Get encouraged, dear friends: if this is happening to me, it will happen to you too.
And so, in the sundae, soondae, Sunday Press, I want to encourage you to see the
rainbow!

More positive reviews for In The Shadow of Rainbows, and I want to record them
on my website before Amazon makes them go poof.

I know this to be an ongoing practice at Amazon; I have reviews that are pending
and feel terrible about it. And have had my reviews vanish on several occasions.
SMH.

All the more reason to record this good fortune come to me through your generosity.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve no idea the boost this is giving me.
I will remember this as long as memory serves.

So far, as of the last time I checked, In The Shadow of Rainbows has received a
total of 21 ratings, 18 with reviews.

Fantastic
Reviewed in Japan on August 2, 2023

Easy to read and understand. I love love love all the poems. Especially Ebb and
Flow — it speaks to our human-ness “to help us thrive in the waltz of each hour.”
I’m so glad I purchased the paperback.

Evocative, gorgeous poetry loaded with hope and wonder
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023

This debut collection of poetry thrills with its vibrant images and constant
hope. In particular, her closing lines. They are not throwaway ones; they are
loaded with meaning and often contain the most power of all.

From "Songs of September" to "Something's Broken," Martin takes the everyday and
elevates it in a way that makes you stop and pause and take in not only the
shadows, but the rainbows.

I highly recommend this book of lyricism and beauty. Whether taken one poem at a time,
or read all once, this is poetry worth revisiting. I am so thankful that her words exist
in this world. A++!!

Fantastic Book
Reviewed in India on August 11, 2023

I have known Selma enough in this birth to read her magical words. Our journey started on
Medium website and she never stopped fascinating me with her work. I truly admire Selma for
the person she is and the way she touches the strings of your heart with her up beating
attitude and spirit.

When I got to know about her first poetry book 'In The Shadow of Rainbows' I knew since then
that I would like to order its paperback version and cherish it like the most treasured gift
in my hands. I completed this book in just three days and fell in love with her emotions and
poetic journey of life.

Excerpts/ Poems That I loved the most are:

* Go on, pull yourself together,
love ignites a dying ember,
calls your true strength to surrender:
Blame the big moon in September.

* Synopsis of the past
imprinted on my mind
pixelated light, intact,
too good to leave behind.

* When death comes
I want to be led into eternity
curious, full of joy
knowing the world I leave
is better for the love I gave.

* I inhale the gold hand and slide my hand
in to sense what Mom suffered. I pretend it's her wrist I kiss.

* The calmest place to inhabit,
anchors safely inside of you
but look for it with intention,
confident that you will find it.

Her book felt like an open sea where I walked with her on cold sand and discovered my hidden
wounds with the smell of her words. I would be recommending it to poetry lovers because this
is a journey where you are going to meet yourself once again.

Shadows can lead you to rainbows....
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023

Selma Martin’s debut poetry collection transmutes misery into mesmerizing beauty. Not only
is each poem masterful in form, it is lined with spiritual truth much like a golden-lined
cloud shimmering in the brilliance of a rainbow after a storm.

How do we recognize the brilliance? From the shafts of darkness. We cannot have one without
the other. Light illuminates the way into the mystery as we ask, “Why me?”

“Why me?” I asked when I miscarried many years ago. Martin explores a near tragedy in
“Little Vessel”. Her two-year-old son went missing for 15 days and was feared dead.
Imagine the horror. Fortunately, he was found alive. Still, I couldn’t help but recall
my baby, who miscarried. My only child and someone I have missed terribly.

Certainly everyone experiences shadows. The poet’s songs ring from a wounded soul. She
isn’t alone. We all experience trauma at some point in our lives. It seems like disasters
strike us daily - personally, socially, politically, environmentally, and so on. Every aspect
of our being suffers physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

As the poet states in “Something’s Broken”, we sense the dysfunction and malaise. Everything
is out of tune. Screeching. Our hearts moan raspy strains of pain.

Something’s Broken

That scraping, maddening  sound,
that creaking and groaning I hear–
like iron on iron
that rises with the wind
and is followed by the loud bark
of a neighbor’s dog

     if that dog hears it
     everyone in this sleepy coastal town does

But what is it?
Anything could make such a mad sound,
the swinging of a gate,
halyards slapping on the mast of sailboats,
metal dragging on cement
mattress springs;

faulty wheels on a pram,
whale calls, or
marriage-vows renounced

The dogs are anxious tonight
yes, halyards clang; mine are frapped tight.

Something scrapes that shouldn’t scrape
something’s stuck that shouldn’t be
something promised to last ends

   – something’s broken

That moaning and rasping strains
heavy on the wind tonight.
Do you hear it too?

Those who stuff the suffering under the skin and bones and feign happiness may face
a cataclysm one day. Carl Jung said that what we repress we may express as anger,
which only causes a cyclic dynamic of harm.

How can we break this cycle of suffering? The spiritual masters teach the art of “presence”.
Through our sensual awareness of trauma, we can heal. Martin shows us the way out of the
shadows to the truth, the rainbows of discernment (self-awareness) and songs of hope.

Suffering is not something we bind up in a box and leave in the attic. A puzzle for a new
tenant to solve. Healing from suffering is a process that involves an analysis of the harm
and self-examination. One cannot take these steps without the presence of mind. In the book
prologue, Martin explains that she “lived a reality that was felt” and that “left an imprint”
on her brain. That tells me she was fully present to her suffering.

The poet shows us to observe, feel, and even engage with the trauma. Martin shares some of
her traumas with the reader. As a child she felt scolded for actions that she felt were
innocent. She felt a great deal of compassion for others, but still her interactions were
misunderstood. She recalls shedding many tears which became storms that revealed rainbows.

She writes, “But always, through wet eyelashes and learning to stand under the sun just so,
I marveled at the rainbows that settled on my watery eyes….And I cried often. Hearing of
people’s hardships brought out tears, literally and figuratively, I saw rainbows. Always.”

Her experiences, I feel, were mystical, a spiritual revelation that years later led to this
collection of poetry. As she writes, “I want to contribute a verse in a book of poetry that
celebrates people….to write poems of discovery and growth rooted in awareness and presence.
I plan to use poetry as a springboard to the sacred (even for those not looking for it).”

To get to the light, one must walk through the shadows and with one’s own shadow, whom we
befriend. Our shadow actually knows us the best and never abandons us in shady places.

My Shadow  

My legs walk me to places  
I really want to visit  
but often show refusal  
explicitly resists it.

When others zoom by past me
I turn to my dear shadow  
who follows me forever  
even when alleys narrow.

My legs don’t seem to know me  
as well as shadow does  
she stops whenever I stop
or picks up speed and runs.

My anima’s familiar  
with my many moods and ways,
needs no code or preamble  
least of all, scat song to sway:  

She’d soon slide off a full moon
if legs dared walk me there  
and hold my hand, enraptured  
to land us fair and square.

And at bedtime, at lights out  
when legs cannot be bothered  
she’ll be standing by the door  
before the switch is triggered:

Penumbra that outlines my soul—
you're by far the best
come near, loyal companion
lay your head upon my chest.

When I first opened the PDF she sent me for this review, I was curious about the shadows
in relation to the sacred. She explains that shadows are not literal monsters. They are
the things we grapple with. The parts of our soul that we face off with so that we might
grow. The grief that needs to be “seen” and thus resolved. The discordant mysterious chords
which show that we need to be Re attuned to the sacred, the rainbows which signify redemption.

As Martin states, “My poetry might not change lives or even help to save anyone from their
monsters. Still, I will attempt to show that redemption is possible in awareness of presence
in ordinary life and, at best, offer awareness that poetry can heal if we stop for a moment
to think it could help, and let poetry wash over us. I think we all have some healing to do.”

The journey into the shadows can take us to rainbows, especially if we find love and
forgiveness along the way, especially if we see ourselves in the shadows, especially
if we fully witness the pain, especially if this recognition makes us kinder to
ourselves and others.
******

Selma Martin paints pictures with words
Reviewed in India on August 13, 2023
The book is sheer poetry. Not because it has poems in it. But, the cover, the title, and
the first few lines itself have the power to weave a magical web around you.
Selma Martin says," I dedicate 'In the Shadow of Rainbows' to you, the person holding this
book, the person whose presence I felt as I persevered to complete this debut poetry
collection. To you, with gratitude and admiration.'

The next section, titled, Selma's Notes, tells the reader the backstory - of how the title
of the book came to be. It provides a peek into the poet's sensitive, gentle and loving
nature.

In the section, ' What I want my poems to do', Selma Martin says, "I'm confident that one
poem in this book will take your hand, reunite you with your echo and take you home.' She
ends the section with the line- 'come with me, I'll help you find your poem...' instantly
casts a spell on the reader.

I began reading the book to find my poem- a poem that the poet was confident I would find.
I read around two poems a day, sometimes lesser, sometimes more and allowed the poems to
marinate in my head. In doing so, I had an opportunity to delve deeper into Selma Martin's
poetry.

If I had to describe Selma's poems in a nutshell- they are exquisite, thought-provoking
and replete with imagery and wisdom. The language is a joy to read.

Poems, like 'When Death Comes' and 'Instinct' are precious for their sweet simplicity
while poems like, 'Intention' and 'Something is Broken' are deep and 'No Sugar' and
'Krakow Nights' are fun and talk of happy times. Among the poems inspired by books or
poems written by other poets, I liked the one written on the novel, 'The Book Thief',
the 'Song for Kenji' and the response to the poem 'Wind' by Ted Hughes.

The poems 'Compass' and 'Intentions' had me thinking, 'If only all fathers told their
children this, we wouldn't have crimes, wars and nobody would be hurt.'

'In the Shadow of Rainbows' is a book that must be read in tranquillity. Not in a hurry.
Then, it must be re-read to appreciate the intricate detail with which it's been put
together. I highly recommend this book for poetry lovers.
******

#19 awaiting YOUR review dear reader...  
It doesn't need to be long. Here's a 1:21 min long video that can help.

******

Recording on paper the vigor of these gorgeous reviews. TYVM. 

*********

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish you miracles.

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Selma Martin

I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.

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