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Take Five
Take 5 is a powerful invitation to pause and rise. These poems confront life’s uphill battles and elephant-sized troubles with unflinching courage, while reflecting on the quiet strength found in prayer, meditation, and love.
Through vivid imagery of forests, storms, and the lotus blooming in mud, the collection inspires readers to see resilience not as survival alone, but as transformation. Each verse is both a rallying cry and a moment of stillness—a reminder that the heart remembers how to endure, and how to rise again.
Bold yet contemplative, Take 5 is a lyrical companion for anyone seeking hope in hardship and light in shadow.
Through vivid imagery of forests, storms, and the lotus blooming in mud, the collection inspires readers to see resilience not as survival alone, but as transformation. Each verse is both a rallying cry and a moment of stillness—a reminder that the heart remembers how to endure, and how to rise again.
Bold yet contemplative, Take 5 is a lyrical companion for anyone seeking hope in hardship and light in shadow.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 8, 2026
I did not expect to cry reading a poetry collection this short, yet here we are. Take Five caught me off guard, not through dramatic language but through its quiet insistence on honesty.
Rhonda C. Parsons writes about resilience in a way that never feels like advice. There is no sense of being lectured to here, no forced silver lining attached to every difficult moment. Instead the poems simply describe what hardship feels like, the storms, the dark forests, the exhaustion, and let the reader recognize themselves in that description.
The lotus imagery, when it finally blooms across these pages, feels less like a symbol and more like a quiet promise kept. By the time I reached the closing poems, I felt something settle in me that I had not realized was unsettled.
This is a collection I would recommend to anyone going through something they have not fully named yet, and also to anyone who has already come through something difficult and wants language to describe what that felt like. Either way, the time spent with this book will not feel wasted. It asks for very little and gives back a great deal.
Rhonda C. Parsons writes about resilience in a way that never feels like advice. There is no sense of being lectured to here, no forced silver lining attached to every difficult moment. Instead the poems simply describe what hardship feels like, the storms, the dark forests, the exhaustion, and let the reader recognize themselves in that description.
The lotus imagery, when it finally blooms across these pages, feels less like a symbol and more like a quiet promise kept. By the time I reached the closing poems, I felt something settle in me that I had not realized was unsettled.
This is a collection I would recommend to anyone going through something they have not fully named yet, and also to anyone who has already come through something difficult and wants language to describe what that felt like. Either way, the time spent with this book will not feel wasted. It asks for very little and gives back a great deal.
September 15, 2025
Rarely do I find a book that feels less like reading and more like being gently guided back to myself. All the Colors of the Heart by Rhonda Parsons is exactly that. It’s a reminder that healing and joy are not distant dreams, they’re right here, waiting for us if we choose to notice the miracles in everyday life.
Rhonda’s words carry a warmth that lingers, like sunlight after the rain. Her poems don’t just tell stories; they awaken something inside you, something hopeful, tender, and strong. Evan’s playful spirit adds an extra layer of innocence and resilience that makes this book shine even brighter.
If you’re searching for peace, inspiration, or simply a spark of happiness in the middle of a busy world, this book is a gift you’ll treasure. And when it touches you (because it will), I urge you to leave a review. Your voice could be the one that convinces someone else to pick it up and start their own journey toward joy and healing.
Some books are meant to be read. This one is meant to be shared.
Rhonda’s words carry a warmth that lingers, like sunlight after the rain. Her poems don’t just tell stories; they awaken something inside you, something hopeful, tender, and strong. Evan’s playful spirit adds an extra layer of innocence and resilience that makes this book shine even brighter.
If you’re searching for peace, inspiration, or simply a spark of happiness in the middle of a busy world, this book is a gift you’ll treasure. And when it touches you (because it will), I urge you to leave a review. Your voice could be the one that convinces someone else to pick it up and start their own journey toward joy and healing.
Some books are meant to be read. This one is meant to be shared.
May 22, 2026
Take Five' by Rhonda C. Parsons operates within the tradition of poetry as medicine, a lineage that includes the devotional and the therapeutic, the lyric and the instructive. What distinguishes this collection within that tradition is its structural self-awareness. The title is itself a directive, an imperative to pause that frames every poem which follows as an exercise in intentional stillness. Parsons is not simply writing about resilience; she is constructing an architecture of it, poem by poem.
The collection's thematic concerns cluster around three interlocking ideas: adversity as inevitable, endurance as transformative, and stillness as active rather than passive. This last point is the most interesting. In lesser hands, poems about meditation and inner peace can read as withdrawal from difficulty. Parsons resists this. Her stillness is muscular. It exists alongside the storm, not after it has safely passed.
Her central metaphorical system, drawing on forests, weather, and the lotus flower, is coherent and purposeful. The lotus, in particular, is employed not as ornamentation but as structural argument. Its roots in mud become a thesis: that beauty and strength are grown in difficulty, not despite it. Parsons returns to this idea across the collection with enough variation that it deepens rather than repeats.
The language throughout is deliberately accessible. There is no obscurantism here, no performance of difficulty for its own sake. Some readers of experimental or formally rigorous poetry may find this a limitation. But accessibility, when it is achieved with this degree of emotional precision, is its own craft. The poems communicate clearly because Parsons has thought clearly. The simplicity is earned.
For a reader seeking both emotional resonance and genuine craft, 'Take Five' rewards close attention. It is a collection that knows what it wants to do and does it with considerable skill.
The collection's thematic concerns cluster around three interlocking ideas: adversity as inevitable, endurance as transformative, and stillness as active rather than passive. This last point is the most interesting. In lesser hands, poems about meditation and inner peace can read as withdrawal from difficulty. Parsons resists this. Her stillness is muscular. It exists alongside the storm, not after it has safely passed.
Her central metaphorical system, drawing on forests, weather, and the lotus flower, is coherent and purposeful. The lotus, in particular, is employed not as ornamentation but as structural argument. Its roots in mud become a thesis: that beauty and strength are grown in difficulty, not despite it. Parsons returns to this idea across the collection with enough variation that it deepens rather than repeats.
The language throughout is deliberately accessible. There is no obscurantism here, no performance of difficulty for its own sake. Some readers of experimental or formally rigorous poetry may find this a limitation. But accessibility, when it is achieved with this degree of emotional precision, is its own craft. The poems communicate clearly because Parsons has thought clearly. The simplicity is earned.
For a reader seeking both emotional resonance and genuine craft, 'Take Five' rewards close attention. It is a collection that knows what it wants to do and does it with considerable skill.
May 14, 2026
📖 Currently obsessed with this little poetry collection and I need to talk about it
TAKE FIVE by Rhonda C. Parsons
✦ What it is: A poetry collection about resilience, rising through hardship, and finding stillness when the world is loud
✦ The vibe: Sitting by a window during a thunderstorm with tea, feeling everything and somehow also feeling okay about it
✦ What it does differently: It does not pretend pain is beautiful. It says pain is real AND transformation is possible. Both things but at the same time.
✦ Standout imagery: The lotus blooming in mud. storms giving way to light. Forests that are dark before they open. Every metaphor lands.
✦ The spiritual element: Prayer and meditation appear throughout but never in a way that excludes you. It feels personal, not prescriptive. You bring your own meaning.
✦ The pacing: Alternates between rallying cry energy and deep stillness. It genuinely mirrors the experience of getting through something hard.
✦ Who needs this book:
• Anyone going through it right now.
• Anyone who has come out the other side and needs language for what they survived.
• Anyone who underlines poetry and photographs it at golden hour.
✦ Readability: Accessible and clear without being shallow. The simplicity of the language is a strength, not a limitation.
✦ Final verdict: This is a companion book. The kind you keep on your nightstand and open on the wrong days. The kind that reminds you the heart already knows how to endure, it just sometimes needs the words.
10/10 Would recommend to everyone in my life going through something quiet and heavy that they haven't named yet.
TAKE FIVE by Rhonda C. Parsons
✦ What it is: A poetry collection about resilience, rising through hardship, and finding stillness when the world is loud
✦ The vibe: Sitting by a window during a thunderstorm with tea, feeling everything and somehow also feeling okay about it
✦ What it does differently: It does not pretend pain is beautiful. It says pain is real AND transformation is possible. Both things but at the same time.
✦ Standout imagery: The lotus blooming in mud. storms giving way to light. Forests that are dark before they open. Every metaphor lands.
✦ The spiritual element: Prayer and meditation appear throughout but never in a way that excludes you. It feels personal, not prescriptive. You bring your own meaning.
✦ The pacing: Alternates between rallying cry energy and deep stillness. It genuinely mirrors the experience of getting through something hard.
✦ Who needs this book:
• Anyone going through it right now.
• Anyone who has come out the other side and needs language for what they survived.
• Anyone who underlines poetry and photographs it at golden hour.
✦ Readability: Accessible and clear without being shallow. The simplicity of the language is a strength, not a limitation.
✦ Final verdict: This is a companion book. The kind you keep on your nightstand and open on the wrong days. The kind that reminds you the heart already knows how to endure, it just sometimes needs the words.
10/10 Would recommend to everyone in my life going through something quiet and heavy that they haven't named yet.
May 14, 2026
Rhonda C. Parsons has written a particular kind of book with 'Take Five' that does not ask to be read so much as it asks to be breathed in, slowly, deliberately, the way one might sit with the smell of rain before it falls. What strikes the reader first is the title itself, that quiet command to stop, to count, to reclaim the breath that life so often steals away. And then the poems arrive, and they deliver on that promise magnificently.
Parsons writes about hardship without romanticising it into something palatable and false. The storms in these pages are real storms. The forests are genuinely dark. But she never allows her readers to be swallowed by the weight of difficulty. Instead, she reaches through the page with the lotus as her most potent symbol: something luminous rising not despite the mud, but because of it. That is the philosophical heartbeat of this collection, that transformation is not separate from suffering but is its most honest outcome.
What sets this collection apart from others in the reflective poetry genre is its tonal balance. Parsons moves between fierce urgency and meditative quiet without ever losing her footing. One poem may feel like a battle cry; the next settles into the hush of a candlelit room. The spiritual thread woven through the verses, prayer, stillness, intentional love, never becomes preachy. It remains personal, open, and honest.
'Take Five' is, at its core, an act of generosity. Parsons is not writing for herself here. She is writing for the reader who is tired, the one who needs someone to say: this is hard, and you are still here, and that is extraordinary. A rare and quietly essential collection.
Parsons writes about hardship without romanticising it into something palatable and false. The storms in these pages are real storms. The forests are genuinely dark. But she never allows her readers to be swallowed by the weight of difficulty. Instead, she reaches through the page with the lotus as her most potent symbol: something luminous rising not despite the mud, but because of it. That is the philosophical heartbeat of this collection, that transformation is not separate from suffering but is its most honest outcome.
What sets this collection apart from others in the reflective poetry genre is its tonal balance. Parsons moves between fierce urgency and meditative quiet without ever losing her footing. One poem may feel like a battle cry; the next settles into the hush of a candlelit room. The spiritual thread woven through the verses, prayer, stillness, intentional love, never becomes preachy. It remains personal, open, and honest.
'Take Five' is, at its core, an act of generosity. Parsons is not writing for herself here. She is writing for the reader who is tired, the one who needs someone to say: this is hard, and you are still here, and that is extraordinary. A rare and quietly essential collection.
May 14, 2026
Dear Reader,
I want to tell you about a small and powerful book I recently spent time with, one that I have been thinking about long after I set it down. It is called 'Take Five', and it is by Rhonda C. Parsons, and I think you should know about it.
I came to it expecting what poetry collections about resilience so often deliver: polished sentiment, neatly resolved struggle, a kind of hopeful cheerfulness that can feel, if one is honest, slightly untrue to life. What I found instead was something considerably more grounded. Parsons does not rush past difficulty. She sits with it. She names it plainly. The uphill battles she writes about are not softened for comfort. They are given their full weight. And this, curiously, is precisely what makes the collection so effective as an instrument of hope. When Parsons eventually points toward light, you believe her, because she has not pretended the darkness was small.
The imagery she favors is elemental: storms, forests, the famous lotus in the mud. These are not new symbols, but she uses them with such specificity and sincerity that they feel freshly inhabited. There is also a contemplative dimension to the work, a thread of prayer and meditation and quiet love that runs underneath the bolder verses, like a steady current beneath a river's surface.
I found myself reading slowly, which is not always my habit. The book seemed to require it. Perhaps that is the greatest compliment I can offer: 'Take Five' taught me to take five. To pause. To let the words arrive and settle before moving on.
I hope you find your way to it. I do not think you will regret the time.
Warmly,
A converted reader
I want to tell you about a small and powerful book I recently spent time with, one that I have been thinking about long after I set it down. It is called 'Take Five', and it is by Rhonda C. Parsons, and I think you should know about it.
I came to it expecting what poetry collections about resilience so often deliver: polished sentiment, neatly resolved struggle, a kind of hopeful cheerfulness that can feel, if one is honest, slightly untrue to life. What I found instead was something considerably more grounded. Parsons does not rush past difficulty. She sits with it. She names it plainly. The uphill battles she writes about are not softened for comfort. They are given their full weight. And this, curiously, is precisely what makes the collection so effective as an instrument of hope. When Parsons eventually points toward light, you believe her, because she has not pretended the darkness was small.
The imagery she favors is elemental: storms, forests, the famous lotus in the mud. These are not new symbols, but she uses them with such specificity and sincerity that they feel freshly inhabited. There is also a contemplative dimension to the work, a thread of prayer and meditation and quiet love that runs underneath the bolder verses, like a steady current beneath a river's surface.
I found myself reading slowly, which is not always my habit. The book seemed to require it. Perhaps that is the greatest compliment I can offer: 'Take Five' taught me to take five. To pause. To let the words arrive and settle before moving on.
I hope you find your way to it. I do not think you will regret the time.
Warmly,
A converted reader
May 22, 2026
I read 'Take Five' on a Tuesday afternoon when the week had already decided to be difficult. I had not planned to read poetry that day. I had planned to answer emails and be productive and feel like I had my life in reasonable order. Instead I sat down with Rhonda C. Parsons and did not get up for a long while.
There is something almost alarmingly well-timed about a book that asks you to pause when you most need to pause and least want to. The title alone functions like a hand placed gently on the shoulder. Stop. Count. Breathe. The poems that follow honour that invitation. They do not lecture you about resilience. They demonstrate it, through imagery of storms weathered and forests walked through and flowers that manage to bloom in places that seem entirely wrong for blooming.
I have a particular weakness for books that take difficult things seriously without tipping into heaviness, and this is precisely what Parsons has achieved here. The collection acknowledges the full scale of what life sometimes asks of us, those elephant-sized troubles the title page references, and then it sits with the reader in that difficulty rather than rushing past it toward a pre-packaged resolution. The hope in these poems is hard-won, which is the only kind of hope that feels real.
By the time I reached the final poems I had underlined more than I usually do and felt, unexpectedly, steadier than I had at the start of the afternoon. The emails could wait. The productivity could wait. Some books are worth the time they take from the day, and 'Take Five' is emphatically one of them. It is the sort of collection I will return to on the next difficult Tuesday, and the one after that.
There is something almost alarmingly well-timed about a book that asks you to pause when you most need to pause and least want to. The title alone functions like a hand placed gently on the shoulder. Stop. Count. Breathe. The poems that follow honour that invitation. They do not lecture you about resilience. They demonstrate it, through imagery of storms weathered and forests walked through and flowers that manage to bloom in places that seem entirely wrong for blooming.
I have a particular weakness for books that take difficult things seriously without tipping into heaviness, and this is precisely what Parsons has achieved here. The collection acknowledges the full scale of what life sometimes asks of us, those elephant-sized troubles the title page references, and then it sits with the reader in that difficulty rather than rushing past it toward a pre-packaged resolution. The hope in these poems is hard-won, which is the only kind of hope that feels real.
By the time I reached the final poems I had underlined more than I usually do and felt, unexpectedly, steadier than I had at the start of the afternoon. The emails could wait. The productivity could wait. Some books are worth the time they take from the day, and 'Take Five' is emphatically one of them. It is the sort of collection I will return to on the next difficult Tuesday, and the one after that.
April 11, 2026
Take Five is a poetry collection written by the author Rhonda Parsons, published in January 2025. Take Five is a thoughtfully composed poetry collection that encourages readers to pause and engage in quiet reflection. With a measured and contemplative tone, the book explores themes of resilience, emotional endurance, and personal transformation without resorting to excess sentimentality.
Parsons approaches adversity with sincerity, acknowledging life’s challenges while gradually guiding the reader toward a perspective of growth. The use of natural imagery—particularly storms, forests, and the lotus emerging from mud—serves as an effective metaphorical framework, reinforcing the idea that strength often develops through difficulty.
A subtle spiritual undercurrent runs throughout the collection, with references to prayer, meditation, and love presented in an inclusive and introspective manner. This dimension adds depth without becoming prescriptive, maintaining the book’s overall sense of balance.
While certain themes may feel familiar within the genre, the clarity of expression and emotional authenticity ensure that the work remains engaging. The simplicity of the language enhances its accessibility, allowing the core messages to resonate with a broad audience.
Rating: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Composed, insightful, and quietly impactful.
Final Verdict: A well-balanced and reflective poetry collection that effectively combines emotional depth with accessible language.
Parsons approaches adversity with sincerity, acknowledging life’s challenges while gradually guiding the reader toward a perspective of growth. The use of natural imagery—particularly storms, forests, and the lotus emerging from mud—serves as an effective metaphorical framework, reinforcing the idea that strength often develops through difficulty.
A subtle spiritual undercurrent runs throughout the collection, with references to prayer, meditation, and love presented in an inclusive and introspective manner. This dimension adds depth without becoming prescriptive, maintaining the book’s overall sense of balance.
While certain themes may feel familiar within the genre, the clarity of expression and emotional authenticity ensure that the work remains engaging. The simplicity of the language enhances its accessibility, allowing the core messages to resonate with a broad audience.
Rating: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Composed, insightful, and quietly impactful.
Final Verdict: A well-balanced and reflective poetry collection that effectively combines emotional depth with accessible language.
April 16, 2026
Rhonda Parsons delivers a masterclass in emotional alchemy with Take Five, a collection that breathes life into the weary soul. This is not merely poetry but a rhythmic sanctuary designed for the modern spirit. Parsons navigates the treacherous terrain of life’s uphill battles with a voice that is simultaneously fierce and fragile. She possesses a rare ability to transform elephant sized troubles into catalysts for profound personal evolution.
The imagery within these pages is arresting. From the suffocating shadows of dense forests to the triumphant bloom of a lotus rising through mire, each metaphor serves as a roadmap for the heart. Her verses capture the exquisite tension between the roar of a rallying cry and the profound sanctity of stillness. By weaving themes of meditation and prayer into the fabric of human resilience, the author elevates survival into an art form.
Take Five acts as a lyrical lighthouse for those navigating the storms of hardship. It is a bold, contemplative journey that proves light is most brilliant when born from shadow. For any reader seeking a companion in the darkness, this collection offers more than hope. It provides the transformative power to endure and the undeniable courage to rise.
The imagery within these pages is arresting. From the suffocating shadows of dense forests to the triumphant bloom of a lotus rising through mire, each metaphor serves as a roadmap for the heart. Her verses capture the exquisite tension between the roar of a rallying cry and the profound sanctity of stillness. By weaving themes of meditation and prayer into the fabric of human resilience, the author elevates survival into an art form.
Take Five acts as a lyrical lighthouse for those navigating the storms of hardship. It is a bold, contemplative journey that proves light is most brilliant when born from shadow. For any reader seeking a companion in the darkness, this collection offers more than hope. It provides the transformative power to endure and the undeniable courage to rise.
August 17, 2026
Take Five operates on a premise that could easily have collapsed into cliché, the idea that suffering can produce something beautiful, yet Rhonda C. Parsons manages to make this familiar territory feel genuinely considered rather than borrowed.
The collection is structured around a small set of recurring images, chiefly storms, forests, and the lotus flower, and what elevates the work is how deliberately these images are developed rather than simply repeated. The lotus in particular functions almost like a running argument throughout the collection, each appearance adding nuance to the central claim that growth and difficulty are not opposites but companions.
Equally notable is the collection's tonal range. Parsons does not settle into a single register. Some poems carry the urgency of a person mid struggle. Others slow into something closer to prayer. This variation keeps the collection from feeling monotonous, and it also reflects something true about how resilience actually works in practice, rarely a straight line, more often a series of shifts between effort and rest.
Readers who appreciate poetry that rewards careful attention, rather than poetry meant to be skimmed quickly, will find this collection particularly satisfying.
The collection is structured around a small set of recurring images, chiefly storms, forests, and the lotus flower, and what elevates the work is how deliberately these images are developed rather than simply repeated. The lotus in particular functions almost like a running argument throughout the collection, each appearance adding nuance to the central claim that growth and difficulty are not opposites but companions.
Equally notable is the collection's tonal range. Parsons does not settle into a single register. Some poems carry the urgency of a person mid struggle. Others slow into something closer to prayer. This variation keeps the collection from feeling monotonous, and it also reflects something true about how resilience actually works in practice, rarely a straight line, more often a series of shifts between effort and rest.
Readers who appreciate poetry that rewards careful attention, rather than poetry meant to be skimmed quickly, will find this collection particularly satisfying.
July 21, 2026
There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from being told to stay positive when everything in your life feels heavy, and Take Five is the first poetry collection I have read that seems to genuinely understand that exhaustion rather than add to it.
Rhonda C. Parsons does not ask her readers to perform optimism. She asks them to sit still for a moment, which the title itself makes explicit. The poems that follow honor that request. Difficulty is treated as something real and worth naming, not an obstacle to rush past on the way to a hopeful conclusion.
What makes the collection work is the trust Parsons places in her own imagery. The lotus rising from mud could easily become a shortcut to easy comfort, but she resists that temptation, returning to it with enough variation that it never feels like a formula. The same is true of her storms and forests, which carry genuine atmospheric weight rather than functioning as decoration.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is tired of being rushed through their own difficult season. It does not rush you either. It simply stays present, which turns out to be exactly enough.
Rhonda C. Parsons does not ask her readers to perform optimism. She asks them to sit still for a moment, which the title itself makes explicit. The poems that follow honor that request. Difficulty is treated as something real and worth naming, not an obstacle to rush past on the way to a hopeful conclusion.
What makes the collection work is the trust Parsons places in her own imagery. The lotus rising from mud could easily become a shortcut to easy comfort, but she resists that temptation, returning to it with enough variation that it never feels like a formula. The same is true of her storms and forests, which carry genuine atmospheric weight rather than functioning as decoration.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is tired of being rushed through their own difficult season. It does not rush you either. It simply stays present, which turns out to be exactly enough.
July 29, 2026
Quick thoughts after finishing Take Five ~
Read this in one evening and have been thinking about it since. A few things stood out enough that I wanted to write them down before I forgot.
First, the honesty about hardship. This is not a book that pretends struggle is easy to move through. The difficult poems are allowed to be genuinely difficult.
Second, the lotus symbol. Used so often in this kind of writing that it could easily feel stale, but Parsons finds new angles on it each time it appears.
Third, the balance of tone. Some poems hit like a jolt of adrenaline. Others slow everything down. The shifting rhythm kept me engaged from start to finish.
Fourth, the accessibility of the language. Nothing here is unnecessarily complicated, which makes the emotional impact land more directly rather than less.
If you have been meaning to read more poetry but find longer or denser collections intimidating, this is a strong place to start. It respects your time while still offering something substantial. I would recommend setting aside a quiet hour rather than reading it in fragments, since it works best as a continuous experience.
Read this in one evening and have been thinking about it since. A few things stood out enough that I wanted to write them down before I forgot.
First, the honesty about hardship. This is not a book that pretends struggle is easy to move through. The difficult poems are allowed to be genuinely difficult.
Second, the lotus symbol. Used so often in this kind of writing that it could easily feel stale, but Parsons finds new angles on it each time it appears.
Third, the balance of tone. Some poems hit like a jolt of adrenaline. Others slow everything down. The shifting rhythm kept me engaged from start to finish.
Fourth, the accessibility of the language. Nothing here is unnecessarily complicated, which makes the emotional impact land more directly rather than less.
If you have been meaning to read more poetry but find longer or denser collections intimidating, this is a strong place to start. It respects your time while still offering something substantial. I would recommend setting aside a quiet hour rather than reading it in fragments, since it works best as a continuous experience.
August 2, 2026
Rhonda C. Parsons has produced a collection that manages a difficult balancing act, treating hardship with total seriousness while still arriving somewhere genuinely hopeful by the end. Take Five succeeds where many similarly themed collections falter, largely because Parsons refuses to rush the emotional process her poems describe.
The storms in this book are not metaphors deployed quickly and abandoned. They are given room to exist, sometimes across several poems, before any sense of resolution appears. The same patience applies to her use of the forest as a symbol of confusion or darkness. Nothing here feels hurried toward a neat conclusion.
When resolution does arrive, most often through the recurring image of the lotus, it carries real weight precisely because it was not handed to the reader too easily. This is, I think, the collection's greatest strength. It understands that hope which arrives too quickly rarely feels believable.
For readers who want poetry that mirrors the actual, uneven experience of moving through difficulty rather than a simplified version of it, Take Five is well worth the time. It is compact, but every page carries intention.
The storms in this book are not metaphors deployed quickly and abandoned. They are given room to exist, sometimes across several poems, before any sense of resolution appears. The same patience applies to her use of the forest as a symbol of confusion or darkness. Nothing here feels hurried toward a neat conclusion.
When resolution does arrive, most often through the recurring image of the lotus, it carries real weight precisely because it was not handed to the reader too easily. This is, I think, the collection's greatest strength. It understands that hope which arrives too quickly rarely feels believable.
For readers who want poetry that mirrors the actual, uneven experience of moving through difficulty rather than a simplified version of it, Take Five is well worth the time. It is compact, but every page carries intention.
September 15, 2025
This book is not just a collection of poems and reflection, it’s an invitation to live more fully, with joy, mindfulness, and resilience. Through the voice of young Evan Lovejoy and the heartfelt words of Rhonda Parsons, we are reminded that even in a chaotic world, miracles can be found if we stay open to them.
What touched me most is the spirit of hope that flows through every page. The imagery of “puddle-jumping” and “sliding down rainbows” beautifully captures what it means to hold on to wonder, even when life gets hard. Rhonda’s writing is infused with energy that heals, inspires, and uplifts, making this book a gift for anyone seeking inner peace, less suffering, and more joy.
If you’re looking for a book that speaks to both heart and soul, this one belongs on your shelf. And after you read it, I encourage you to share your own reflections in a review, because words like these are meant to ripple outward, touching others with their light.
Let’s read for joy, and let’s spread that joy by letting others know how this book has inspired us.
What touched me most is the spirit of hope that flows through every page. The imagery of “puddle-jumping” and “sliding down rainbows” beautifully captures what it means to hold on to wonder, even when life gets hard. Rhonda’s writing is infused with energy that heals, inspires, and uplifts, making this book a gift for anyone seeking inner peace, less suffering, and more joy.
If you’re looking for a book that speaks to both heart and soul, this one belongs on your shelf. And after you read it, I encourage you to share your own reflections in a review, because words like these are meant to ripple outward, touching others with their light.
Let’s read for joy, and let’s spread that joy by letting others know how this book has inspired us.
July 15, 2026
I do not usually finish poetry collections in one sitting, but Take Five pulled me through from the first page to the last without letting me put it down. Rhonda C. Parsons has a way of writing about difficulty that never feels performative. The struggles in this book carry weight because she refuses to shrink them for the sake of a tidier narrative.
What impressed me most was the restraint. So many collections about resilience rush toward triumph, eager to reassure the reader that everything works out. Parsons takes her time instead. The storms linger. The forests stay dark for as long as they need to. When light finally arrives, in the form of that recurring lotus, it feels earned rather than promised.
This is a book worth reading slowly, ideally more than once. The first read will move you emotionally. The second will reveal how carefully constructed the emotional arc actually is. Anyone who has ever needed permission to sit with hardship before rushing toward healing will find something valuable here. It is a short collection, but it does not read like a small one.
What impressed me most was the restraint. So many collections about resilience rush toward triumph, eager to reassure the reader that everything works out. Parsons takes her time instead. The storms linger. The forests stay dark for as long as they need to. When light finally arrives, in the form of that recurring lotus, it feels earned rather than promised.
This is a book worth reading slowly, ideally more than once. The first read will move you emotionally. The second will reveal how carefully constructed the emotional arc actually is. Anyone who has ever needed permission to sit with hardship before rushing toward healing will find something valuable here. It is a short collection, but it does not read like a small one.
July 29, 2026
Why Take Five deserves your time
The honesty. Parsons does not sand down the hard edges of struggle to make the collection more comfortable to read.
The imagery. Lotus flowers, storms, and forests recur throughout, and rather than growing repetitive, each return adds a new layer of meaning.
The pacing. The collection moves between urgency and stillness in a way that mirrors what it actually feels like to endure something difficult.
The spiritual undertone. Prayer and quiet reflection appear often, but never in a way that requires the reader to share a specific belief system.
The accessibility. You do not need a background in poetry to understand or feel this book. The language is clear, but the emotion underneath it is not simple at all.
Put together, these elements make Take Five one of the more quietly effective collections I have read this year. It does not shout for attention. It earns it, poem by poem, until you realize you have been changed slightly by the time you reach the final page. Highly worth the few hours it asks of you.
The honesty. Parsons does not sand down the hard edges of struggle to make the collection more comfortable to read.
The imagery. Lotus flowers, storms, and forests recur throughout, and rather than growing repetitive, each return adds a new layer of meaning.
The pacing. The collection moves between urgency and stillness in a way that mirrors what it actually feels like to endure something difficult.
The spiritual undertone. Prayer and quiet reflection appear often, but never in a way that requires the reader to share a specific belief system.
The accessibility. You do not need a background in poetry to understand or feel this book. The language is clear, but the emotion underneath it is not simple at all.
Put together, these elements make Take Five one of the more quietly effective collections I have read this year. It does not shout for attention. It earns it, poem by poem, until you realize you have been changed slightly by the time you reach the final page. Highly worth the few hours it asks of you.
July 29, 2026
I was hesitant at first. Poetry collections about resilience often promise more than they deliver, and I have been disappointed before by books that trade depth for inspirational language. Take Five is not one of those books.
Rhonda C. Parsons writes with a clarity that never sacrifices depth. She does not simply tell you that hardship can lead to growth. She walks you through the actual texture of hardship first, the storms, the darkness, the exhaustion, before she ever gestures toward the lotus rising from the mud. That order matters. It is why the hope in this collection feels trustworthy rather than hollow.
I found myself returning to certain pages days after finishing the book, which is not something I expected going in. There is a stillness to these poems that stays with you quietly, the way a good conversation does. If you are searching for something that treats both pain and healing with equal seriousness, I think you will find it here. It asks very little of your time and gives back considerably more.
Rhonda C. Parsons writes with a clarity that never sacrifices depth. She does not simply tell you that hardship can lead to growth. She walks you through the actual texture of hardship first, the storms, the darkness, the exhaustion, before she ever gestures toward the lotus rising from the mud. That order matters. It is why the hope in this collection feels trustworthy rather than hollow.
I found myself returning to certain pages days after finishing the book, which is not something I expected going in. There is a stillness to these poems that stays with you quietly, the way a good conversation does. If you are searching for something that treats both pain and healing with equal seriousness, I think you will find it here. It asks very little of your time and gives back considerably more.
September 15, 2025
All the Colors of the Heart is the kind of book that stays with you long after you close it. Rhonda Parsons doesn’t just write poetry, she pours pure energy, healing, and joy into every word. Each page feels like a reminder that even in chaos, there is beauty… even in pain, there can be peace.
I found myself smiling, reflecting, and even tearing up at the simple but powerful truths woven throughout. Evan’s playful imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding made me feel like a child again, full of wonder, resilience, and hope.
This isn’t just a book you read, it’s a book you experience. And when you do, you’ll want to share your own feelings about it so others can discover the same light. If you’ve ever longed for healing, joy, or inner peace, let this book guide you there.
Don’t just read it. Live it. And then, please, leave a review so this message of love can reach even more hearts.
I found myself smiling, reflecting, and even tearing up at the simple but powerful truths woven throughout. Evan’s playful imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding made me feel like a child again, full of wonder, resilience, and hope.
This isn’t just a book you read, it’s a book you experience. And when you do, you’ll want to share your own feelings about it so others can discover the same light. If you’ve ever longed for healing, joy, or inner peace, let this book guide you there.
Don’t just read it. Live it. And then, please, leave a review so this message of love can reach even more hearts.
September 19, 2025
Reading Take Five by Rhonda Parsons on my own was powerful, but bringing it to our book club took the experience to another level. What stood out most was how the poems and reflections opened the door for honest conversations. People shared their own stories of resilience, healing, and even struggles they hadn’t talked about before. It felt like the book gave us permission to be more vulnerable and connected.
Personally, I was touched by the imagery of “puddle-jumping” and “sliding down rainbows.” It reminded me not to lose sight of joy, even during difficult times. Several others in our group said they underlined passages because they felt so personal and true.
This isn’t just a book to read, it’s a book to experience together. Take Five has a way of sparking discussion, reflection, and genuine connection. I’ll definitely be recommending it to other groups, because it’s the kind of book that lingers long after the meeting ends.
Personally, I was touched by the imagery of “puddle-jumping” and “sliding down rainbows.” It reminded me not to lose sight of joy, even during difficult times. Several others in our group said they underlined passages because they felt so personal and true.
This isn’t just a book to read, it’s a book to experience together. Take Five has a way of sparking discussion, reflection, and genuine connection. I’ll definitely be recommending it to other groups, because it’s the kind of book that lingers long after the meeting ends.
September 19, 2025
Our group chose Take Five by Rhonda Parsons, and it quickly became one of the most meaningful reads we’ve discussed together. What struck us all was how accessible the writing felt, simple yet full of depth. Rhonda’s reflections invited us to pause and look at our own lives, and many of us found ourselves relating to the themes of resilience, healing, and joy.
One member said the book reminded her to “slow down and notice the small miracles,” while another admitted that the words gave her comfort during a tough week. For me, the playful spirit of Evan’s voice, talking about puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding, was a highlight. It made serious truths feel hopeful rather than heavy.
Take Five doesn’t just give you something to read, it gives you something to talk about. It’s rare to find a book that feels so personal yet creates such shared connection. This is one we’ll be remembering and revisiting.
One member said the book reminded her to “slow down and notice the small miracles,” while another admitted that the words gave her comfort during a tough week. For me, the playful spirit of Evan’s voice, talking about puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding, was a highlight. It made serious truths feel hopeful rather than heavy.
Take Five doesn’t just give you something to read, it gives you something to talk about. It’s rare to find a book that feels so personal yet creates such shared connection. This is one we’ll be remembering and revisiting.
September 19, 2025
Take Five by Rhonda Parsons is one of those rare books that doesn’t just sit on the page, it lives in your heart. When our book club read it, the room filled with energy in a way we hadn’t experienced in a long time. People shared personal stories, admitted feelings they’d kept quiet, and connected deeply through the themes of healing, joy, and resilience. That kind of impact is what makes a book unforgettable.
For me, the imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding was pure magic. It reminded me that even in the middle of life’s chaos, there’s always room for wonder. Rhonda’s words carry warmth, honesty, and hope, the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.
This isn’t just a collection of reflections, it’s an invitation to live more fully, to see the miracles in everyday life, and to embrace joy no matter the circumstances. Take Five is a treasure, and I’ll be recommending it to every reader and book club I know.
For me, the imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding was pure magic. It reminded me that even in the middle of life’s chaos, there’s always room for wonder. Rhonda’s words carry warmth, honesty, and hope, the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.
This isn’t just a collection of reflections, it’s an invitation to live more fully, to see the miracles in everyday life, and to embrace joy no matter the circumstances. Take Five is a treasure, and I’ll be recommending it to every reader and book club I know.
July 21, 2026
I picked up Take Five by Rhonda C. Parsons expecting a quick poetry collection, but I ended up lingering over almost every page. It's one of those books that quietly asks you to slow down and notice what's happening inside yourself.
What impressed me most was how honest the poems felt. They acknowledge exhaustion, uncertainty, and grief without trying to wrap everything up with easy answers. Instead, they gently remind us that growth often begins in uncomfortable places. The recurring imagery of nature especially the lotus blooming from muddy water, beautifully reinforces that idea.
This isn't a collection you'll rush through. I found myself reading a poem, putting the book down, and simply thinking for a while. If you've been feeling overwhelmed or emotionally stretched, Take Five offers a comforting space to pause and reflect. It's a thoughtful collection that stays with you long after you've closed the book.
What impressed me most was how honest the poems felt. They acknowledge exhaustion, uncertainty, and grief without trying to wrap everything up with easy answers. Instead, they gently remind us that growth often begins in uncomfortable places. The recurring imagery of nature especially the lotus blooming from muddy water, beautifully reinforces that idea.
This isn't a collection you'll rush through. I found myself reading a poem, putting the book down, and simply thinking for a while. If you've been feeling overwhelmed or emotionally stretched, Take Five offers a comforting space to pause and reflect. It's a thoughtful collection that stays with you long after you've closed the book.
September 19, 2025
I first came across Take Five by Rhonda Parsons when it was chosen for our book club, and I’m so glad I did. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, but this book surprised me in the best way. It’s not just poetry and reflection, it feels like sitting down with a friend who gently reminds you that joy, healing, and peace are still possible, even when life feels overwhelming.
As I read, I found myself underlining passages and pausing to reflect. The imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding really stuck with me, it was playful, yet so powerful. During our discussion, I realized others felt the same, and it opened the door to conversations we might not have had otherwise.
Take Five is one of those books that sneaks into your heart and stays there. I’m grateful I discovered it through my club, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends outside the group too.
As I read, I found myself underlining passages and pausing to reflect. The imagery of puddle-jumping and rainbow-sliding really stuck with me, it was playful, yet so powerful. During our discussion, I realized others felt the same, and it opened the door to conversations we might not have had otherwise.
Take Five is one of those books that sneaks into your heart and stays there. I’m grateful I discovered it through my club, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends outside the group too.
July 21, 2026
If life has been moving faster than your heart can keep up with, I'd like to recommend Take Five by Rhonda C. Parsons.
I found this collection during a particularly busy week, and I didn't realize how much I needed it until I started reading. Instead of offering easy solutions, these poems simply invite you to slow down, breathe, and acknowledge your feelings without shame.
What stayed with me most was the compassion in the writing. Every page feels patient and understanding, as though the author is reminding us that healing isn't a race. Some poems comforted me immediately, while others lingered in my thoughts long after I had finished them.
This is the kind of book you'll return to whenever life becomes noisy. It offers quiet wisdom without ever raising its voice, and that's what makes it so memorable.
I found this collection during a particularly busy week, and I didn't realize how much I needed it until I started reading. Instead of offering easy solutions, these poems simply invite you to slow down, breathe, and acknowledge your feelings without shame.
What stayed with me most was the compassion in the writing. Every page feels patient and understanding, as though the author is reminding us that healing isn't a race. Some poems comforted me immediately, while others lingered in my thoughts long after I had finished them.
This is the kind of book you'll return to whenever life becomes noisy. It offers quiet wisdom without ever raising its voice, and that's what makes it so memorable.
November 7, 2025
Oh man, "Take Five" hit me right in the feels. Rhonda Parsons has this way of weaving stories and poems that feel like they're speaking directly to your soul. The opening story, "An Eternal Love," about Clarice and Carl's enduring marriage through Alzheimer's, had me tearing up especially the part where she retells their life as a Cinderella story to jog his memory. It's so tender and real. Parsons' poetry, like "Eagle Wings," lifts you up with its imagery of soaring above life's storms. If you're going through tough times, this book is a gentle reminder that love and spirit endure. Highly recommend!
September 10, 2025
Reading this book was like holding a mirror up to parts of my life I hadn’t looked at closely before. Rhonda Parsons writes with honesty and grace, and I found myself rereading passages just to let the words sink in deeper. This isn’t the kind of book you finish and forget; it’s one that lingers, reminding you of what matters most. I’ll be recommending it to anyone who loves writing that is heartfelt and genuine.
September 11, 2025
I didn’t expect to feel so many emotions while reading, but this book took me through them all. There were times I laughed at the little ironies she described, and other times I felt tears come to my eyes from the rawness of her experiences. What I appreciated most was that despite the struggles, Rhonda’s words always leaned toward hope. It’s the kind of book that fills you up instead of weighing you down.
September 10, 2025
I started this book not knowing just how much it would touch me. The way Rhonda shares her truths with such openness made me feel connected to her story in a very personal way. I laughed, I cried, and I reflected on my own life. By the time I finished, I felt grateful both for the book itself and for the courage it must have taken to write it.
September 10, 2025
This book took me on a journey I didn’t expect but truly needed. Rhonda’s writing is filled with warmth and sincerity, and it felt like I had a companion walking beside me through each chapter. I love books that leave you both reflective and hopeful, and this one did exactly that. It’s not often you come across a book that feels both intimate and universal but this one achieves it beautifully.
September 11, 2025
What impressed me most was how Rhonda doesn’t hold back. She shares her truth with such vulnerability that you can’t help but admire her strength. Reading it made me think about my own life differently, the choices I’ve made, the challenges I’ve faced, and the way I want to grow moving forward. It’s a book that makes you stop and feel, and that is a rare gift.
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