Galoshes—new and selected poems by Elizabeth Boquet
The title “Galoshes” announces the tone of this collection of 75 contemporary poems divided into two parts: “Muddled Puddles” and “Puddle Play.” Rich in playfulness and common sense, Elizabeth Boquet walks right into everyday experiences and dares to splash in them, catching the fresh spray of language, sudden losses and surprising discoveries bringing meaning to life. Clear-sighted and deep, this collection is a jubilant bow to life with all its grief and glory.
Editorial Reviews
“Galoshes? Oh! Imagine Emily Dickinson keeping company with Ogden Nash, kicking up their poetic heels in the kitchen, clock ticking, moon rising, cocoa bubbling on the stove, one mouse peering out from the wainscoting, and eternity (with all its grief and glory) humming along.” Leslie Schultz, author — Cloud Song, Concertina, Still Life with Poppies
“Boquet’s poetry goes straight to the guts. Clear-sighted and deep, this collection is a jubilant bow to life. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful.” Anita Lehmann, author — Slobber Slobber Kiss Kiss
“Sit down and enjoy a painter’s easel of poems. Elizabeth Boquet mixes the sounds, the colors, the love pats of a lifetime with an artist’s flair. Be ready for a few tears for her mother, nostalgia for her children, teasing for her quotidian, and watch her “jump into the creation of the day” (from My Writer’s Warm-up).” Susan Tiberghien, author — Footsteps, Side by Side, Looking for Gold, Circling to the Center
“Elizabeth Boquet’s poems speak to the tender moments…. There is humor here …and there is a love of food that has the book sizzling with mouth-watering breakfasts, jams, and chocolate. Boquet’s poems are playful and inventive, restless and imaginative, they make a delightful read.” Carmen Bugan, author — Burying the Typewriter, Releasing the Porcelain Birds, Lilies from America, The House of Straw
“The title GALOSHES announces the tone of this collection, rich in playfulness and common sense. Elizabeth Boquet walks right into everyday experiences, and dares to splash in them, catching the fresh spray of language, sudden losses and surprising discoveries bringing meaning to life.” Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, author, Geneva Writers’ Group instructor
My Review on Amazon, Japan.
(I hope it shows soon on the Authors Page where it matters the most).
*
When Living feels unwieldy, Poetry like this will lighten the load
The ordinariness of Poet Elizabeth Boguet’s word choices rested well with me and where there could have been gaps, there weren’t as this Author filled those to make my reality—of my mother, my siblings, my role as a mother and wife living in my husband’s native land and thriving in a community quite removed from the one I grew up in—Boquet’s words made my memories rise to the surface with renewed tenderness and gratitude.
Her keen observations of life could be the retelling of my own I felt. I found this poet to be a kindred spirit come to “gift me” a book of poetry with words aligned just perfectly to make them a universal experience. I felt connected to this poet in every page and this is indeed the biggest reward I reap from this book.
Galoshes? Yes, galoshes! Literally and figuratively galoshes keep all feet warm and dry to puddle jump. A great title to this tender collection.
Boquet’s poems about the pandemic are humorous and I soon heard the music playing in the background. Genius!
Her poems about grief and loss and about finding something that made her feel a little less grieved made me feel my own losses less daunting too. I must point out, that this section ‘might or might not’ have inspired me to write a line—a poem or two of my own *wink*. I was in awe at how deeply these moved me. Again, this drew me close to this poet.
Books like this are what I love to read.
Books like this stay with me forever.
Books like this one, Galoshes—new and selected poems by Elizabeth Boquet that bring lightness at a time when that’s exactly what one craves, are testament to the beauty of humankind. And I don’t know a better way to marry humankind with human kindness today than with poetry. I wish to read more tender books like this one. I bow deep to this Author—a 5-star rating from a satisfied customer in Japan.
My reward riddle for reviewing this and 5 others–Thanks, now for the joke: Why are zebras bad at baseball? Three stripes and they’re out!
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love the title to go with this collection
It’s spectacular indeed, Beth. I loved it too. Xoxo thanks for commenting.
So happy you enjoyed this, Raj. Thanks and blessings. Xoxo
Nice book review, Selma!
Selma!!! Ohmygoodness. Thank you? (No, that seems insuffcient.) WOW! (I think that’s the best I can do.) What a beautiful review. I’m touched beyond words (obviously). Really. I’m delighted that you enjoyed GALOSHES. I have another manuscript looking for a publisher that I hope you’ll enjoy…eventually. Your encouragement is deeply appreciated. xx
You’re a hero of mine m’lady. It’s my pleasure to do this. And what I said is heartfelt. Keep going. You’re amazing. Blessings and I wish you miracles. Xoxo
So glad to read that A Book Review , so inspiring 🌹🙏my dear friend 👏✍️🌹
So happy you read this Thattamma. Happy for the comment. Xoxo
Thank you so much for liking my comment dear friend 🌹✍️🙏💗
Wishing you a Day filled with love and happiness 🌹🙏🌻🥰
What a fabulous review, Selma. Thanks for the tip on a new poet. 💖
Colleen. Fantabulous indeed. I don’t know how to say it any better.
And thanks for reading this review. I’m bathing in good books these days. You’ve no idea how much I need good books right now.
Blessings my sweet.
I’m picking g up speed at last but. I’m going at turtle speed. I’ll get there … 🐢
Thanks for sharing this great review Selma!
💕
Thanks. The pleasure is mine. Makes me glad to share about these good books. Bless you Cindy.
WP WAS not working well yesterday. I know I already responded to this. But the ghosts ate that reply.
(And then they got into my website. My fingers broke something 😱 I’m so pissed. Not a good way to start the Merry month of November ! 😢 )
Be safe Cindy. Blessings.
Oh dearest Selma,
Don’t let the gremlins get you down. Annoying though. Thanks so much for another comment!!! Boo 👻 ghosts be gone!
💕
Fantastic review, Selma. It does sound like a great read! Xo
Responding (#2)— WP is giving me headaches. There are hungry gremlins in the system. I fed them last night and they ruined my homepage 😭 😭 😭
And my first response—they gobbled it up.
Thanks for reading and commenting Denise. So happy for all these good books. Blessings.
The title and the name of the two parts won me over! Your reviews are detailed and professional. Well done, reviewer! 📚
My first response to you disappeared 👻 Gremlins!!
Responding #2 WP is at it again. I think they’re harboring Gremlins!! Headache!! The hungry gremlins got into the system.
I fed them last night too and they ruined my homepage 😭 😭 😭
I’m so disappointed. 😔 I feel terrible and beat.
Thanks for the comment dearest one. So happy the title and parts won you over right away. It’s a worthy way to go. Blessings.
Sorry to read of your frustrations. Thanks for persevering and writing a (second) lovely response. 🙏🏻😊🌻
Wonderful review, Selma. I’m glad you resonate with many of Elizabeth’s poems as a mother and a wife living in a land far from where you grew up. I’m on the other side of the ocean where I grew up. I know the feelings. Thank you for sharing.
Hey, Miriam. Greetings. I tried repeatedly to respond to this comment yesterday but the system seemed broken/inaccessible on my phone… Anyway, here I am.–
um, then I tried from PC and still it failed to go.
Something was very wrong on halloween night. OM!? Such inconvenience!
I truly enjoyed Elizabeth’s poems. They spoke to me…
and you, “replanted” like me will enjoy it just as much, I’m sure. I recommend. Thanks for your lovely comment and heartwarming support. I bless you and wish you miracles. Have a happy and safe Halloween night (I saw your cute photos)
My phone does the same to me, Selma! So using my phone to respond to comments is limited. I can respond to direct comments but can’t click on links too elsewhere. My PC is working fine.
Our neighborhood is quiet, not too many young families. We joined my daughter’s family to go trick or treating. There were soooo many kids as if the entire school was out. We took 1.5 hours to walk .5 mile on one street to stop by 40 houses for the grandkids to get candy. Then turned into another street, took half an hour to visit about 10 houses on one side, the other side is the school. Wow, it took two hours to walk for one mile!! But the kids had lots of fun.
Colleen wants us to write a bonus poem with “trick or treat.” I may do that.
I’m bathed in cold sweat. I think I broke something in my website last night. It was a terrible night for me. I’m angry too. No energy to write. I think I’ll go cry now 😠 😭
Oh dear! I hope your computer behaves today, Selma. 😅😍
The craziness persists…but I’ll ignore for as long as I can. Perhaps it’ll right itself.
((Miriam, please check your email Spam—most likely my last email 📧 ended there, pen pal 😉—maybe))
Thanks. Be safe please.
Thank you, Selma. I’ll check. I have two new writing groups lately. I didn’t know until after the zoom meeting that one email went to the junk box.
Lovely reviews, Selma! <3 Congratulations Elizabeth, on the publication of Galoushas! All the best!
Thanks so much for the comment, Cheryl. Elizabeth’s work has impressed me for a long time. So glad I read galoshes.
Be well, my friend.
And your work is in the same category. Adore it. Keep going my lovely. Blessings.
Great review
Thanks for saying. It’s a wonderful book indeed. Blessings. Be safe.