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Accidental Poet: Poetry Collection
This book is a collection of some of the best work I completed and published on Vocal during 2023, the year when I officially considered myself a poet. It's called Accidental Poet, because that's how I see myself. I didn't dream when I began this journey into writing for myself after working as a content writer for the best part of 12 years, that I would fall in love with poetry, but I did. I even came first place in the Extraterrestrial Challenge set by Vocal for my poem Tektal's Around The World Drinking Session!, which you can find within the pages of this book!
I hope you enjoy my work as much as I did writing it!
I hope you enjoy my work as much as I did writing it!
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 23, 2024
An unintentional adventure
Prepare to be carried in all directions as our intrepid poet tackles subjects from self-healing to self-harm in a brisk poetry collection that isn’t afraid to elucidate on serious subjects with levity and impart gravity to the ordinary and mundane.
I’ve been in the camp of “serious poetry cannot rhyme” because the rhyming adds a limerick-like quality that can undermine the message. This collection did challenge my position, while also reminding me just how much thought goes into how words are placed on a page, how lines are broken, and even how spacing can be used to create effect.
That said, I found the rhyming didn’t always work in the poem’s favor, but you can’t help but respect the ambition to maintain rhyme scheme and message. Yet, when there is a rhyme scheme, I am often more focused on the end rhyme than the message of the line preceding it.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to tip my hat to a couple verses that spoke to me. So much so that I reached for a pen and highlighted them. Can you imagine? Annotating. Like I’m back in college with a used textbook from the bookstore? Words have power:
If your pen is broken
stab it into your veins
fill it up with blood
and
You still had that feeling
You missed out
On developing yourself
Before taking on
Someone else
That first verse is an image so raw that it forces you to consider the deeper meaning. In fact, it refuses to leave your head until you give it its due.
That second verse spoke deeply to me because I’ve had my own internal debate going for quite some time around this very subject. A personal issue that I don’t feel like sharing with the larger reading community, but trust me when I say: I’ve been there.
I get it.
And isn’t that the goal? To speak to your reader? To spur on their own search for meaning, inspired by your revelations?
On that front, Paul Stewart, The Accident Poet himself, has excelled.
Prepare to be carried in all directions as our intrepid poet tackles subjects from self-healing to self-harm in a brisk poetry collection that isn’t afraid to elucidate on serious subjects with levity and impart gravity to the ordinary and mundane.
I’ve been in the camp of “serious poetry cannot rhyme” because the rhyming adds a limerick-like quality that can undermine the message. This collection did challenge my position, while also reminding me just how much thought goes into how words are placed on a page, how lines are broken, and even how spacing can be used to create effect.
That said, I found the rhyming didn’t always work in the poem’s favor, but you can’t help but respect the ambition to maintain rhyme scheme and message. Yet, when there is a rhyme scheme, I am often more focused on the end rhyme than the message of the line preceding it.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to tip my hat to a couple verses that spoke to me. So much so that I reached for a pen and highlighted them. Can you imagine? Annotating. Like I’m back in college with a used textbook from the bookstore? Words have power:
If your pen is broken
stab it into your veins
fill it up with blood
and
You still had that feeling
You missed out
On developing yourself
Before taking on
Someone else
That first verse is an image so raw that it forces you to consider the deeper meaning. In fact, it refuses to leave your head until you give it its due.
That second verse spoke deeply to me because I’ve had my own internal debate going for quite some time around this very subject. A personal issue that I don’t feel like sharing with the larger reading community, but trust me when I say: I’ve been there.
I get it.
And isn’t that the goal? To speak to your reader? To spur on their own search for meaning, inspired by your revelations?
On that front, Paul Stewart, The Accident Poet himself, has excelled.
August 6, 2025
One star removed for the generic cover that Amazon helps you with; a badly edited image could’ve been added, at least, or something. This is just a personal preference.
Grammar or spelling errors here and there. And the poems are pretty simple, nothing worthwhile. Still, kudos to self-publishing. I hope for an improvement in the next work.
Grammar or spelling errors here and there. And the poems are pretty simple, nothing worthwhile. Still, kudos to self-publishing. I hope for an improvement in the next work.
October 14, 2024
Don't Give up on What you Feel was the first to catch my eye. If you ever need a nice little boost of inspiration, this one is for you.
Elemental Bliss was such a beautiful piece! Paul really has a way of being able to capture elements and surroundings. This one will make you feel so at peace. As if you truly are standing on a beach. The same thing could be said for Sunset Over the Sea. So simple. So beautiful.
If you have ever struggled with any type of addiction, Hey Addicted Me is something I feel you might be able to relate to. I could easily see this poem becoming something rehabs could include in pamphlets in the hopes of helping people realize what addiction really is. It was so well written and really depicted feelings of addiction. 10/10.
To Whoever It May Concern hit me personally. I have gone through some major downs this last year, one of which included the loss of my grandma. I felt everything this poem mentioned. It was so beautifully written and very encouraging.
If you ever want to experience a breath of fresh air in the form of literature, try reading Great Nothingness. It was like breathing up the written work. Amazing.
No one Noticed and Notice/Cared are easily my favorites in the entire collection! These two are so brilliantly done! They are written from the perspective of two different people telling the same story and oh my goodness. This was so beautiful to me in every sense of the word! I cannot say enough good things about these two! This was such a creative concept. Obsessed.
All in all, this was a great collection of poetry. If you love poetry, and enjoy supporting smaller creators, I'd highly suggest you give it a read!
Elemental Bliss was such a beautiful piece! Paul really has a way of being able to capture elements and surroundings. This one will make you feel so at peace. As if you truly are standing on a beach. The same thing could be said for Sunset Over the Sea. So simple. So beautiful.
If you have ever struggled with any type of addiction, Hey Addicted Me is something I feel you might be able to relate to. I could easily see this poem becoming something rehabs could include in pamphlets in the hopes of helping people realize what addiction really is. It was so well written and really depicted feelings of addiction. 10/10.
To Whoever It May Concern hit me personally. I have gone through some major downs this last year, one of which included the loss of my grandma. I felt everything this poem mentioned. It was so beautifully written and very encouraging.
If you ever want to experience a breath of fresh air in the form of literature, try reading Great Nothingness. It was like breathing up the written work. Amazing.
No one Noticed and Notice/Cared are easily my favorites in the entire collection! These two are so brilliantly done! They are written from the perspective of two different people telling the same story and oh my goodness. This was so beautiful to me in every sense of the word! I cannot say enough good things about these two! This was such a creative concept. Obsessed.
All in all, this was a great collection of poetry. If you love poetry, and enjoy supporting smaller creators, I'd highly suggest you give it a read!
October 26, 2024
Paul is an eloquent, versatile poet who writes from the heart. Get yourself a copy of this collection, so you can say, "I knew him when..." after he's famous.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews