Tears of Love, Smiles of Indifference

by John Bowie

Life’s no more black and white than we are one thing or the other. The boxes we’re put in by our upbringing, schooling and society aren’t us. Despite what we’re told we should feel and be. We can often get so sad we smile, and so happy we cry purely at the absurdity of our existence altogether. We are complex beings with a broad spectrum of beautifully contradictory and surreal thoughts and echoes. Here are some poetic glimpses of some of Bowie's, those witnessed, and just maybe some of yours too.

. . .

‘Fleeting breath, evanescence, demise. A celebration of love, life and inescapable death filled with uneasy wins and joyful defeats. Life’s long battle seems short, only when there’s someone to fight for other than ourselves. Arm in arm we bleed and dance through storms, smile at pain and rejoice in our temporal forms.’

136 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2023

About the author

John Bowie was born in Northumberland, Northern England.

He has published poems, novels and short stories. He studied in Salford, Greater Manchester in the 1990s. He lives in Bristol, U.K.

John is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bristol Noir.

Reviews

[Stephen J. Golds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can count the number of poets I read religiously on two hands and John Bowie is one of those. He knows how to put words together perfectly in a way that really touch at the matter of the heart. His style of poetry is a breath of fresh air in these dark days.
Can’t recommend enough.

[Tomas Marcantonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking collection of poetry. I especially enjoyed the second half - 'Smiles of Indifference' - where the collection really comes alive with hope and light and energy. Some lovely reflections on human existance - relatable, lyrical, and touching.

[Kehira · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's as if the author had random words and phrases scattered on the table and picked them using a dice while being blindfolded to form nonsensical poems.

[Stephen J. Golds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can count the number of poets I read religiously on two hands and John Bowie is one of those. He knows how to put words together perfectly in a way that really touch at the matter of the heart. His style of poetry is a breath of fresh air in these dark days.
Can’t recommend enough.