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My Ordinary Life
My Ordinary Life is a book of story poems, a blend of genres. The heart of the book takes us through the beginnings of the Covid pandemic through the waves of vaccinations and variants to the point where Covid was no longer seen as a deadly threat.
Interwoven are stories of friends who were lost, the pain and fear of isolation, the confusion of the world opening and closing again. Abbott interweaves his own aging, the deaths of both of his parents and the growing awareness and appreciation of the simple gifts of everyday life.
The long pause of Covid allowed him to look more deeply at what would have been transient in his formerly busy life, be that the birds and frogs in his garden, the companionship of his cats, the small interactions with service workers and friends. He explores the intersections of grief and gratitude in a wide variety of situations.
My Ordinary Life is as therapeutic as it is poetic with an affirmation of trauma that begins to allow it to surface and be healed.
"By personal experience, training, and as a practicing therapist for many decades, Franklin Abbott has gained and shared deep insights into human thinking and behavior. In My Ordinary Life, his third book of poems, he has used lucid and lyrical phrasing to apply this valuable awareness to his own life and the lives of many others he's known and loved in recent years. My first reaction on hearing his new title was that this life, even in its simplest daily minutiae, has been anything but ordinary. I'm confident that anyone who learns about it in these pages will agree." - Don Perryman, author of the poetry collection, Hearts Bigger than Brazil
Interwoven are stories of friends who were lost, the pain and fear of isolation, the confusion of the world opening and closing again. Abbott interweaves his own aging, the deaths of both of his parents and the growing awareness and appreciation of the simple gifts of everyday life.
The long pause of Covid allowed him to look more deeply at what would have been transient in his formerly busy life, be that the birds and frogs in his garden, the companionship of his cats, the small interactions with service workers and friends. He explores the intersections of grief and gratitude in a wide variety of situations.
My Ordinary Life is as therapeutic as it is poetic with an affirmation of trauma that begins to allow it to surface and be healed.
"By personal experience, training, and as a practicing therapist for many decades, Franklin Abbott has gained and shared deep insights into human thinking and behavior. In My Ordinary Life, his third book of poems, he has used lucid and lyrical phrasing to apply this valuable awareness to his own life and the lives of many others he's known and loved in recent years. My first reaction on hearing his new title was that this life, even in its simplest daily minutiae, has been anything but ordinary. I'm confident that anyone who learns about it in these pages will agree." - Don Perryman, author of the poetry collection, Hearts Bigger than Brazil
- GenresPoetry
350 pages, Paperback
Published May 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2025
My Ordinary Life by Franklin Abbott
Rating: ★★★☆☆
SidR Rating: 3/5 — Mixed Feelings
A thoughtful collection of story-poems chronicling the author’s personal reflections across three time periods: pre-Covid, during Covid, and post-Covid. As expected, the majority of poems center around the pandemic era, offering themes of grief, resilience, and the overlooked beauty in everyday life.
At first, I found myself racing through the book. But by the 20th poem, I realized this isn't a collection to be consumed quickly. My Ordinary Life invites a slower, more contemplative pace—something that mirrors its core message: in chaos, stillness matters.
For anyone who has lived through these past few years feeling confused, raw, or simply tired (and who hasn’t?), this book creates a quiet space for introspection and healing. It’s ideal for readers looking to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the ordinary—and extraordinary—details of life. If you enjoy poetry that comforts without avoiding darker topics like death, this collection might resonate deeply.
🌟 Favorite Snippet — from "After Hours":
“he becomes more genial
more like someone who is someone
which is something we don’t want age
to rob us of
we are still someone...
who has a heartbeat
who breathes in and breathes out
who has preferences and opinions
and capabilities”
Noted Grammar Errors:
Minor but noticeable grammar slips:
* Page 68: “listen the the symphony” → listen to the symphony
* Page 76: “outside the the gay bar Le Quetzal” → outside the gay bar
* Page 123: “was was a game of toss” → was a game of toss
* Page 133: “who do a bow to” → who do I bow to
* Page 245: “for a zoom with clients” → for a Zoom with clients
* Page 253: “we at cheese and crackers” → we ate cheese and crackers
These did not detract significantly from the experience, but a round of proofreading would polish the overall presentation.
SidR Rating:
⭐⭐⭐ — Mixed Feelings
Enjoyable in parts but inconsistent.
- May contain a few/many grammar errors
- Inconsistent tone, pacing, or development
- Enjoyment may vary by reader preference
- Shows potential, but could use more polish
Poetry with meaning and emotional resonance, though occasional inconsistencies and grammar slips hold it back slightly. Still worthwhile for reflective readers.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
SidR Rating: 3/5 — Mixed Feelings
A thoughtful collection of story-poems chronicling the author’s personal reflections across three time periods: pre-Covid, during Covid, and post-Covid. As expected, the majority of poems center around the pandemic era, offering themes of grief, resilience, and the overlooked beauty in everyday life.
At first, I found myself racing through the book. But by the 20th poem, I realized this isn't a collection to be consumed quickly. My Ordinary Life invites a slower, more contemplative pace—something that mirrors its core message: in chaos, stillness matters.
For anyone who has lived through these past few years feeling confused, raw, or simply tired (and who hasn’t?), this book creates a quiet space for introspection and healing. It’s ideal for readers looking to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the ordinary—and extraordinary—details of life. If you enjoy poetry that comforts without avoiding darker topics like death, this collection might resonate deeply.
🌟 Favorite Snippet — from "After Hours":
“he becomes more genial
more like someone who is someone
which is something we don’t want age
to rob us of
we are still someone...
who has a heartbeat
who breathes in and breathes out
who has preferences and opinions
and capabilities”
Noted Grammar Errors:
Minor but noticeable grammar slips:
* Page 68: “listen the the symphony” → listen to the symphony
* Page 76: “outside the the gay bar Le Quetzal” → outside the gay bar
* Page 123: “was was a game of toss” → was a game of toss
* Page 133: “who do a bow to” → who do I bow to
* Page 245: “for a zoom with clients” → for a Zoom with clients
* Page 253: “we at cheese and crackers” → we ate cheese and crackers
These did not detract significantly from the experience, but a round of proofreading would polish the overall presentation.
SidR Rating:
⭐⭐⭐ — Mixed Feelings
Enjoyable in parts but inconsistent.
- May contain a few/many grammar errors
- Inconsistent tone, pacing, or development
- Enjoyment may vary by reader preference
- Shows potential, but could use more polish
Poetry with meaning and emotional resonance, though occasional inconsistencies and grammar slips hold it back slightly. Still worthwhile for reflective readers.
May 24, 2025
I've done a lot of crazy shit in my life. Much of it I did just for the story, cause I thought I was a writer and writers needed experiences to write about. I've learned that this is true, but confuses people. Some people think that just because they've had a bunch of experiences, they're automatically a writer. Since we live in a day and age where just about anything can be published, I received My Ordinary Life from Library Thing and RFD Press in exchange for an honest review.
Franklin Abbott seems like a regular old white dude. He's traveled a bunch, lived in a few different places, and likes food. He has a couple cats and a bunch of friends and lives in Georgia. He probably forces himself to end every day by writing a poem. In reality, they're just journal entries written like poems, but more power to him. I don't think he's a bad person; if someone offered to take some random shit I've written and turn it into a book, I would almost definitely agree. And then some chump who likes free books would probably get it in the mail and spend a week of his life reading it.
It wasn't a horrible book though. It won't stick with me for more than a few hours, but I mostly had an enjoyable time reading it and feel like I got to know this dude a little bit. He's a man in his 70s and therefore writes a lot about getting old—the aches and pains, the wisdom, the experiences—and, naturally, dying. He writes a bit about his travels, mostly to India, but doesn't go into too much detail. Since much of this book was written in 2021, COVID plays a role: lost friends, sick friends, vaccinations, fear, masks, etc. He also takes a lot of naps, and really wants us to know about it. Finally, he's in to food. He goes out to eat a lot (and most of the time, his friends pay) and also loves cooking intricate meals.
I'm only a paragraph of writing away from putting this book on my shelf and probably not thinking about it again until I move. Still, I'd like to talk to Abbott and see what he's been up to these past few years.
Franklin Abbott seems like a regular old white dude. He's traveled a bunch, lived in a few different places, and likes food. He has a couple cats and a bunch of friends and lives in Georgia. He probably forces himself to end every day by writing a poem. In reality, they're just journal entries written like poems, but more power to him. I don't think he's a bad person; if someone offered to take some random shit I've written and turn it into a book, I would almost definitely agree. And then some chump who likes free books would probably get it in the mail and spend a week of his life reading it.
It wasn't a horrible book though. It won't stick with me for more than a few hours, but I mostly had an enjoyable time reading it and feel like I got to know this dude a little bit. He's a man in his 70s and therefore writes a lot about getting old—the aches and pains, the wisdom, the experiences—and, naturally, dying. He writes a bit about his travels, mostly to India, but doesn't go into too much detail. Since much of this book was written in 2021, COVID plays a role: lost friends, sick friends, vaccinations, fear, masks, etc. He also takes a lot of naps, and really wants us to know about it. Finally, he's in to food. He goes out to eat a lot (and most of the time, his friends pay) and also loves cooking intricate meals.
I'm only a paragraph of writing away from putting this book on my shelf and probably not thinking about it again until I move. Still, I'd like to talk to Abbott and see what he's been up to these past few years.
October 30, 2025
It was a touching book, blending genres. It is about loss, aging, and death, yet it is also about celebrating life, friendship, nature and human sympathy.
Quotes:
- There is nothing but the future
What is past is over
What is now
is evaporating
slowly hissing itself
out of existence
- The worm of my imagination became a butterfly and flew away
- In every dream
I am on a journey
I just don’t know where
I don’t have a ticket
Marked with a final destination
I am just going
- And if life is forever enfolding
Answers in questions
And questions in answers
Maybe it is best not to know
Because knowledge
Is always the prelude
To confusion
- I suppose since we are broken
In different ways my brokenness
Speaks to him and his to me
It is only through the cracks in the egg
We see
- Mother
Is there a bigger word?
Not even god
Is as big as a mother
We have many gods
And one mother
Se was our harbor
Our safe beginning
No matter the rest of the story
Her womb is prologue
- We are all going to the same
Resting place
Why be in a hurry?
Only fate knows our arrival time
And tempus fugit
Fate
Holds the spotwatch
- And yet the chorus is consistent
The conductor has never appeared
The song is the long song of creation
If one tree falls then another grows up
If there is a storm there is also calm
- I have so little and so much
Less money and more touch
Less to legislate
And more to compensate
I am not a crane
I cannot bear the strain of tons
But maybe in a moment
When you need a little lift
My love
Is leverage enough
Quotes:
- There is nothing but the future
What is past is over
What is now
is evaporating
slowly hissing itself
out of existence
- The worm of my imagination became a butterfly and flew away
- In every dream
I am on a journey
I just don’t know where
I don’t have a ticket
Marked with a final destination
I am just going
- And if life is forever enfolding
Answers in questions
And questions in answers
Maybe it is best not to know
Because knowledge
Is always the prelude
To confusion
- I suppose since we are broken
In different ways my brokenness
Speaks to him and his to me
It is only through the cracks in the egg
We see
- Mother
Is there a bigger word?
Not even god
Is as big as a mother
We have many gods
And one mother
Se was our harbor
Our safe beginning
No matter the rest of the story
Her womb is prologue
- We are all going to the same
Resting place
Why be in a hurry?
Only fate knows our arrival time
And tempus fugit
Fate
Holds the spotwatch
- And yet the chorus is consistent
The conductor has never appeared
The song is the long song of creation
If one tree falls then another grows up
If there is a storm there is also calm
- I have so little and so much
Less money and more touch
Less to legislate
And more to compensate
I am not a crane
I cannot bear the strain of tons
But maybe in a moment
When you need a little lift
My love
Is leverage enough
July 24, 2025
‘Life is full of circles’ – The insistence of being
Georgia author/psychotherapist Franklin Abbott blends his gifts as an oral historian and therapist in delivering this winsome, sensitive, and illuminating book of poetic reflections on his life – and ours. His books to date include PINK ZINNIA, MORTAL LOVE, BOYHOOD: GROWING UP MALE, NEW MEN, NEW MINDS, MEN AND INTIMACY, and now MY ORDINARY LIFE. In this collection Franklin revisits that period in our history, the COVID pandemic, sharing his response to the medical aspects as well as the personal and universal impact we all share.
While his poems are extended stories, an excerpt introduces the gentle yet life rich essence his poems convey.
Fog
the crest of a hill
birds in shadow
flying through
everything
disappearing
I can only see myself
if I wipe the steam
from the mirror
and for those seconds
the steam doesn’t rise
I can see my eyes
seeing me
This book of poems leaves a mark on the heart of every reader, a testimony to a life that is more than just ordinary…. Recommended on many levels
Georgia author/psychotherapist Franklin Abbott blends his gifts as an oral historian and therapist in delivering this winsome, sensitive, and illuminating book of poetic reflections on his life – and ours. His books to date include PINK ZINNIA, MORTAL LOVE, BOYHOOD: GROWING UP MALE, NEW MEN, NEW MINDS, MEN AND INTIMACY, and now MY ORDINARY LIFE. In this collection Franklin revisits that period in our history, the COVID pandemic, sharing his response to the medical aspects as well as the personal and universal impact we all share.
While his poems are extended stories, an excerpt introduces the gentle yet life rich essence his poems convey.
Fog
the crest of a hill
birds in shadow
flying through
everything
disappearing
I can only see myself
if I wipe the steam
from the mirror
and for those seconds
the steam doesn’t rise
I can see my eyes
seeing me
This book of poems leaves a mark on the heart of every reader, a testimony to a life that is more than just ordinary…. Recommended on many levels
Read
May 17, 2025"Love what you think / you cannot love / and love more / than you think / you can." I love the cover and the concept of this being poetry about an ordinary life during COVID. The poetry itself is fair. In many ways, though, this content isn't relatable to me, as the author and I have very different lives. However, this book will hit home with retired adults, those with chronic pain, or those who have lost close friends and family.
July 17, 2025
Beautifully sad. It made me nostalgic for a life I have not lived and emotional for things I have not had to go through yet.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews