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Chasing the Chalice: A Collection of Verses
How many ways can you express boundless, fearless love? In Chasing The Chalice: A Collection of Verses, poet Laura Charlotte Berlin offers nearly as many soul-stirring sentiments of unfettered romance as there are letters in the alphabet.
With grace of pen and fullness of heart, this rousing collection of twenty-four romantic poems is meted out in letters of the alphabet, offering one finale verse for letters X, Y, and Z. A light touch and unabashed optimism define this blissful book, making it a perfect gift for a paramour or for anyone who would benefit from an enthusiastic belief in the power and potential of love.
Exploring the ways in which anyone can attain the divine with another individual, the tender, triumphant verses in this collection come together to celebrate the choice to move toward happiness in matters of the heart.
With grace of pen and fullness of heart, this rousing collection of twenty-four romantic poems is meted out in letters of the alphabet, offering one finale verse for letters X, Y, and Z. A light touch and unabashed optimism define this blissful book, making it a perfect gift for a paramour or for anyone who would benefit from an enthusiastic belief in the power and potential of love.
Exploring the ways in which anyone can attain the divine with another individual, the tender, triumphant verses in this collection come together to celebrate the choice to move toward happiness in matters of the heart.
- GenresPoetry
54 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2014
630 people want to read
About the author
Laura Charlotte Berlin
1 book106 followersSince her childhood, author Laura Charlotte Berlin has nurtured a love for the Arthurian Legend and its many adaptations that are found in literature and art. Her collection of romantic verse, Chasing the Chalice, was inspired by this lifelong enthusiasm for the legend. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and communications from Arcadia University, and also studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.
Berlin currently lives in New York.
Berlin currently lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 10, 2017
I'm usually not a poetry reader, but these poems are absolutely perfect for the soul. The brilliant set-up touches on all aspects of romance and is such an enjoyable read. I recommend this for poetry lovers, non-poetry lovers, the single, married, yearning, and jaded. You won't regret it!
November 13, 2017
Laura Berlin’s mastery of poetry and prose rises to its zenith in “Chasing the Chalice: A Collection of Verses”. From A to Z, this collection, representing each letter of the alphabet, is less an exercise of her proficiency as a writer and more about her deep connection to the human soul. This celebration of hope, romance, and love elevates the reader into a heavenly dimension where the spoken word is the ultimate expression of the Divine and all creatures, great and small, come together to bask in Its presence.
March 12, 2017
This is a beautiful collection of small-sized, yet eloquent poems. I felt moved by the lyrical and romantic nature of each verse.
Here's one of my favorite lines:
"The romantics release is the rapture of rhythm in this world."
Very good collection of poetry, though I do wish there were more! I also wish they had formal titles instead of just Roman numerals. I'm old-fashioned the way.
Here's one of my favorite lines:
"The romantics release is the rapture of rhythm in this world."
Very good collection of poetry, though I do wish there were more! I also wish they had formal titles instead of just Roman numerals. I'm old-fashioned the way.
December 22, 2016
On the first reading, these poems seem quite simple, with alliteration the most prominent technique.
However, as one reads and thinks more deeply, the alliteration gives way to more contemplative thoughts and reflections on the moments and lessons captured in each poem.
Among the many lovely lines delivered here, my favourites are "the harmony of heaven is hypnotic" and "Underlying you is the universe, unsurpassed. Unfathomable. Unquestionable."
Reading this book was a lovely way to luxuriate in language and find pleasure in poetic pensiveness.
However, as one reads and thinks more deeply, the alliteration gives way to more contemplative thoughts and reflections on the moments and lessons captured in each poem.
Among the many lovely lines delivered here, my favourites are "the harmony of heaven is hypnotic" and "Underlying you is the universe, unsurpassed. Unfathomable. Unquestionable."
Reading this book was a lovely way to luxuriate in language and find pleasure in poetic pensiveness.
October 16, 2017
Chasing the Chalice, by Laura Charlotte Berlin, is a chapbook that entices you into a dream filled with happiness, sorrow, and mischief.
Each poem seems to open a rift between reality and fiction. The words invite you to stay for a while, however long you’ve been gone. But despite that, there is still an anchor, a guiding voice that allows you to come back when you’re finished with each poem. From the permeance of existence, to the sorrowful hope that the truth is out in the world somewhere, it’s as if Berlin herself is reading these poems to you, endeavoring to lead you through the harsh lessons she’s had to learn on her own.
The book reminds me of a festival in the Fairy Courts, or a chaotic feast dedicated to Bacchus. One of my favorite sayings came from a poem that described becoming obsessed with these dreams. It was similar to the way one would nurse their addiction to drugs, or even alcohol. To live in a world filled with lies, or wallow in sweet nothingness; in fact, I’ve felt this pull many times, as had many literature lovers. But regardless, we still must walk the boundary between slumber and wakefulness, all the while ignoring the sirenic call of our own dark illusions. It’s an enchanting quality that allows the chapbook to show you just what the other poems in the book are about.
As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.3 out of 5 stars. While balancing out the elements between realism and fantasy, Berlin weaves an insightful book of poetry that leaves you clinging for more. Thus, I would recommend this book to fans of poetry in general.
Each poem seems to open a rift between reality and fiction. The words invite you to stay for a while, however long you’ve been gone. But despite that, there is still an anchor, a guiding voice that allows you to come back when you’re finished with each poem. From the permeance of existence, to the sorrowful hope that the truth is out in the world somewhere, it’s as if Berlin herself is reading these poems to you, endeavoring to lead you through the harsh lessons she’s had to learn on her own.
The book reminds me of a festival in the Fairy Courts, or a chaotic feast dedicated to Bacchus. One of my favorite sayings came from a poem that described becoming obsessed with these dreams. It was similar to the way one would nurse their addiction to drugs, or even alcohol. To live in a world filled with lies, or wallow in sweet nothingness; in fact, I’ve felt this pull many times, as had many literature lovers. But regardless, we still must walk the boundary between slumber and wakefulness, all the while ignoring the sirenic call of our own dark illusions. It’s an enchanting quality that allows the chapbook to show you just what the other poems in the book are about.
As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.3 out of 5 stars. While balancing out the elements between realism and fantasy, Berlin weaves an insightful book of poetry that leaves you clinging for more. Thus, I would recommend this book to fans of poetry in general.
December 2, 2014
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I was pretty excited when I heard about this book and how each chapter is written with alliteration following the letters of the alphabet. This technique reminded me of a book from my childhood that I sadly no longer remember the name of but really enjoyed. The author uses this literary device subtly and at appropriate times so it's enjoyable and not over-kill. Overall, the use of alliteration makes this collection of verses fun and refreshing from the others and I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read.
I was pretty excited when I heard about this book and how each chapter is written with alliteration following the letters of the alphabet. This technique reminded me of a book from my childhood that I sadly no longer remember the name of but really enjoyed. The author uses this literary device subtly and at appropriate times so it's enjoyable and not over-kill. Overall, the use of alliteration makes this collection of verses fun and refreshing from the others and I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read.
November 29, 2014
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I found it to be a very interesting idea. To write poetry mostly only using one letter per poem is something I have never seen before. The poems are short and descriptive. There are 24 of them (XYZ were grouped together) and they try and explain the human condition letter by letter.
I like to see the English language used in different ways and maybe this concept could be expanded upon to write longer verses. This might stretch the language a bit but the language can work best when stretched.
I found it to be a very interesting idea. To write poetry mostly only using one letter per poem is something I have never seen before. The poems are short and descriptive. There are 24 of them (XYZ were grouped together) and they try and explain the human condition letter by letter.
I like to see the English language used in different ways and maybe this concept could be expanded upon to write longer verses. This might stretch the language a bit but the language can work best when stretched.
April 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews