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The Passing Of The Night
People experience all kinds of night: loneliness, grief, depression, anxiety, fear, pain, and countless other darknesses.
This collection of profound lyrical poems explores the poet's own experiences and observations of both dark and light, revealing her determination to not only survive, but to conquer whatever tries to overcome her.
At the end of it all, the poet demonstrates that the smallest sign of light is enough to help a wandering soul find hope in the passing of the night.
This collection of profound lyrical poems explores the poet's own experiences and observations of both dark and light, revealing her determination to not only survive, but to conquer whatever tries to overcome her.
At the end of it all, the poet demonstrates that the smallest sign of light is enough to help a wandering soul find hope in the passing of the night.
- GenresPoetry
63 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2017
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Van Leerdam
20 books171 followersJoanne Van Leerdam is a poet and author of short stories. Her body of work consists of aix poetry collections, one general short story collection, a play, four collections of horror short stories, and a contribution to several anthologies.
When she's not writing, Joanne is a teacher of English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.
Her hobbies include reading, photography, and music.
She is proud to be both an Australian and an honorary Canadian.
She does like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
When she's not writing, Joanne is a teacher of English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.
Her hobbies include reading, photography, and music.
She is proud to be both an Australian and an honorary Canadian.
She does like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 25, 2018
I got a strong sense of the influence of Poe and Dickinson in these poems—an interesting and worthy ancestry. Both those poets knew how to mix light and dark, and in this collection, I liked those poems best that had a pinch of playfulness or dark humor mixed in with the poignancy, as in the poem “Over-Complicated” where the poet states: “I’m an over-sensitive introvert”, or the poem “The Knowing of Grief” where the poet observes “. . . two paramedics standing in the front yard / As though they were discussing something serious”.
The common theme of this collection is sorrow and loss. For this reader, for a poem to express sorrow, even elegantly, is not enough. The poem has to show us something new about sorrow, or show us something familiar from a new point of view. In other words, the poet must show us sorrow in a whole new dark. There were some poems in this collection where I felt the poet did not get there, leaving the reader feeling like little more than a shoulder for the poet to cry on.
The poet often uses the last four lines of a poem to wrap things up, and it is in these wrappings-up that I felt I saw the poet at her excellent best. In fact, sometimes the last four lines of a poem were so effective that I thought those last lines obviated the need for their predecessors. Here’s an example, the last four lines of the poem “Reality Check”:
I hope it’s not too hard on you
When you realise I’ve gone,
But all I’ve done is cut the ties
That weren’t there all along.
The stanza stands on its own (we get it, right?), has a nice, Emily Dickinson vibe to it, and covers clearly and unequivocally what the previous lines of the poem were attempting to get at. Some other poems in the collection that I thought were so nicely-ended that the endings could have stood on their own were: “Fateful Words” (!), “Christmas Eve, Despondent” and “Plea for Equality”.
The fact that some of the poems in this collection could be summed up so well by the poet herself, suggested to me that for those poems (and some others) the process of distillation—of turning the mash into the moonshine, that crystal clear tincture that burns the throat, roils the stomach, and frees the mind—was not entirely complete.
My favorite poem in the collection was “Voodoo Doll”, where anger and bitterness serve as the inspiration for a clever extended metaphor, with a nice twist at the end. I was reminded of the song “I Will Survive.” Anger is what makes that song, and this poem, so effective. Anger is often seen as a negative emotion, but sometimes, anger is what gets us through the dark times, cutting through the clinging tangles of melancholy like a blowtorch through cobwebs.
As an added bonus, a little contemplation of “Voodoo Doll” turns the metaphor in the poem into a metaphor for the poem—bear with me: What is a voodoo doll, if not a metaphor you stick pins into, because you can’t stick pins into the “literal” person? And isn't a poem like “Voodoo Doll” itself a literary voodoo doll—that is, a place for a poet to stick pointed remarks into the character of her nemesis. Too far? You’ll have to read the poem—but think about it—isn’t an unkind comment often called “a barb” ?
I had a tough time trying to figure out how to wrap up this review. I almost used Emily Brontë's line “…follow the happiest story / it closes with a tomb!” but decided on these four lines from “Circus Life” by Joanne Van Leerdam instead:
The contortionist folds herself neatly
Into a sturdy coloured box
And pulls the lid closed tightly
So the clowns can close the locks
The common theme of this collection is sorrow and loss. For this reader, for a poem to express sorrow, even elegantly, is not enough. The poem has to show us something new about sorrow, or show us something familiar from a new point of view. In other words, the poet must show us sorrow in a whole new dark. There were some poems in this collection where I felt the poet did not get there, leaving the reader feeling like little more than a shoulder for the poet to cry on.
The poet often uses the last four lines of a poem to wrap things up, and it is in these wrappings-up that I felt I saw the poet at her excellent best. In fact, sometimes the last four lines of a poem were so effective that I thought those last lines obviated the need for their predecessors. Here’s an example, the last four lines of the poem “Reality Check”:
I hope it’s not too hard on you
When you realise I’ve gone,
But all I’ve done is cut the ties
That weren’t there all along.
The stanza stands on its own (we get it, right?), has a nice, Emily Dickinson vibe to it, and covers clearly and unequivocally what the previous lines of the poem were attempting to get at. Some other poems in the collection that I thought were so nicely-ended that the endings could have stood on their own were: “Fateful Words” (!), “Christmas Eve, Despondent” and “Plea for Equality”.
The fact that some of the poems in this collection could be summed up so well by the poet herself, suggested to me that for those poems (and some others) the process of distillation—of turning the mash into the moonshine, that crystal clear tincture that burns the throat, roils the stomach, and frees the mind—was not entirely complete.
My favorite poem in the collection was “Voodoo Doll”, where anger and bitterness serve as the inspiration for a clever extended metaphor, with a nice twist at the end. I was reminded of the song “I Will Survive.” Anger is what makes that song, and this poem, so effective. Anger is often seen as a negative emotion, but sometimes, anger is what gets us through the dark times, cutting through the clinging tangles of melancholy like a blowtorch through cobwebs.
As an added bonus, a little contemplation of “Voodoo Doll” turns the metaphor in the poem into a metaphor for the poem—bear with me: What is a voodoo doll, if not a metaphor you stick pins into, because you can’t stick pins into the “literal” person? And isn't a poem like “Voodoo Doll” itself a literary voodoo doll—that is, a place for a poet to stick pointed remarks into the character of her nemesis. Too far? You’ll have to read the poem—but think about it—isn’t an unkind comment often called “a barb” ?
I had a tough time trying to figure out how to wrap up this review. I almost used Emily Brontë's line “…follow the happiest story / it closes with a tomb!” but decided on these four lines from “Circus Life” by Joanne Van Leerdam instead:
The contortionist folds herself neatly
Into a sturdy coloured box
And pulls the lid closed tightly
So the clowns can close the locks
September 7, 2017
The dedication of this slim volume of poetry is like a road sign warning of danger ahead-- "For everyone who journeys through the shadows." Reader beware--these are not odes to springtime. Rather, they are precious ores mined from the hard rock of broken relationships, grief, the loss of love, the depth of depression, even the temptation to suicide.
Intensely personal, at times almost uncomfortably confessional, these poems bare the author's soul to the reader. Ultimately, she triumphs over despair, but it is a hard-won battle, and we sense the fight continues. We take comfort in knowing she will never surrender.
My only complaint is that the Kindle version does not have an active table of contents, which would have facilitated returning to certain poems for second and third readings. Overall, thoughtful, heartfelt stuff.
Intensely personal, at times almost uncomfortably confessional, these poems bare the author's soul to the reader. Ultimately, she triumphs over despair, but it is a hard-won battle, and we sense the fight continues. We take comfort in knowing she will never surrender.
My only complaint is that the Kindle version does not have an active table of contents, which would have facilitated returning to certain poems for second and third readings. Overall, thoughtful, heartfelt stuff.
November 13, 2017
If there was ever a poet with the soul of a muse, Joanne Van Leerdam is she. Taking inspiration from one of the lines in her poem, “Muse”, I will say this about Van Leerdam’s talent:
“Her gifts of lyrical inspiration”,
Give birth to a wellspring of poetry,
Where thoughts and emotions,
Cascade into a broad pool
Of thoughtful reflection,
Where this seeker may find,
Perspectives anew,
Amid moments,
Of deep introspection.
So rare is the beauty of thought expressed in Van Leerdam’s works. She ascends to great heights in “The Passing of the Night”—heights that reach the very pillars of the soul and continue to ring softly on one’s mind. The author’s range of emotions, from deep sadness to unending joy, are ultimately expressed in these platitudes that whisk the reader away on a journey of deep self-discovery—one seldom attained in this material world.
“Her gifts of lyrical inspiration”,
Give birth to a wellspring of poetry,
Where thoughts and emotions,
Cascade into a broad pool
Of thoughtful reflection,
Where this seeker may find,
Perspectives anew,
Amid moments,
Of deep introspection.
So rare is the beauty of thought expressed in Van Leerdam’s works. She ascends to great heights in “The Passing of the Night”—heights that reach the very pillars of the soul and continue to ring softly on one’s mind. The author’s range of emotions, from deep sadness to unending joy, are ultimately expressed in these platitudes that whisk the reader away on a journey of deep self-discovery—one seldom attained in this material world.
February 18, 2021
I picked up a copy of Joanne Van Laeerdam’s The Passing of the Night after reading another one of her poetry collections, Nova. From start to finish, Nova had stirred all kinds of emotions in me with word choices, splendid imagery, rhyme, cadence, and style; and I went into The Passing of the Night expecting the same.
I was actually quite disappointed at first. The same varying rhyming patterns and cadences were still there, but it didn’t evoke the same emotion. It wasn’t until a quarter of the way through, with Stronger, that I felt the same emotion as I did from the very start of Nova. It wasn’t until a few poems later that I really started enjoying the clever word use I’d expected of the author, with Of Cookie, People, and Individuals. Playing on the old cookie cutter adage, it was simply written but still so enjoyable.
From a third of the way through, everything changed for me. Three straight poems-- Hiraeth, Old Man, and Abandoned-- all built on each other thematically, with evocative visuals and the positives and negatives of nostalgia. From here on out, the collection was everything I had come to expect.
I suspect the author had written several during romantically turbulent times. Reality Check, Stronger, Fateful Words, Voodie Doll, En Garde, and One Less Star brilliantly capture the conflict of lost relationships, while Tainted and Lonely Girl express the descent from anger to sadness.
With the same rollercoaster of emotion the rest of the way, the book ends uplifting with Foreverness.
Had I read this collection first, I probably would have rated it 5 stars; however, with Nova setting such a high standard of expectation for the author, The Passing of the Night’s slow start warrants 4.5 stars from me.
I was actually quite disappointed at first. The same varying rhyming patterns and cadences were still there, but it didn’t evoke the same emotion. It wasn’t until a quarter of the way through, with Stronger, that I felt the same emotion as I did from the very start of Nova. It wasn’t until a few poems later that I really started enjoying the clever word use I’d expected of the author, with Of Cookie, People, and Individuals. Playing on the old cookie cutter adage, it was simply written but still so enjoyable.
From a third of the way through, everything changed for me. Three straight poems-- Hiraeth, Old Man, and Abandoned-- all built on each other thematically, with evocative visuals and the positives and negatives of nostalgia. From here on out, the collection was everything I had come to expect.
I suspect the author had written several during romantically turbulent times. Reality Check, Stronger, Fateful Words, Voodie Doll, En Garde, and One Less Star brilliantly capture the conflict of lost relationships, while Tainted and Lonely Girl express the descent from anger to sadness.
With the same rollercoaster of emotion the rest of the way, the book ends uplifting with Foreverness.
Had I read this collection first, I probably would have rated it 5 stars; however, with Nova setting such a high standard of expectation for the author, The Passing of the Night’s slow start warrants 4.5 stars from me.
September 6, 2017
Degrees of Poetic Depth Perception
Having grown to appreciate poetry that resonates inside my heart and soul, I highly recommend ‘The Passing of the Night’ by Joanne Van Leerdam on this basis. From the starkly straightforward to the sublimely stirring, this collection pivots around the poet’s own despair and her determination not to succumb any further into an abyss of no return. I never smiled once, so drawn was I to the power of her words and how she got to that place.
Surviving emotional upheavals is serious business between maintaining a public persona to mask pain, while functioning throughout the day—and night, when thoughts close in around you before the dawn of a new day. It’s “Over Complicated” by sensitivity and vulnerability.
Once in tune with the poet’s mindset, the degrees of poetic perception go beyond the face value of mere words. Depending on one’s experiences, it’s either a shallow dip or deep plunge in extracting the pulp of their meaning. For instance—“Through the Shadows”:
Blinded by beasts I cannot see –
Life is obscured by life itself.
I persevere in this journey
Where the light so rarely shines
For each obstacle reminds me
'Tis not the darkness that defines.
Each poem represents a “sliver” of light in the darkness. Let’s face it, it’s up to each of us to continue our journey moving forward in depth.
Having grown to appreciate poetry that resonates inside my heart and soul, I highly recommend ‘The Passing of the Night’ by Joanne Van Leerdam on this basis. From the starkly straightforward to the sublimely stirring, this collection pivots around the poet’s own despair and her determination not to succumb any further into an abyss of no return. I never smiled once, so drawn was I to the power of her words and how she got to that place.
Surviving emotional upheavals is serious business between maintaining a public persona to mask pain, while functioning throughout the day—and night, when thoughts close in around you before the dawn of a new day. It’s “Over Complicated” by sensitivity and vulnerability.
Once in tune with the poet’s mindset, the degrees of poetic perception go beyond the face value of mere words. Depending on one’s experiences, it’s either a shallow dip or deep plunge in extracting the pulp of their meaning. For instance—“Through the Shadows”:
Blinded by beasts I cannot see –
Life is obscured by life itself.
I persevere in this journey
Where the light so rarely shines
For each obstacle reminds me
'Tis not the darkness that defines.
Each poem represents a “sliver” of light in the darkness. Let’s face it, it’s up to each of us to continue our journey moving forward in depth.
December 30, 2018
Beautiful collection of short poems ranging in subjects from love to drought to heartbreak. The way the author uses various metaphors to shadow loss and sadness is refreshing. Even if you’re not a real big fan of poetry, there are some lines in here that will really grip you. Good read if you’re looking for some deep quotes to ponder.
September 27, 2017
The Depths of Pain
The author of these poems appears to understand the depths of pain. The poetry is intense and at times frighteningly real, making it impossible to not get caught up in the intensity of the words.
The author of these poems appears to understand the depths of pain. The poetry is intense and at times frighteningly real, making it impossible to not get caught up in the intensity of the words.
November 27, 2018
‘The Passing of the Night’ is a poetry collection where poet and speaker are essentially one;
Joanne van Leerdam is on a personal journey here, even though she is the mouthpiece of many journeys and predicaments; this is a book about loss, trials and moving forward – if one can.
There is the person contemplating suicide, the old man who does not comprehend his own value to his family, the one (woman or man) who looks back to fond memories that are ash, the lover who fears the beloved’s lies.
In her best poems, van Leerdam’s personal flair stands out beautifully, sometimes as the opposite of an aphorism, i.e. as (often paradoxical) truths that are special and specific to the poet, but may very well be true for the reader as well.
The frequent use of rime often gives the poems a cadence and a rhythm that you hear inside your mind. Reading between the lines, I got the impression that Joanne van Leerdam mostly knows very well where she is going with every poem, being able to close them with 4-liners that are succinct and potent. This capacity, though, makes the perfectionist in me thirst for more than what often seems as the smooth end\summary of a journey. The often-powerful turns of phrase awaiting
at a poem’s final lines make you think that yes, this poet can do more. Indeed, her best moments inspire the reader to be more demanding. An ideal balance between lyricism, sentiment, structure and overall impact is what eyes that have read thousands of poems are looking for. Occasionally the impact is lesser, or the tone too didactic; and there is such a thing as sometimes being too literal. Those moments are offset, however, by those that the poet instills with a magical beauty (of nature and self) juxtaposed with the human condition.
The poet’s imagination and capacity for description are always there, and there *is* an overall thematic unity that is indeed one of the book’s strong suites (no, not all poetry collections do this; many just pick a random poem as their name and think nothing more of it).
The book’s rating thus is an aggregate of ALL of its poems.
Perhaps the closest personal comment I can make is that this book can be conceived as an entity that knows its truths, yet must speak of them in order for them to be truly realized and embraced.
Joanne van Leerdam is on a personal journey here, even though she is the mouthpiece of many journeys and predicaments; this is a book about loss, trials and moving forward – if one can.
There is the person contemplating suicide, the old man who does not comprehend his own value to his family, the one (woman or man) who looks back to fond memories that are ash, the lover who fears the beloved’s lies.
In her best poems, van Leerdam’s personal flair stands out beautifully, sometimes as the opposite of an aphorism, i.e. as (often paradoxical) truths that are special and specific to the poet, but may very well be true for the reader as well.
The frequent use of rime often gives the poems a cadence and a rhythm that you hear inside your mind. Reading between the lines, I got the impression that Joanne van Leerdam mostly knows very well where she is going with every poem, being able to close them with 4-liners that are succinct and potent. This capacity, though, makes the perfectionist in me thirst for more than what often seems as the smooth end\summary of a journey. The often-powerful turns of phrase awaiting
at a poem’s final lines make you think that yes, this poet can do more. Indeed, her best moments inspire the reader to be more demanding. An ideal balance between lyricism, sentiment, structure and overall impact is what eyes that have read thousands of poems are looking for. Occasionally the impact is lesser, or the tone too didactic; and there is such a thing as sometimes being too literal. Those moments are offset, however, by those that the poet instills with a magical beauty (of nature and self) juxtaposed with the human condition.
The poet’s imagination and capacity for description are always there, and there *is* an overall thematic unity that is indeed one of the book’s strong suites (no, not all poetry collections do this; many just pick a random poem as their name and think nothing more of it).
The book’s rating thus is an aggregate of ALL of its poems.
Perhaps the closest personal comment I can make is that this book can be conceived as an entity that knows its truths, yet must speak of them in order for them to be truly realized and embraced.
May 12, 2018
Hope After Heartache
The Passing Of The Night is a wonderful collection of insightful poetry based off of life experiences which everyone will go through during their lifetime. I found so many of them to be particularly touching. Stronger was very moving and poignant. Of Cookies, People, and Individuality demonstrated the core of our problems of judging ourselves based on other’s expectations, the ending made me laugh. Still Here was very moving. Over Her Shoulder was very insightful about seeing the past and how it can give you wisdom for your future. Tall Poppy demonstrated how we all need to have sunshine to thrive and to watch out for one another even in troubled times. Note to Self was a perfect sentiment. Sky Princess created a very hopeful picture of life. River Song was the perfect description of a romance. I loved Blind. Nevermore was perfectly written for closure to a toxic relationship. Through the Shadows was a great hope in times of trouble. This poet is very talented and her creations expressed the perfect emotions. I highly recommend this to all readers, even if you don’t normally read poetry (you’ll be glad you did!)
The Passing Of The Night is a wonderful collection of insightful poetry based off of life experiences which everyone will go through during their lifetime. I found so many of them to be particularly touching. Stronger was very moving and poignant. Of Cookies, People, and Individuality demonstrated the core of our problems of judging ourselves based on other’s expectations, the ending made me laugh. Still Here was very moving. Over Her Shoulder was very insightful about seeing the past and how it can give you wisdom for your future. Tall Poppy demonstrated how we all need to have sunshine to thrive and to watch out for one another even in troubled times. Note to Self was a perfect sentiment. Sky Princess created a very hopeful picture of life. River Song was the perfect description of a romance. I loved Blind. Nevermore was perfectly written for closure to a toxic relationship. Through the Shadows was a great hope in times of trouble. This poet is very talented and her creations expressed the perfect emotions. I highly recommend this to all readers, even if you don’t normally read poetry (you’ll be glad you did!)
September 2, 2018
The Passing of the Night
By Joanne Van Leerdam
“The Passing of the Night” is a book of poetry containing numerous emotional roller coaster rides. The author was fearless as she plunged into important, unsettling, and heartfelt topics. Her poems are relatable and understandable – refreshing in this era of prose.
Poems touch on many topics - heartbreak in “Fateful Words,” loneliness in “Christmas Eve Despondent,” and a writer’s life in “Safe.” Van Leerdam is able, through a wealth of imagination, to verbalize the intentions of flowers. Within the pages are occasional life lessons sprinkled with social issues commentary.
The author dared to explore expressions of gloom in the first poem, “The Passing of the Night.” I can imagine Vincent Price reciting the verses. NOTE: For anyone under 50 years old, do a search on “Thriller.”
More than a collection of poems, the messages in the book can be considered therapy. The reader gets a strong dose of perseverance over difficulties and disappointments. Have a copy nearby if you need an emotional jump start.
By Joanne Van Leerdam
“The Passing of the Night” is a book of poetry containing numerous emotional roller coaster rides. The author was fearless as she plunged into important, unsettling, and heartfelt topics. Her poems are relatable and understandable – refreshing in this era of prose.
Poems touch on many topics - heartbreak in “Fateful Words,” loneliness in “Christmas Eve Despondent,” and a writer’s life in “Safe.” Van Leerdam is able, through a wealth of imagination, to verbalize the intentions of flowers. Within the pages are occasional life lessons sprinkled with social issues commentary.
The author dared to explore expressions of gloom in the first poem, “The Passing of the Night.” I can imagine Vincent Price reciting the verses. NOTE: For anyone under 50 years old, do a search on “Thriller.”
More than a collection of poems, the messages in the book can be considered therapy. The reader gets a strong dose of perseverance over difficulties and disappointments. Have a copy nearby if you need an emotional jump start.
December 12, 2017
Magnificent
The book intrigued me when the author was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and the author was nice enough to share the story with me for a review. I read Van Leerdam's "Nova" which also is a book of poetry, and I immediately became a fan. I had this book waiting for me, so I jumped right in as soon as I finished "Nova". Now, like "Nova" it has a title poem "The Passing of the Night". The title and the title poem works for this collection. Each poem is an individual poem, and yet, there is a connection, more than the same poet. Beautifully written poems with lyrical prose, but not "sing-song", just magnificence of penning emotions, observations, within her soul. The flame seems to bring a major part to the settings, as it can bring light to darkness, and flicker with brightness and clarity. One of my favorites is "Tainted", as I read it several times. I am sure to read more of her work.
The book intrigued me when the author was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and the author was nice enough to share the story with me for a review. I read Van Leerdam's "Nova" which also is a book of poetry, and I immediately became a fan. I had this book waiting for me, so I jumped right in as soon as I finished "Nova". Now, like "Nova" it has a title poem "The Passing of the Night". The title and the title poem works for this collection. Each poem is an individual poem, and yet, there is a connection, more than the same poet. Beautifully written poems with lyrical prose, but not "sing-song", just magnificence of penning emotions, observations, within her soul. The flame seems to bring a major part to the settings, as it can bring light to darkness, and flicker with brightness and clarity. One of my favorites is "Tainted", as I read it several times. I am sure to read more of her work.
January 21, 2019
A touching and heartfelt collection of poetry which included themes of loss, pain, suffering and grief. Rhythmically written, I felt that each piece was a profound personal story, giving us an honest account. I felt that there was a subtle theme of betrayal running through several the pieces and each is written with a similar well thought out rhythm. A mixture of free verse and rhyme throughout gives variation to the reader and I really enjoyed and appreciated the crafting of unique lines and use of excellent vocabulary.
February 27, 2018
Joanne's poems touched my heart. They made me feel as though she could see inside my head, that she knew what I am thinking and how I feel, that I am not the only one to have noticed this or been crushed by that. Some of the poems made me laugh, others brought tears to my eyes. The feelings her images and perceptions evoked took me back in time, helped me grieve and gave me hope. Highly recommended.
May 9, 2018
Once again, Joanne Van Leerdam has put together a wonderful collection of poetry, one I’ll treasure. Many poems are filled with heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. The feelings they evoke are raw and painful but they also provide a sense of comfort and companionship. Some of the verses felt like a shared tragedy and not simply words that are written on a page. Beautiful, Masterful, Highly Recommended!
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July 12, 2020This author gives me a bright and new prospective on life, even as life involves sorrow, as is apropos in our current cultural times. This reading was my go-to place each evening after a full day of coping with life on life’s terms—it appeased me and gave me a sense of meaning. I’ve read other works by this author and felt she could not let me down. She didn’t. I’m glad to have turned to her words of powerful comfort displayed and expressed in a way of beautiful purpose. Yes, I recommend this.
October 7, 2017
I didn't think I was much of a poetry person, and then I read this book. There is a simple understanding way the author describes pain. She taps into something simple and deep. The words ring so true and many of the poems gave me chills. I could feel what she was feeling. I especially enjoyed the poem "Note to Self."
September 5, 2017
I'm not a poetry guy, but I loved this.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews