Selma Writes’s Reviews > Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature
Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature
by
Kaye Lynne Booth (Goodreads Author),
Frank Prem (Goodreads Author),
Selma Writes‘s review
Apr 20, 2024 ·
Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch With Nature, compiled and edited by Kaye Lynne Booth
and Robbie Cheadle features twelve enthusiastic poets, whose hearts are attuned to
nature. How else could they come up with words that speak so much about the nature I
know? From the first page to the last, this book warmed me with tender remembrances,
that though different, laid dormant. I believe the same will come to you: you will be
stirred, old memories will arise from your own warm imagery, and you will smile.
There’s nothing pretentious about these poems—each gives enough substance, and
each keeps a fair amount of integrity of energy that’s easy to interpret in a setting
that feels familiar to me.
This review would get too long if I told you everything I adored, so I’ll curb my
enthusiasm, and quote a few mesmeric lines that enticed me to keep reading to
the end but I’ll just grace the surface of the first third of the book.
— We start by hearing about double rainbows. As someone learned in the art of
seeing rainbows through teary eyes, I was instantly intrigued by such opening lines
and the calm truths and sensory reflections that flow through the words of the first
author featured:
“So like a sea hawk time flies on/Without a cozy nest/Yet as the future comes along/
Yet to come is the best//“ p.16
“Past is past but it’s never gone/Shining like a bright star/It remains in the heart and
soul/They make us who we are//” p.16
— Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the beholder, the poet, paints lovely
imagery that helps us to see through her lenses.
“artwork of incredible beauty/Each silken strand positioned with care/To create a
delicate tapestry//“ p.24
“I do not see a creepy spider’s web” p.25
— Then we get to see skies, winged creatures, beautiful personification, and the
poetic allure the third featured poet tells me of nature’s ways.
“Lonesome, defiant autumn shakes her elysian mane” p.42
“…from the eaves the beldam winter, black claws for fingers, watches me with greed.”
p.42
“Follow me, sang the wind, just surrender I feel your hand, warm and tender. P.43
“…light as a feather, I touch the clouds.” p.43
“…ladybird dashes through my field of view,
“How do you perform CPR on a ladybug
“it lands. On my doodled daisy. I bow and thank for such a compliment.” p.46
— Then we’re ushered into more melodic sounds and after rainbows, my next
favorite thing—memories through the eyes of a child, as you’ll find in the father
and son’s tender remembrances.
“Just there, in deepest shade,/Sleeping emeralds cling./Tree frogs rest in their/
Smooth, damp skins/Waiting for the silver moon.” p.50
“…washed in that pale light, I danced./Years ago, in that pale, pale light.”p.51
“Mother-of-pearl dawn/Gives way to butter yellow/Morning light.” p.56
And so it continues…
I encourage you to read the rest of the wonderful collection to find the context
in which the above quotes exist, more fantastical nature images, reality checks,
nature’s fury, and vivid reminders of how much of nature exists in us. I’m sure you
will want to read these poems over and over, too.
Thank you for putting this gorgeous anthology with a nature motif together.
It’s a treasure, indeed as it awakens us to the beautiful world we live in.
Oh, and I cannot end this review without mentioning the photographs inside the
book and the beauty of the cover design. Gorgeous!
Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch With Nature, is a lovely book to own or to gift
to others.
Introduction
This is the fourth year that WordCrafter Press has produced a volume
for the Poetry Treasures series, and I have to say that I’m especially
proud of this fourth volume, In Touch with Nature is special to me
because it’s the first one that features my poetry. It was an honor
to be the August guest on Robbie Cheadle’s “Treasuring Poetry” blog
series on Writing to be Read in 2023 after the release of my first
poetry collection, Small Wonders.
It is an honor to be included with the other fantastically talented
poets featured in this volume. We have the works of Andrew McDowell,
whose unique views of nature may carry inner meanings. And of course,
the works of the multi-talented, Robbie Cheadle, who offers a look
into the life on the South African savannah. Also, those of Patricia
Furstenberg, which speaks of the skies, offering a bird’s eye view.
The works of Marcia Meara, whose use of sound in her poetry lets us
hear and feel as if we are within the poem itself. Luanne Castle’s
poetry carries messages of hope and gratitude for this Earth we live
on and all its creatures. The syllabic poetry of D.L. Finn sets readers
at ease to enjoy the natural world around them. Emily Gmitter’s poetry
ponders life, the seasons and the sands of time. Selma Martin’s verse
reflects on aging, celebrates the seasons, and champions green energy.
The works of Merril D. Smith explores connections in nature for a focused
point of view. Frank Prem’s poetry is filled with hope and wonder. And
special guest, Colleen Chesebro shares the beauty of nature through
syllabic verse which pleases the eye as well as the heart and mind.
In Touch with the Nature is truly a treasure trove of poetic gems
that I know you will enjoy. ~ Kaye Lynne Booth.
Please visit my page on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182202682-in-the-shadow-of-rainbows
…to read reviews or to leave your own. Thanks so very much.
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HI Selma, thank you for this wonderful review of Poetry Treasures 4, and thank you for your delightful contributions to this book.
It’s my absolute pleasure, dear Robbie. The entire collection is deserving of high praise. I mean it. Thanks for all the work you and Kaye Lynne put into bringing this to fruition and bravo to all the contributors. Amazing. Thank YOU. xo
🌞💐🌈
Lovely review, Selma!
Thanks, Merril dearest. And congratulations to you TOO… stellar. Blessings xoxo.
I’m just so happy to be in the same book with you and all the other amazing poets. Thank YOU.
You are so kind, Selma. You are welcome, and I am also pleased to be in the book with you and the others. 💙
It was a pleasure to be included in this poetry anthology, along with you and all the other wonderful poets. I’ve enjoyed playing with words in this way since I was a very young child, and I’m so happy to have been a part of this collection! Love the review! ❤️🤗❤️