Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
I am elated, and so very honored to let you all know that I received a nomination this week for the 2022 Author of the Year at Spillwords Press. I am humbled by this wonderful gesture and have written the following poem as a thank you to all of you and to the Spillwords Press editorial team for supporting me, and for making dreams of possibility become reality.
Reorganizing Possibility
Trust in the feelings at dawn conspiring to leave you confused about the nature of pain
and about the love you see in every single drop of rain
falling over the bloody streets reorganizing
the possibility of something great
out of the melancholy, we once tried to escape
This poem speaks to the relationship between pain and possibility; simply, through trying experiences, we emerge as something more, something, in many ways, transformed.
Voting is open through January 31 at Spillwords Press. I would be honored and forever grateful if you would vote. Thank you!
I am honored to have my new poem, Threads, published at MasticadoresUSA. Thank you Barbara Leonhard for supporting my work, and for all that you do. I look forward to working with you more in the new year!
I would be honored if you would go here, and read my new poem. Thank you!
Book Reviews
As you all know, I began the year with a wrap-up post each month, and in each of these posts, I included book reviews. Due to the preparation for, and release of #1 Amazon Bestseller Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, the demands of my job, and other personal responsibilities, the monthly wrap-up posts didn’t make it too far into the year, yet I did continue to read and review some amazing books. Here are a few more of these reviews.
40 Poems at 40, by Ingrid Wilson
40 Poems at 40, byIngrid Wilson is a brilliant compilation of poems that takes the reader into their heart. A journey through pain, suffering, and great elation and joy; Ingrid connects to the reader through experience and through nature, by creating and weaving elegant language around the challenges and opportunities we all face in life. Challenges and opportunities of confidence, resistance, love, beauty, rapture, hope, sadness, and much more are contained in this beautiful book. Ingrid walks the reader by the hand through each poem, carrying them with an elegance and cadence that leaves the reader wanting more. 40 Poems at 40, by Ingrid Wilson is a treat, a delightful read that every reader will connect to, and love. I highly recommend this wonderful compilation.
Once Upon A You And Me, Anabel Kluny
Once Upon A You And Me, by Anabel Klunytakes the reader through the world of the seen and unseen, and everything in between. Anabel invites the reader to reflect upon the love felt within their heart, as they engage in beautiful words and imagery, evoking sentiments of deep love, transformation, self-awareness, passion, destiny, and much more. Anabel’s poetry speaks to the soul through vivid and engaging language focusing on the inner and outer worlds, and their connections to each other. Once Upon A You And Me is beautiful, expressive, and is a must read. I highly recommend this gorgeous collection of poems.
Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, By Ujjal Halder
Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, by Ujjal Halder takes the reader into the heart and mind, exploring the paradox of life, through manifestations of nature, and a self awareness that leaves the reader reflecting deep within themselves. Ujjal explores pain and love via transformation, and relates these concepts and the experiences behind them to nature in a language of love. Kindled Roots, Love Poetry, by Ujjal Halder is a book full of heart, leaving the reader questioning their perceptions of our individual and collective connections to nature. A lovely read.
Write Out Loud, by Daphny Nianghoi
Write Out Loud, by Daphny Nianghoiis an exploration of the deepest and darkest places we all navigate as human beings, from horribly traumatic events to the breaking of one’s heart again and again; yet, this book shines through the authors beautiful heart and deep love for everyone and everything on this planet.
Daphny expresses resilience stunningly, leaving the reader with tears streaming down their face, while also feeling that internal smile bourgeon like the sun; knowing that even in our darkest hours we will be okay.
Daphny also expertly evokes nature though beautifully imagery connecting that which we see to every fiber of who we are as human beings. Write Out Loud is a gorgeous book, which will leave you feeling connected to the beauty of nature and humanity. I highly recommend this lovely book.
I still have lots of books to read and review, and will continue to share these reviews when they are complete. If you’ve not yet picked up copies of these amazing books, I recommend doing so.
As we continue through the end of this year, and into next year, I will continue to read all of your wonderful poems, writings, and posts on the weekend. I will also post once a week on the weekend. This new blogging schedule will continue into the foreseeable future, making room for my new job and life responsibilities, which are super exciting. I will have more to say about these new developments in future posts.
Alright, that’s all for this week.
I wish you all a beautiful Sunday, and a glorious coming week.
I am not jealous of the rocks that dwell deep in the ocean bed they have nothing to covet; nothing to look forward to (scoff) but for sore backs from laying stiff under kelp beds in seagrass– as threshing sea-doormats — and perhaps of sand in their eyes but I suppose I’m predisposed to how heavy its shoulders must be when my avant-garde gauge is the emptiness I suffer after yet one more mate left my bed I met a starfish at the shore the other day when my shoulders were laden with pity and boy, was I surprised with the story she shared! she named a rock in the intertidal zone that dreamed about being a rock in Mt. Everest where he’d lay under a female Juniper tree in the forested zone, no less, to wait for Juniper to drop him her berry-cones
“Don’t ask,” the pink starfish exclaimed, rolling her eyes before she continued, “but he is lots of fun and such a loving rock; everyone respects him– we hope to keep him grounded and curious. We cannot make him change, but we can make him grow aware of his unrealistic expectations,” she said, and then she left with the tide shouting I-don’t-know-what at me and that she’d write her rock a love poem How curious, thought I of the soliloquy that even rocks have dreams to profess curious-er still about the rock’s recklessness to plant ideas into the heads of sea stars Is that what life’s like at the bottom of the sea?
Today I met a rearing Adélie penguin pair hit with a dire dearth of rocks to steal– they have their eyes on the stones at the bottom of the oceanic crust but by golly, those are unwieldy and immerse too deep to even try “We’re the pebble poachers in these lands,” the female told me, “with brave dreams of getting our hands on those stones.” “Stones that just lay on sea beds– doing nothing,” offered the male. Then, just as they came, they ran off to write each other love poems. I nodded, supposing I understood their plight. Is it thievery when this couple could put those rocks to good use– and grant the rocks a purpose to be? All for the sake of their offspring?
As I trudged home, my shoulders felt lighter I didn’t know I didn’t know– but now I know! Thinking hard about being jinxed by getting the feted short end of the stick in life which amounts to not having someone to cohabit my bed with at night Is my qualm due to quixotic expectations? Do I need more lessons from the sea? Perchance now I’m more ready to give it one more try I’ll start today by writing to myself a love poem.
Gift From The Sea was inspired by the poem Ocean’s Rocks. You can read more of Selma’s poetry atSelma.
I am sharing one more collaborative response poem tomorrow morning, and then will post one of my poetic responses each day the rest of next week, which will make 30 days in a row of poetry for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the amazing poets that participated in this collaboration, and to all of you for being here, reading, liking, and commenting on the posts. It’s been so much fun!
Stay tuned to this blog for a Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration wrap-up post, and for details about my next initiative, by month’s end.Thank you.
Inhale deeply As you remember Precious dreams Your silky bud Used to keep unfolded in the core.
Hold your breath, Awaken the impulse Residing in the love Felt by your senses While playing and creating.
Exhale to manifest The rhythm of your heartbeat Tuning to the sound of the wind Whirling through the golden leaves Dancing at your feet.
Image credit to manfredrichter on Pixabay
Tuned Impulse was inspired by the poem Mountain Gold. You can read more of Anca’s poetry at Poèmia.
Submissions for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration are officially closed. Please stay tuned for an update on Sunday, 10/16.Thank you.
