Between The Dark and The Light

by R. William Parmenter

Between The Dark and The Light, the debut of R. William Parmenter, is a powerful collection of poems exploring the raw and authentic experience of living with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. This deeply personal work journeys through the shadows of mental illness, while also uncovering the moments of light and inspiration that give hope. It traverses the social issues that cause strife, but also shows the beauty in humanity.

Created to share the realities of mental illness and to inspire others, this collection reminds readers they are not alone on their journey. Through honest reflection and uplifting resilience, Between The Dark and The Light offers a beacon of understanding and encouragement for anyone seeking hope amid darkness.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2024

Reviews

[V. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed R. William Parmenter's debut poetry book. As someone who has Generalized Anxiety Disorder and is on medication for it, and someone who has faced depressive states in my life, I found many of the poems relatable. The themes in the book correlate well with the poems.

My favorites are Treading Water, Marathon, Wake Up, Fragile, Mirror, Little Blue Pill, Cut From Different Cloth, Introvert, Manic Projects, Unfinished, and Box of Photos. These are poems I will go back to again and again!

I was impressed by the amount of well-done nature imagery. I always admire that, but I struggle myself with writing it. I could truly imagine some of these scenes as I was reading, which I personally can't often say with poetry - it's a little bit harder to capture in my opinion.

If you're looking for a great book of poems on mental health, I would recommend this one.

[Melissa Rakestraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected delight. These poems truly occupy the spaces "between the dark and light", dancing between the beauty and devastation in this world beautifully. The author suggests reading a few poems at a time and sitting with them, and I recommend that for anyone else who wants to read this book. It's too nuanced and brings too much emotion to be barreled through all at once; like you would with all things that are precious you should read with intention and thoughtfulness. My personal favorite poem was initially "Between The Dark and The Light", but the one that stuck with me the most was "Just Give Me A Reason", which in only four short lines perfectly sums up what anxiety is and how it clings to us. This was a great read and I can't wait to read more.

[Flavio Miguel Pereira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know why for this times mental health is a good theme for poetry but in the middle of the kaos comes the light and this book shows it