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Tempest: Poems
Ryan Meyer departs from the horror themes of 2018's Haunt in his new collection of poems, Tempest. He explores fear, hope, and self-identity through striking fictional vignettes and surreal personal accounts. Tempest is thus a marriage between the dichotomies of musical, rhythmic poetic dialogue, and the deeper, innate anxieties that accompany change. Discover your truest self and brave the Tempest.
- GenresPoetry
82 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2021
28 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Meyer
4 books18 followersRyan Meyer is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Freshwater Poetry Magazine, Beechwood Review, Moon Tide Press' Dark Ink, Folio Literary Magazine, and Spellbinder Magazine. Ryan and his books have been featured in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Publisher’s Weekly, Pop-Culturalist, Lambda Literary, Connecticut Magazine, and more. He published Haunt, his first book of poems, in February 2018, and his follow-up, Tempest, in March 2021. He lives in Shelton, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 7, 2021
I really enjoyed Meyer's first publication, but this one really impressed me. He thrives in vulnerable, personal topics. Some of my favorite pieces from this collection were Twisted Ankles, Giant/Giant Part 2, Antlers, Existential, and Straight Bs. They are introspective evocative poems with some very beautiful and fascinating imagery.
One line that stood out to me in particular was this one from Straight Bs.
"If only our letters
Could glow in the dark."
One line that stood out to me in particular was this one from Straight Bs.
"If only our letters
Could glow in the dark."
March 27, 2021
I picked up this book not because of its really colourful and fun cover, surprisingly enough. I decided to read Tempest because the preview poem, GIANT, really resonated with me. In this poem, the author imagines the future to be a gentle giant. Despite being a creepy and imposing monster on the surface, he too needs to have someone wishing him happiness. I spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about the future, especially during this past year. This poem helped me see things differently and, for this reason, I decided to dedicate a couple evenings to this poetry collection. I hoped I would find the new perspective I found in GIANT in some of the other poems in Tempest.
In the foreword, the author explains that, with the poems in Tempest, he aims to capture destructive and terrible things in a beautiful way. Although I can only talk about a couple of the poems in this review, I thought that most of the poems in this book were perfectly in line with this mindset and the dichotomy within them was what kept me interested and fascinated. This poetry collection is about difficult and hard moments as well as incredible moments of clarity. But they don't have the roughness or urgency you'd expect from them. Everything is told with calmness. Reading this book is like hearing the story of a destructive tempest after the boat has been rocked to shore and the sky has cleared again. Everyone is warming up next to a fire. The sea is tranquil and quiet. The fear has gone back into hiding.
Despite this quality of calmness, the poems are neither overly optimistic nor lacking in emotion. The poems are very evocative and have reminded me of the details of moments in my life which I had forgotten about. CAN'T FLY FOREVER reminded me of the chilling silence I'd experience sitting in the park in spring 2020, LONG, LONG AFTER of moments of clarity I'd had during my teenage years, and LAST FEW of some dark but comforting conversation I've had about existence, death and positivity. Since the interpretation of poems is mostly personal, they might do something different for you, but from what I've experienced you're in for a ride if you decide to read Tempest.
If you got this far in the review, you probably already know I loved this book a lot. That's why I'll spend the rest of it just sharing some of my favourite bits from this collection. The wholesome but sad poem IS EVERYTHING OK? is kind of a stream of consciousness, and these are my favourite lines from it:
Even though I'm easily startled regardless,
I wish my thoughts would knock before entering.
Other poems I really liked and resonated with are 22, BITING, and DANDELION. In a way, these three are all about being young and anxious. All about looking for moments of calmness in the tempest.
In the foreword, the author explains that, with the poems in Tempest, he aims to capture destructive and terrible things in a beautiful way. Although I can only talk about a couple of the poems in this review, I thought that most of the poems in this book were perfectly in line with this mindset and the dichotomy within them was what kept me interested and fascinated. This poetry collection is about difficult and hard moments as well as incredible moments of clarity. But they don't have the roughness or urgency you'd expect from them. Everything is told with calmness. Reading this book is like hearing the story of a destructive tempest after the boat has been rocked to shore and the sky has cleared again. Everyone is warming up next to a fire. The sea is tranquil and quiet. The fear has gone back into hiding.
Despite this quality of calmness, the poems are neither overly optimistic nor lacking in emotion. The poems are very evocative and have reminded me of the details of moments in my life which I had forgotten about. CAN'T FLY FOREVER reminded me of the chilling silence I'd experience sitting in the park in spring 2020, LONG, LONG AFTER of moments of clarity I'd had during my teenage years, and LAST FEW of some dark but comforting conversation I've had about existence, death and positivity. Since the interpretation of poems is mostly personal, they might do something different for you, but from what I've experienced you're in for a ride if you decide to read Tempest.
If you got this far in the review, you probably already know I loved this book a lot. That's why I'll spend the rest of it just sharing some of my favourite bits from this collection. The wholesome but sad poem IS EVERYTHING OK? is kind of a stream of consciousness, and these are my favourite lines from it:
Even though I'm easily startled regardless,
I wish my thoughts would knock before entering.
Other poems I really liked and resonated with are 22, BITING, and DANDELION. In a way, these three are all about being young and anxious. All about looking for moments of calmness in the tempest.
February 27, 2021
You can’t expect in a book of fifty poems that each one is going to speak to you. If the majority do then I would suggest the poet has done a very good job.
In Tempest: Poems, poet, Ryan Meyer didn’t make the cut, but there still are a good number of poems in this collection that are nothing short of astonishing.
Meyer is at his best when he comes at a subject obliquely, understanding coming as a satisfying surprise. Examples, where this is best achieved, are with Flamingo, the weekend, and drinking and dreaming of being somewhere, anywhere else. And again in Straight Bs, “Still, the lights guide me, Inch by inch, to the dance floor, Where glances have evolved Into lower back rubs … It’s dim enough for anyone To be a dance partner.”
Good poets have a way of saying what you already know or have experienced but saying it with originality. Meyer taps into this secret to universal appeal in Somewhere Else, that “…ends up just as disappointing as right here.” And again, in Cavernous where “Even my dreams leave me An anxious mess, feeling as if I’ve missed something, that I Have reason to be worried.”
This originality can also be illustrated in a unique perspective as is the case in On Evolution, where the poet compares his own purpose to that of a caterpillar and worries, “I hope growing wings doesn’t have to hurt”. And then with Long, Long After, a unique reflection of the past “The way everything was Before pie tins on the kitchen table Became ashtrays beneath wrinkled faces”.
Sometimes it’s diction, cleverly choosing the exact words. This is exemplified in A Melancholy Album Cover for a Coffee Shop Artist where Myer nails the affectations of an amateur. He achieves it again in Come Around, with this description “… the women who wouldn’t have Let this go any other way, who stood, Arms crossed, one foot tapping, Eyes staring daggers, unmovable, In the way of all other outcomes." Unique imagery that resonates on the periphery of your consciousness.
His success is with poems that are not momentous, but just moments, like the heartrending description of the death of a sparrow in No Science to Loneliness.
However, themes of relationship angst, reminiscences of misplaced or wasted youth and existential anguish are too often revisited. They’re accompanied by a lack of intensity along with lots of garden analogies and weather metaphors. A few resemble the self-indulgent verse of adolescents using clichéd phrases like “tear-stained pillows” and “You leave me speechless.”
But despite the shortcomings, Tempest: Poems by Ryan Meyer is worth the read for a handful of jaw-droppers that provide personal poetic epiphanies.
Reviewed by Rod Raglin
In Tempest: Poems, poet, Ryan Meyer didn’t make the cut, but there still are a good number of poems in this collection that are nothing short of astonishing.
Meyer is at his best when he comes at a subject obliquely, understanding coming as a satisfying surprise. Examples, where this is best achieved, are with Flamingo, the weekend, and drinking and dreaming of being somewhere, anywhere else. And again in Straight Bs, “Still, the lights guide me, Inch by inch, to the dance floor, Where glances have evolved Into lower back rubs … It’s dim enough for anyone To be a dance partner.”
Good poets have a way of saying what you already know or have experienced but saying it with originality. Meyer taps into this secret to universal appeal in Somewhere Else, that “…ends up just as disappointing as right here.” And again, in Cavernous where “Even my dreams leave me An anxious mess, feeling as if I’ve missed something, that I Have reason to be worried.”
This originality can also be illustrated in a unique perspective as is the case in On Evolution, where the poet compares his own purpose to that of a caterpillar and worries, “I hope growing wings doesn’t have to hurt”. And then with Long, Long After, a unique reflection of the past “The way everything was Before pie tins on the kitchen table Became ashtrays beneath wrinkled faces”.
Sometimes it’s diction, cleverly choosing the exact words. This is exemplified in A Melancholy Album Cover for a Coffee Shop Artist where Myer nails the affectations of an amateur. He achieves it again in Come Around, with this description “… the women who wouldn’t have Let this go any other way, who stood, Arms crossed, one foot tapping, Eyes staring daggers, unmovable, In the way of all other outcomes." Unique imagery that resonates on the periphery of your consciousness.
His success is with poems that are not momentous, but just moments, like the heartrending description of the death of a sparrow in No Science to Loneliness.
However, themes of relationship angst, reminiscences of misplaced or wasted youth and existential anguish are too often revisited. They’re accompanied by a lack of intensity along with lots of garden analogies and weather metaphors. A few resemble the self-indulgent verse of adolescents using clichéd phrases like “tear-stained pillows” and “You leave me speechless.”
But despite the shortcomings, Tempest: Poems by Ryan Meyer is worth the read for a handful of jaw-droppers that provide personal poetic epiphanies.
Reviewed by Rod Raglin
February 25, 2021
Ryan Meyer’s sophomore book of poetry, Tempest, explores universal themes of growing up, self-doubt, and, most importantly, self-acceptance. The elements of the fantastic that I enjoyed so much in Meyer’s first book (Haunt, 2018) are back again in this new collection, especially with “Giant,” “Giant, Part 2” and “Sisyphus.” But Meyer’s ability to capture vulnerability and fear in a few short verses is more powerful than any myth or metaphor. There is an intimate, almost confessional quality to this collection that made me feel like I was talking quietly with an old friend. I think Meyer’s poetic portrayal of coming out to his family and struggling to figure out his place within the LGBTQ community will speak to anyone who has faced similar questions about their identity in our increasingly complex world. Tempest speaks to the anxiety—and hope—within us all.
March 31, 2021
Meyer’s second poetry collection, Tempest, is an absolute joy to read. A departure from the Gothic, horror style of Haunt, Tempest cradles its reader in bittersweet nostalgia and Meyer’s storytelling and surrealism come into their stride.
In the preface, Meyer talks about the dichotomy between the beauty of imagery and underlying pain often conveyed in music and poetry. For me, this recalled words from Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray that “behind every exquisite thing that existed there was something tragic”, and Meyer’s desire to create this ‘tempest’ was realised through stunning poetry.
Meyer’s work made me feel human as he embraced the past, fear, identity and the ache it is to exist. ‘Reassurance’ moved me in the simplicity of how difficult it is to stop and listen to yourself sometimes, and the comfort to be found in listening to your heartbeat echo against porcelain. ‘Giant’ and ‘Giant, Part 2’ portrayed the future beautifully. Meyer takes human fear and complexity, reflects it but reminds us it need not be ugly.
While ‘Faulty Wiring’, ‘No Science To Loneliness’, ‘We Always Say We’ll Stay In Touch’ and ‘Long, Long After’ were incredibly moving as Meyer conveyed emotional depth through storytelling grounded in nature, people and place.
Finally, ‘The Poet’, ‘Imperfect Fit’ and ‘Coughing Fits’ showcased the potential for mastery burgeoning in Meyer’s craft. These pieces were sharp and honest; with ‘Imperfect Fit’ being the crowning glory, the dichotomy Meyer wished to achieve.
Tempest is an impressive collection; a thoroughly good read capturing humanity at its most humble. Meyer has found Wilde’s tragedy and reminded us of the exquisite beauty which can still exist within it.
In the preface, Meyer talks about the dichotomy between the beauty of imagery and underlying pain often conveyed in music and poetry. For me, this recalled words from Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray that “behind every exquisite thing that existed there was something tragic”, and Meyer’s desire to create this ‘tempest’ was realised through stunning poetry.
Meyer’s work made me feel human as he embraced the past, fear, identity and the ache it is to exist. ‘Reassurance’ moved me in the simplicity of how difficult it is to stop and listen to yourself sometimes, and the comfort to be found in listening to your heartbeat echo against porcelain. ‘Giant’ and ‘Giant, Part 2’ portrayed the future beautifully. Meyer takes human fear and complexity, reflects it but reminds us it need not be ugly.
While ‘Faulty Wiring’, ‘No Science To Loneliness’, ‘We Always Say We’ll Stay In Touch’ and ‘Long, Long After’ were incredibly moving as Meyer conveyed emotional depth through storytelling grounded in nature, people and place.
Finally, ‘The Poet’, ‘Imperfect Fit’ and ‘Coughing Fits’ showcased the potential for mastery burgeoning in Meyer’s craft. These pieces were sharp and honest; with ‘Imperfect Fit’ being the crowning glory, the dichotomy Meyer wished to achieve.
Tempest is an impressive collection; a thoroughly good read capturing humanity at its most humble. Meyer has found Wilde’s tragedy and reminded us of the exquisite beauty which can still exist within it.
March 12, 2025
“ I traipse through
A forest of my own thoughts.
I hope a door lies at the end,
Held open so I can fall through. “
Fantastic. It was like hearing someone else’s line of thoughts while they lay alone at night just before falling asleep. The nature imagery gave the poems a dreamy nostalgic feel. And the nostalgia 🤌🏻 I’m in my early 30’s, I often find myself thinking of all the love, loss, and searching for myself that I did in my twenties and all the hope, fear and naivety of being at the end of high school looking towards the adult world, and the unknown now, and Ryan was able to capture it perfectly. A few of the poems thrust you to a summer day at 17 looking at the sky with your friends wondering about the future. Then thrusts you to your 20’s, where you’re heartbroken and alone, scared of what comes next. To your 30’s where you can laugh and enjoy the growth, so much has changed and existential dread lingers around you.
Cavernous, Is Everything Okay, and Bloom were standouts for me. I look forward to more from Ryan Meyer.
A forest of my own thoughts.
I hope a door lies at the end,
Held open so I can fall through. “
Fantastic. It was like hearing someone else’s line of thoughts while they lay alone at night just before falling asleep. The nature imagery gave the poems a dreamy nostalgic feel. And the nostalgia 🤌🏻 I’m in my early 30’s, I often find myself thinking of all the love, loss, and searching for myself that I did in my twenties and all the hope, fear and naivety of being at the end of high school looking towards the adult world, and the unknown now, and Ryan was able to capture it perfectly. A few of the poems thrust you to a summer day at 17 looking at the sky with your friends wondering about the future. Then thrusts you to your 20’s, where you’re heartbroken and alone, scared of what comes next. To your 30’s where you can laugh and enjoy the growth, so much has changed and existential dread lingers around you.
Cavernous, Is Everything Okay, and Bloom were standouts for me. I look forward to more from Ryan Meyer.
March 29, 2021
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
4.5/5, Couldn't put it down!
In Tempest, Ryan dances eloquently around the eye of the storm, not shying away from the darkest of thoughts. I commend his open vulnerability – a vulnerability that has allowed me, the reader, to connect with the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed the use of imagery, which every time I re-read, I appreciated even more. There's a genius in the writing that is able to support the emotional journey of the collection.
Full Review on: https://poetrybyjeremy.wordpress.com/...
4.5/5, Couldn't put it down!
In Tempest, Ryan dances eloquently around the eye of the storm, not shying away from the darkest of thoughts. I commend his open vulnerability – a vulnerability that has allowed me, the reader, to connect with the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed the use of imagery, which every time I re-read, I appreciated even more. There's a genius in the writing that is able to support the emotional journey of the collection.
Full Review on: https://poetrybyjeremy.wordpress.com/...
March 27, 2023
I'll admit, I am a huge fan of poetry and always love exploring new poets out there (as a poet myself, this is hard to find a base for); this collection is deeply personal and lays out unspoken feelings out in the open for all to see. Some pieces stood out to me and spoke to me more personally than others; however, I don't have any specific favorites as they're all beautiful and unique in their own way. Meyer is a master at his word here and can't wait to check out more of his work down the road.
July 19, 2021
Not a fan of poetry; it's fine, but I have a hard time understanding. There were some poems I could get a bit of an understanding. I kind of imagined that maybe some of the poems where based on the author's experience or maybe were supposed to be him in the poems. Especially with the 'me' and 'I's.
March 23, 2021
1,7 i betyg. inte min kopp flamingo.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews