Poetry
Browse our collection of poetry book reviews
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From the Shallow End to the Deep End: Ninety-Five Shakespearean Sonnets
AJ Streator (AJ Streator LLC)
AJ Streator’s From the Shallow End to the Deep End is a gorgeous collection of ninety-five sonnets that capture the author’s experiences, psyche, and autobiographical journey through varying shades of life. Structured clearly into three sections—The Shallow End, Middle of the Pool, and The Deep End—the collection features themes ranging from nostalgic childhood memories and family bonds to the painful experiences of divorce, mental health struggl...
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40 Days of Fasting : 40 Inspired Recitations
Glenville Ashby (Independently Published)
Glenville Ashby's 40 Days of Fasting: 40 Inspired Recitations is a profound spiritual journey born from a period of disciplined fasting that coincided with Ramadan and Lent in April 2025. Through these forty days, Ashby channels a divine voice named Carlos, delivering poetic recitations that explore themes of divine mercy, inner purification, mortality, and spiritual awakening. The poems have a prayerful tone; at times they are exploratory of the...
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Oleander Marriage
Eleanor Lerman (Mayapple Press)
Oleander Marriage by Eleanor Lerman is a profound and emotionally resonant poetry collection that deftly explores love, loss, memory, aging, and the inexorable passage of time. Through a series of richly textured poems, Lerman discusses the fragile threads that connect us to our past selves, loved ones, and the universe at large. The collection features personal reflections with mythic and cosmic imagery, creating a layered canvas that captures l...
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An Olio of Poems
Christina J Donato & Ralph A Walton (Left-Handed Author)
An Olio of Poems is an expansive and eclectic collection by Christina J. Donato and Ralph A. Walton, organized into nine thematic sections that range from lighthearted reminiscences about dogs and favorite foods to sobering meditations on depression, faith, social justice, and the passage of time. The book opens with accessible poems about beloved pets, transitions into playful celebrations of culinary delights, and then plunges into the raw dept...
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The Poetry Coaster
Lucas Raney (Two Turkey Publishing, LLC)
I still can’t believe that The Poetry Coaster is written by a ten-year-old, a short yet spectacular lesson in poetry. In a tone that is jovial and light and that doesn’t miss in humor, this young author delivers a lyrical work that instructs and entertains. I have written for many years, and there are poetic forms I never knew existed. Lucas Raney breaks them down with concise definitions and takes readers on a lyrical ride that describes the rol...
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Soul of the Song
Edmond A. Bruneau (Boston Books)
Soul of the Song is a poetic journey that skillfully melds genres from country music to rock and folk, while exploring universal themes of love, identity, nostalgia, and social consciousness. Edmond A. Bruneau’s collection reads like an album liner note meets literary anthology, offering both introspection and entertainment. Stylistically, Bruneau excels in the use of metaphor, allusion, and musicality. In How Did I Find You? he uses cosmic image...
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Sip & Savor: Poems for a Perfect Pairing
Edmond A Bruneau (Boston Publishing Company)
Sip & Savor by Edmond Bruneau is a collection of poems that explore a wide range of human experiences, capture intimate emotions, and deliver captivating observations. The poems touch upon personal reflections, offer social critiques, and glimpse into everyday life, often with a blend of wit, authenticity, and a keen eye for detail. The collection moves through diverse themes, from the creative process and personal identity to relationships,...
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A Woman's Song
Diana Waldman (Blue Lake Review)
A Woman's Song by Diana May-Waldman is a gorgeous collection of poetry that is as exciting as it can be, a collection that uncannily captures the essence of womanhood. In these poems, readers will hear echoes of longing, feel drawn into the currents of passionate encounters, understand the ache of wanting a man or seeking revenge, savor the beauty of friendship, and be pulled into a place — in the deep recesses of the heart — where...
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You Need More Than Dreams
Tolu' A. Akinyemi (The Roaring Lion Newcastle)
Tolu’ A. Akinyemi’s poetry collection, You Need More Than Dreams, is a poignant and incisive exploration of youth, identity, and the pursuit of dreams. Akinyemi offers a collection that resonates with raw emotion, sharp observations, and a clear message: dreams alone are insufficient; action, grit, and self-awareness are essential to success. This collection is crafted for young audiences and features two parts. Part 1 dives deep into the experie...
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Architects of a Cleaner Financial System
Tolu' A. Akinyemi (The Roaring Lion Newcastle (June 23, 2023))
Tolu' A. Akinyemi's Architects of a Cleaner Financial System delivers a fascinating and often unsettling exploration of the intersection between the seemingly dry world of financial regulation and the vibrant, nuanced landscape of personal experience. The collection boldly addresses anti-money laundering and compliance, weaving technical jargon and industry-specific concerns with potent poetic imagery. This unconventional approach offers a unique...
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