches for the meaning behind the intricacies of each word. I found Time Capsule to be eloquent, heart-warming and emotional, and recommend it to readers who ponder on the depth and meaning of one’s existence.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Art of Bwaling According to the Pink Dog: 5 Simple Steps to Release Life’s Messy Stress is described as a lighthearted, inspirational gift book, filled with wit, canine wisdom, and a simple, practical approach to releasing stress. Sharon Mounu Riddell and the Pink Dog have created a fun and uplifting book that gives excellent tips to readers on how to go about releasing stress. The book definitely helps to ease the path and teaches us to slow down, take a breath, let go, and practice acceptance. The author and the Pink Dog give simple advice that enables us to embrace the beauty of earthly experience. The transformational tools of ‘is-ness’ and ‘bwaling’ are helpful when it comes to finding ease and clarity during challenging times. So what are you guys waiting for? Jump, Leap, Dive, Start, Practice...

The concept is endearing and thought-provoking. I like the way the author explains how she teaches by doing her ‘being’, how moment by moment she walks her talk, she breathes, she watches, she accepts, and lets go instantly. The art of bwaling was taught to the author with the help of her canine friends and their unconditional love and devotion. The book is amazing and the author’s poetry makes the practice easier. The pictures are adorable and they help readers connect well with the author’s words and look at life with an entirely new perspective. I loved the book, the concept, the messages in it, and the author’s way of handling a relevant topic in a different, refreshing, and unique way. I would say the book is definitely a must-read for everyone as the author, along with her Pink Dog, teaches us how to de-stress our lives without stressing too much.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Tuning: Poems by Kathryn Beam Troxler is a collection of inspirational and nature-themed poems. Troxler’s subjects are wide-ranging; many of her poems are inspired by the ocean, forests and woodlands, and her own garden. Others share her travels to other lands and responses to art and artists, past and present. Her work is taut yet open ended, making reading each poem both a defined and liberating experience. In her opening piece, Chthonic Dialog: On Making Pinch Pots, Troxler paints the process as a duet between the living clay which “warms/quickens/sings to the fingers/takes form” and the artist’s hand which “listens/shapes/refines/guided by/instinctive wisdom/old as humankind.” Her repeated use of verbs in present tense gives an immediate and dynamic sense to the process, making the reader privy to the creation of the potter’s work. Troxler transports the reader to the wine-dark sea in I am an Egyptian Boat, through the consciousness of the water craft: “plowing the seas --/above me/the dark starry night/below/waters parting/before my prow./Buoyant and flexible/I mediate/heaven and earth --”

Tuning: Poems by Kathryn Beam Troxler is a sumptuous feast brimming with sound, shapes, color and motion. Her use of verbs, participles and gerunds imparts movement and animates her world, particularly the natural places that feature so prominently in her work. I loved watching the march of the seasons through her eyes, seeing the brilliant colors of fallen leaves reflecting off her driveway as new ones descend to join them, and seeing how the ice-covered forest “gleams with light/and rings with sound/mad tinkling of melting drops/cascading ice loads crashing down” and, in Lake Brandt Midwinter, how “Sound/like a primeval serpent horn/or mighty conch/deep hollow resonance/plumbs the silence” as “this quick white snake/divides the like/segments the frozen flow,” making the reader an audience to that moment when the lake’s ice cracked with a roar.

If I were hard pressed to select favorites from this collection that appeals to me in so many ways, I would have to choose Trysting with Rembrandt; a poem that resonates with me so deeply. I too am transfixed each time I see his self-portrait: “your eyes/small and prescient, retain/their penetrating power at any distance --/their wisdom transcends time,/binds me to you,/your time,/my own layered selves,/my own history.” In her spare and elegant verse, she captures the effect Rembrandt has with unerring and direct accuracy. My other choice would be Crossing the Line, a paean to the sea and all it touches: “Waves crest, break,/spend themselves in lacy spume.” The image of her stalwart swimmer flinching “as each new inch of flesh/feels stinging cold” and who then plunges into the surf, swimming ahead of waves or getting caught in the turmoil of an ill-timed wave and tumbling along the shore, continuing “until dark/gauging the rhythms of the surf/catching waves -- letting them pass/riding them in until one last wave/carries her all the way into the beach” is unforgettable and powerful, and the reader becomes “sea-changed” just as that swimmer does. While there’s so much to discover and experience in this collection, those two spoke most clearly to me.

Tuning: Poems by Kathryn Beam Troxler captured my heart and imagination with the first words of that first poem and kept me willingly enthralled throughout. Troxler’s work is unutterably lovely, translucent and powerful. Tuning is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

What the River Knows: Conversations with the Natural World is a collection of poems written by Andrea Freeman. Freeman is a naturalist and an educator, as well as a poet, harpist and artist, whose company, Awakening Wonder Edventures (AWE), teaches nature appreciation in the field. Her poems celebrate nature in all its wealth and variety, and she often intertwines her reflections on her own life and mortality with the natural processes she witnesses on her outings. Her opening poem, The Swan, is rich in visual imagery and contrasts of the swan's form, shape and movements in the water’s reflection as the poet exhorts her audience to find their own purpose within those images.

In Murmuration of Starlings, the poet employs gerunds, repetition and simile to bring alive the flowing motion of starlings as they swoop and swirl at dusk: "They glided in as speckled gusts of wind,/joining, parting,/joining again,/then swirled together, en masse, across the sky,/moving as both a particle and a wave;/like light,/they wove the air/into a tapestry of wings;/like light.” The reader can't help but visualize the endless motions conveyed in this richly nuanced and compelling piece. The poet also adds to the complexity of this poem through her use of physics and cosmological concepts as seen above in the "particle and wave" reference and later on: "Coiling and uncoiling,/a nebula sung into being out of interstellar beaks and wings,/now a galaxy of starlings.../As I watched them, formed out of stardust myself.”

Each of the poems in What the River Knows invites the reader to another natural feast for the senses. There are walks along sandy tropical beaches, adorned with shells and sea hearts, conversations with aged trees, and a poem celebrating the poet's unspoken communion with a fox sharing a perfect meadow for an early evening's rest. Freeman's poems seem to slow down the busy hustle and pace of the modern world and invite a few moments of quiet retrospection and renewal, a rejoining and re-dedication of self within the natural world. And, along the way, there are wonders and delights to be explored. What the River Knows: Conversations with the Natural World is most highly recommended.