Perihelion: Poetry Collection

by Roberta Batorsky

This book uses powerful, colorful imagery and often humor, applied to everyday life situations, to delve deep into the realms of love, loss, childhood, memory, aging, relationships, partnership and friendship. The writer's command of language, including colorful and strong vocabulary, will appeal to poetry readers of all stripes in its accuracy, insight and universality. Her critical insight and unsparing explorations of feelings will bring readers into her circle with recognition of the beauty of her words and the similarities with their own experiences. Her love for nature and ability to describe people's lived experiences, mental problems, societal upheaval, relationship struggles, love for family and deep love for, and familiarity with, literature will inspire all who pick up her book. Her style is a giving and loving one which will be meaningful to all readers.
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gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Perihelion, the debut collection of poetry by Roberta Batorsky. Roberta's poetry has taken the literary community by storm, her words will make you want to sit up and think, stir emotions, as she pulls you into her world. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, through lived experiences and the world of science. Each one is full of humour, pathos, and empathy. She is incredibly articulate and precise, reflecting her intellectual ability as an educator.

This collection has over one hundred poems; each one is a masterpiece in its own right, beautifully crafted to perfection. Each poem gives you an insight into her life and the lives of others, incredibly observant and full of wit, as you are transported to her world.

This book will appeal to readers of all ages and genders because it is relatable, to enchant, move and delight. Stand out poems include "American Standard or The Loo's Lament," "Social Dancing on Neptoon," "Lost Lives Matter," "Unstrung, for Richard," "I Remember It," "If I die first," "Picking Apples in Stilettos," "Bismillah," "Autumn Finds Me," "My Dis Connect," "Drinking with Mom," "Man to Man," "The Walkers in the Rain," and "Gasp." This poignant book of poetry is an entertaining read, will make you laugh out loud, smile in places and shed a tear, extremely relatable and utterly brilliant, it will be a welcome addition to your bookshelf, a classic in the making.

Sarfraz Ahmed, Poet and Writer (UK)

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[bookshelfreader_31 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot to do with personal trauma and mental health. I believe it was a fascinating but hard read. It moved at a slow pace at times because you came across some oddball poems that were funny and seemed a tad misplaced. However, I believe this adds the author's personality to the book. Overall, I do not think this was a horrible collection, but it did seem repetitive at times about how horribly hard life was with her mom, sickness, and in and out of the hospitals. It was heartbreaking. It really gives a great image of life for many middle- to low-income people. One thing I would recommend to improve this book would be to incorporate a storyline within the order of the poems, allowing them to flow more smoothly. This would help captivate the audience and encourage them to keep reading, wanting more. Honestly, I feel horrible for the people who suffered through all this. God bless.

[Munmun Rudra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roberta Batorsky's "Perihelion" carries rich layers of meaning in the context of poetic creativity. Like planets drawing close to the sun, the poet’s voice circles the most intense experiences of human life: mental health struggles (“Unit 4,” “New Year to Be Born”), grief (“Irreplaceable, for Mariana”, “Tremolo”), and love (“You Are All I Need”). These are moments of most excellent exposure, where both illumination and pain work together. It suggests that poetry itself becomes a perihelion. In this space, the poet dares to move nearest to the burning core of experience, and by doing so, offers illumination to the readers. In "Perihelion", readers encounter humour, grief, survival, and renewal in equal measure. It is a collection that burns close, like its namesake, and leaves the reader illuminated.