Bloom: Poems of Loss, Heartbreak, and New Beginnings

by R.J. Hendrickson

Featuring the poetry of over 75 poets from 25 different countries. At first glance, Bloom is a book of poems.  There are ones filled with hope and ones filled with despair. Some examine life, and others examine death. Some ask questions, and others answer them.   Alone, these poems are deeply personal accounts of grief, loss, and heartbreak. They tell of hurt that will not heal and the broken remnants of unlived dreams. Yet together, these poems describe something far greater and more inexpressible. Each featured poet contributes a piece to a larger puzzle, one of the beautiful and mysterious universality of the human experience. One of the first poetry compilations ever crowdsourced through social media, Bloom features the work of over 75 poets from 25 different countries. However, it tells one story. It weaves together a picture of our collective pain, our darkest nights and loneliest mornings. It shows how those experiences shape and define us, how they confront our deepest struggles and make us grow. It tells of the darkness and the light and the rain and the sun and how we bloom. Bloom is not a book of poems.  It is a map guiding us to the center of the human heart. About Poem Wars Poem Wars is an online poetry community, largely based on Instagram, featuring the work of hundreds of poets and followed by over 11,000 people. Its actively growing and highly engaged audience are the contributors that made this book,Bloom, turn into a reality. You can visit the Instagram page via @poem_wars, or visiting the following Founded in November, 2017, by R.J. Hendrickson. About the Editor R.J. Hendrickson (called Ryan by his friends and family) is a writer and filmmaker, and the founder of Poem Wars. His first book, Follow - a guide to follower growth-hacking on Instagram - quickly jumped to Amazon’s bestseller lists after its publication in the summer of 2018. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Film and Television Production program, he spent years in the Los Angeles film industry, producing and directing everything from music videos and commercials to feature films. He then moved to Oahu, Hawaii, and worked as a professional photographer before returning to the East Coast, the place of his childhood. He currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, and continues to run Poem Wars, write, and make films. Related poem, poems, love poems, poems about life, short poems, famous poems, poetry foundation, romantic poetry, inspirational poems, english poem, poetry websites, poetry books, poems about death, poetry sites, good poems, poetry online, best poetry, rhyming poems, poem on nature, poem about family, poetry contests, poetry competitions, spring poem, famous love poems, poetry magazine, best love poems, poets and writers, published poems, romantic love poems, short love poems, modern poetry, poetry anthology, new poem, poetry journals, popular poems, poetry submissions, great poems, poetry society, black poets, simple poems, sad poetry, american poets, collection of poems

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2018

About the author

R. J. Hendrickson is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer, Airborne Ranger and Jumpmaster, most notably in the 82nd Airborne Division. He volunteered for service in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam in 1971-1972 as an advisor to the Vietnamese Rangers. Living with the Vietnamese and Montagnard soldiers he learned of their tenacity as fighters and love for their freedom and country. Soon after leaving the Army, he met the girl of his dreams. They married and are living happily ever after. Their three married daughters have blessed them with seven grandchildren.

R. J. has worked over thirty years as a mechanical engineer in the mining industry, living in five states. He knows how it feels to be fired, as well as being successful. His philosophy is to be true to oneself and life will offer much in the way of excitement and adventure. His writing has been tempered by the hard knocks of life. He believes in realism, his Christian faith, love for his fellow man, honor, and writing that grabs you by the lapels and takes you to places you haven't been.