Patchwork Poetry

by Mel Finefrock

Straight from the heart and imagination of Mel Finefrock, blind writer and musician, emerges a delicately bold collection of exploratory free verse poems chronicling various aspects of her personal journey. Believing that there is beauty to behold in almost any situation, Finefrock quilts precious and ordinary moments alike into patchwork poetry that embodies themes of love, friendship, pain, and growth. While unique to her experiences, Finefrock's soul-baring reflections are also applicable on a universal level and will inspire readers to look inward.

Genres: Poetry

59 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Mel Finefrock is the author of Patchwork Poetry and is in search of a home for book two. She has received creative writing awards from the University of North Texas and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. Her work also appears in publications such as HuffPost, Elephant Journal, Conscious Style Guide, Plano Magazine and Aromatica Poetica.

Reviews

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight from the heart and imagination of Mel Finefrock, blind writer and musician, emerges a delicately bold collection of exploratory free verse poems chronicling various aspects of her personal journey. Believing that there is beauty to behold in almost any situation, Finefrock quilts precious and ordinary moments alike into patchwork poetry that embodies themes of love, friendship, pain, and growth. While unique to her experiences, Finefrock's soul-baring reflections are also applicable on a universal level and will inspire readers to look inward.

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Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: the namesake of her inspiration, hope permeates every word, every line, every page; the writing is descriptive, flowing, and beautiful; there's a sense of journey, a rediscovering of the world—a story forged through years, heartaches, and keeping hope alive

I'm breaking out—into the world of poetry!

I hope you know I touch you
because I adore you,
not just because
I can't see you.

Of course, that's not to say I wasn't already in that world. What I mean is, I'm breaking into poetry reviews, starting with this one.

I received a copy of this collection from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way altered or changed how I read, thought about, and will be reviewing this book. Huge thanks to Mel Finefrock for requesting my feedback and offering up this opportunity!

I am all limbs and joints
and dreams of freedom.

I'm flying,
but I don't believe in
defying
the laws of physics;
I work with them instead.

I become the pendulum
and hypnotize myself.

I want to start out with probably the most obvious thing ever: The cover is absolutely gorgeous. There's a whimsical, dream-like quality to the painting. I can imagine being in that park myself—the trees in full fall plummage above my head, the pavement slick with recent rain, colors dancing and swirling all around. Going into a book of poetry with such a vibrant, festive image in mind really helped set the tone and get my sense of wonder spinning. (For those interested, the artist is John Bramblitt—you can find out more about him via www.bramblitt.net )

Mel Finefrock's poetry, on the other hand, helped to ground me in a way: emotive, evocative, and breath-taking, the words and worlds she creates wove a sense of dreamy, confident ease around my heart. Drawing inspiration from real-life situations, people, and experiences, Mel Finefrock takes readers on a journey spanning several years and covering some painful, heavy subjects—always with a sense of hope lingering at the very end, a sense of “It's okay; I haven't reached the very bottom yet.”

My hope burns
as blue as that star
and, sensing a shift
in our lives,
I make a wish
for each one of us.

The journey is quick in words...but so long in years coming for the author, who pairs both older pieces and new in a way that tells a story: of dreams fading, of wishes forgotten or broken, of hopes crushed and built back up. There's a quiet beauty to the space between her words, a place readers are invited into—to dream, to hope, and to fly with the poet.

I really enjoyed stepping, just for a moment, into Mel Finefrock's life and viewing the world the way she strives to: with inspiration, with adulation, with wonder and awe. I highly recommend to lovers of poetry, to seekers of beauty, and to poets seeking a muse. If you're lost and not sure what you're looking for, perhaps you should start here; you might make a discovery of your own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel Finefrock bares her soul in this unique compilation of poems, revealing beauty in pain, adventure amid routine and inspiration in a world she cannot see with her eyes. Finefrock may be blind, but her imagery is remarkably vivid as she explores her own experiences as a blind musician and writer.
Poetry typically has a tendency to intimidate me, but Finefrock makes the art accessible and inviting, and I found myself devouring the pages of Patchwork Poetry, lingering on eloquent lines that made me smile at times and get teary at others. Lyrical and rich. Inspirational and emotional. You feel Finefrock's heart laid out on the pages.
I especially loved, "Hindsight whispers that it matters not what I see; rather it's how I see things that counts, and these visions are my reflection-- not of my face, but of my soul."
And finally, I enjoyed reading her poem dedicated to her friend, blind painter John Bramblitt and learning that his painting is also the book's cover. It was the perfect match for this collection of gems.

[Mr. Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello, I'm Heaven's heavenly Doctor 2. You may recognize my rugged phrenology from my scattered modeling and acting gigs. In my office, I arrange appointments for indie books. The patient is a colorful collection of positive poetry. The cover is telling of a smiling tone throughout most of the poems. The author is a sweetheart. My selections are "My Name Spells Love, Not Pain" and "Tenderly". The content was unique, the meter was satisfying, but a little more imagination could have made some sentences less spoken. The moments never failed to be captured. This patient received a lollipop for their four star health.

Fresh patients every week! Click the banner to explore previous appointments.

[Blaise Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Mel's work ever since I was introduced to it. Her words are so powerful and allows the reader to see into the heart of the author. I recommend this book to anyone who loves heart wrenching free verse and deep emotional pulls.

[Dani N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so truly new to this area of literature that I can offer no real expertise, but I have opinions, and the following are mine. I just hope that you can find a small amount of justice for Mel’s beautiful work in the fumbling attempt below. Thank you Mel for providing me with this lovely copy to review.

Check out my attempt to review this lovely gem here.

[J.E. Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to its name, this cozy little book speaks on everyday subjects--hot tea, swings in the park, music, our attitudes toward names--in a way that rings as true and familiar as friendship and firelight. Its haunting allusions to lost love and its honest portrayals of disability are realistic and refreshing. There's a lot of emotion wrapped into a small package.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finefrock is clearly dedicated to her craft. These poems are at once intensely personal and universal. They reward rereading because of the layering of imagery that demands to be sat with and invested in. Even for people who profess not to like poetry, I have a hard time imagining they wouldn't find something here that would make their lives richer and more vibrant.

[Cholie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...this collection of poetry moved me to tears. Such gorgeous poetry with stanzas and lines that tugged on my heartstrings.

[Kelsey Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brb, I have to go read this again.

[Kathleen R. Cuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patchwork Poetry is not just a collection of poems. It is a bouquet of experiences that we all can relate to. The poems engage the senses and speak to the soul, taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. Rarely do we find poets of Mel Finefrock's calibre, and when we do, we want to make their work a part of the patchwork of our lives.

[Caity Newberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poetry. “The Significance of Shoulders” hit home for me as a parent of a special needs child, and “Love Like Redwoods” was a beautiful ode to friendship.