Slivers: Chiseled Poetry

by Balroop Singh

When I stumbled upon haiku – a Japanese form of poetry, I scoffed it away, thinking it to be too short and easy to write. My hubris got a setback when I was challenged to write it! My earlier efforts show how I struggled with the syllables that could convey a meaningful message. Slowly I discovered this art form, which I revere now. I’ve taken some liberties with the rules though.

The poetry in this collection is not traditional haiku and tanka but inspired from them. This collection focuses on micro-poetry, inspired from haiku, senryu, tanka and acrostic poems. Brevity and discipline is the hallmark of these poems.

Genres: Poetry

218 pages, ebook

Published June 27, 2021

About the author

Balroop Singh, an educator, a poet and an author always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a piece of paper and forget about them till each drawer of her home started overflowing with poetic reminders, popping out at will! The world of her imagination has a queer connection with realism. She could envision the images of her own poetry while teaching the poems. Her dreams saw the light of the day when she published her first poetry book: ‘Sublime Shadows Of Life.’ She has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling of leaves and the sound of waterfalls. She lives in California. You can visit her blog at http://balroop2013.wordpress.com

Reviews

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singh’s poetry becomes more beautiful to me with every publication. This generous collection of micro-poetry was inspired by the Japanese syllabic forms haiku and tanka, as well as acrostic poetry where the first letter of each line, when read vertically, spells a word. Each poem is an exquisite glimpse into the author’s reflections on nature, emotions, and life. Photographs complement a number of the poems from each section.

The haiku is grouped by the source of Singh’s inspiration. Below is a lovely example from Clouds:

soft waves whisper
a thousand secrets of clouds
solemn soliloquy

An example of Singh’s tanka:

When the stream freezes
all sounds sink in the snow.
Trees stand bare and mute
gaping at the periwinkle sky
As he meets the morning sun.

An example of Singh’s acrostic entitled Dusk:

Dwindling hues of orange light
Usher in the stars
Shadows recede into darkness
Kissing the waning light

This lovely collection deserves to be read in quiet moments, contemplated, and savored, and I suspect that I’ll return to it in the days to come. Highly recommended to readers of haiku, tanka, and short poetry in general.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry, particularly about nature is perfect for enjoying sitting in sunshine and listening to the sounds always present in a summer garden. The poet Balroop Singh captures this wonderful environment and other aspects of mother and human nature in her collection of micro-poetry. Inspired by Haiku and Tanka with the addition of a section of acrostic poetry, it is a collection to be savoured and reread again and again.

I have some particular favourites out of the 100 or so poems.

each day reminds us
it’s the symphony of surroundings
that whispers life into us

*****

ochre and crimson
robes of mother nature remind
decay can be exquisite

*****

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
I believe in love
even when I cannot feel it
love and light are my mentors

This is a collection that will appeal to all lovers of micro poetry that manages to capture the essence and beauty of the world around us, the fickleness of human nature, and offers hope for the future.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slivers: Chiseled Poetry by Balroop Singh is a beautiful, emotive treasure trove of thoughtful prose.

I love how each piece of micro-poetry makes me sit back and take in the words; lyrical and lovely.

A couple of my favorites are:

I walk through darkness

stumbling and holding hope

of light and life
Singh, Balroop. Slivers: Chiseled Poetry (p. 15). Kindle Edition.

drowning in the sea of solitude

I looked around, shocked

even tears could mock!
Singh, Balroop. Slivers: Chiseled Poetry (p. 91). Kindle Edition.

I know I will be reading this collection over again and again- alluring!

[Mahesh Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Maya Angelou's poems has often infused an odd freshness, luring me into a world that I joyfully accept with hands on my heart and tears in my eyes. Balroop Singh's new book Slivers: Chiseled Poetry, inspired from haiku and tanka, pulls me into the same world where I love taking refuge in a vivid space of self-awareness and realization. The works of Maya and Balroop, I must admit, have enamored me in the same way, shining a light on all the dark and hidden crevices of my heart.

Balroop's lines "Dusk trots complacently / Knocks supremacy of the sun / Smiles of stars follow" ensure that each element in nature gets its fair share, and the fleeting moments of our lives are to be unavoidably witnessed and experienced before they and we disappear. Well, how many times have we looked at a bare branch and thought of these "Love and light linger / Entangle in bare branches / Symphony of faith" in which love and light coalesce in places we rarely notice. And these lines "A light within me / Illuminates dead desires / That gasp with the waves" or these "Unloved, neglected / I stand smiling like sunflowers / Sans any fragrance", magically instruct the reader to identify the subjective nuances associated with hardships.

When Balroop writes "I was watching / How your love permeated / Trees bowed in reverence" I can feel love’s purity looking at any tree. Likewise, I allow these lines to unhook me from human flaws "I know that look / You may not speak your heart / Your eyes whisper all". When she creates "Joy was hanging in the air / I pocketed it and walked home / Now I look at him / In my moments of solitude / To warm my heart with gratitude" or "I mourn alone / Wrapping a blanket of mist / Only she knows my grief / Winter chill reaches my bones / But death is icy and brutal", I can't help but wonder how success and failure or life and death are chapters of life that we don't have to view as separate events. It's a transition, isn't it, for joy and sorrow exist within us and it's up to us what we choose.

Not only does Balroop excel in brevity but she successfully captures raw emotions in Slivers: Chiseled Poetry — a book that fosters trust and empathy we desperately need in our troubled times, giving us deep insights we never knew existed. I highly recommend it!

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Slivers: Chiseled Poetry” is another amazing collection of poetry by Ms. Singh. The poetry is based on the Japanese forms of Haiku and Tanka, and Acrostic poems. They are short but packed with a lot of emotion and images. Although it was hard to choose, here are just a few of my favorites. “full moon still lingers/trees delight in divine light/blissful spectacle,” “where two hills meet/clouds hide and seek/river watches calmly,” “we fly on the waves of whim/when our dreams get wings/ clouds crumble to comply,” “when we try to cage/each precious moment of life/harmony edges away,” “celestial confetti/that fell on me mesmerized./magical messages,” “far into the woods/we wander in quest of calm/which lies within us,” “I wrote my song on the wind/I know that it touches you gently/when you step out/I know you can hear its melody/deep within your pining heart,” “Her skirts are dark/She rides on the billowy clouds/Love in her eyes/could move the horizon/A thread binds her to eternity,” “Dream/Dauntless we walk into the Realms of our choice, Enamored by the hues of hallow, Accentuated by ardent yearning of accomplishing a Myriad ideas that mentor our journey.” I loved this collection and highly recommend it!

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am primarily a reader of fiction, I enjoy escaping into a book of poetry now and again, especially when the poet paints vivid images and deftly stirs emotions with words. Balroop Singh never disappoints with the way she weaves words in a beautiful and spellbinding tapestry. Slivers: Chiseled Poetry is a collection inspired by haiku, tanka, and acrostic poems. Subjects cover seasons, natural and abstract elements such as Clouds, Wind, Light, Love, and Change to name a few. I’m always drawn to poetry that plays off nature and those comprised my favorites. In a different vein “My Muse” really stood out for me, along with the soothing photographic images scattered throughout.

These are poems to ponder and absorb in quiet moments. The acrostic poems were different and interesting, but the tanka, and especially the haiku stole the show for me. As you read, take the time to digest these in the manner the author intended. They make a lovely escape from the frenzied rush of daily life.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so inspired by Balroop Singh’s latest volume of vivid verse that I endeavored to frame my review in haiku form:

Balroop re-creates
Light from above in new clothes.
Faithful fragments hanging;
Mini-windows showing
Truth in starlit slivers.

Ms. Singh’s work showcases much more depth and breadth than my little tribute, however. The topics, as usual, focus on the positive--healing, flights of imagination, and the beauty both within and without.

If I were asked to choose my favorite, I would choose the fanciful fantasy, “Night Fairy.” I suppose this is hardly a surprise since I write fairy tales, but still. Pay close attention to that one as you slowly nibble your way through this assortment of little gems.

A collection of haikus that should delight lovers of the art form.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balroop Singh's poetry literally and figuratively sings on just about every subject in her lovely verse within the forms of haiku, tanka, and acrostic poems. Take your time with this lovely ode to life, nature, and love. Singh allows herself to experiment with these short poetic forms to etch the lines into our head and heart.
Some of my favorite. Well, there are many favorites, but these are examples:
when gloom overwhelms,
rake inner fire that blazes
to drive away darkness.
Singh uses her inner fire to share with us short but intense thoughts on the seasons of Mother Nature, and of life:
echoes of life
reverberate around us
splendid sutures.

I return to this book of micro-poetry over and over again, and I'm sure you will too.

[Trish Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Balroop Singh collection so far!

I've read and enjoyed several of Singh's volumes, but this one is my favourite. She has taken on the discipline of haiku and tanka and excelled.

Grouping these short poems into subjects was a great inspiration too and I particularly loved the images with some of them as I am a very visual person.

Singh's poetry is calming and beautiful and this book is no exception. Take your time and experience the calm her words can have over you.

I'd love to hear them read aloud.

[J.E. Rowney · Rating 3 out of 5]

More excellent poetry from Balroop Singh

This is a lovely collection of haiku and other poetry. The haiku read as a story, when read in order. Whilst I enjoyed them, there were no individual poems that stood out for me, and I felt that the way the collection was structured didn’t serve the individual poems well. Other readers May feel differently. I have read several of Balroop’s poetry collections and have enjoyed them immensely but this is not one of my favourites.

[Colleen Chesebro · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Slivers: Chiseled Poetry” is a delightful mix of haiku-inspired poetry that dances to its own tune. Balroop Singh expertly throws the syllable counts out the window and embraces a creative mix of micro and acrostic poetry. The result is the kind of poetry that stirs emotions invoked by rich imagery that touches the hearts of readers.

Singh’s poetry leans into nature, sharing the beauty of the world around her. Through her words, the magic in the world becomes clearer.

I’ll share one of the many favorites from this collection:

look beyond the rocks
to explore what lies in them—
mysterious portals

© Balroop Singh

Included in the book are photographs with poetry reminiscent of the Japanese haiga. I found the photographic poetry to be deeply personal as the author shared her visual world through poetic art.

I was honored to receive a pre-release copy of this book from the author as a gift, which in no way affected my review. This is the perfect Sunday read!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest from Balroop Singh, Slivers: Chiseled Poetry (2021) is a delightful collection of Haiku, what is a favorite poetry form of many. Balroop is a master of this form. I loved it from Page 1, her dedication to her husband:

"who speaks like ‘haiku’ – short but profoundly meaningful"

Balroop is well known for her poetic ability to connect words that ultimately give more than simple meaning to lines and phrases but a feeling to the whole. I have savored most of her poetry books (here are my reviews for Magical Whispers, Timeless Echoes, and Moments We Love). This particular collection shares the wonder of nature as told with haikus and to a lesser extent acrostic poems. Haiku is one of my favorite poetic forms as it is for millions. Done right, it adds dimension to a topic that can’t be reached any other way.

Here are examples of her artistry. What do you think?

coruscating lilies smile at me, heralding spring, spreading colorful cheer

we fly on the waves of whim when our dreams get wings clouds crumble to comply

a light within me illuminates dead desires that gasp with the waves

wind plays pranks today knocks them down yet petals smile! scattered elegance

mist engulfed me the cavern waited to devour my positive vibes

detachment carried her into an abyss of emotions emerging seems irresistible

This is truly poetry that makes you think. Enjoy!

[Ian Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading poetry is a step into the unknown for me. Two things immediately leap out, first the dazzling very colorful photos which set a very positive tone for the following verse, and second the analytical but perceptive expression of nature and life messages that unravel as you read.
The writing is professional with an almost poet laureate choice of words.

[Lisa Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful and poignant poetry book from author Balroop Singh. In Slivers: Chiseled Poetry, Balroop combines words into impactful haiku style poems. Slivers of dark and light, I like to call them.

"Dark dreams fly in circles
Swirling like ravens at dusk
Explicit epiphany"

Many relate to nature that surrounds us, and several relate to nature within us. As ever, Balroop's style shines here. Simple yet powerful in their message, each poem gives the reader pause to mull their own thoughts. Do not rush this treasure!

[Dave Saari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterful Micro-poetry

In her poetry anthology, “Slivers: Chiseled Poetry,” Balroop Singh demonstrates her mastery of micro-poetry. In the introduction, she explains that the poems are “inspired from haiku, senryu, tanka, and acrostic poems,” then goes on to explain: “Brevity and disciple is the hallmark of these poems.”

The collection includes hundreds of micro-poems. It begins with some 140 pages of three-line poems inspired by haiku, grouped under topical headings including Light, Fragrance, Clouds, Wind, Fall, Winter, Love, Shadows, Emotions, My Muse, Change, and Life. One of my favorites in the “Love” category reads as follows:

frozen in love
we stand together to clasp
sublime serenity

These are followed by 40 pages or so of five-line poems inspired by tanka, and the collection concludes with twenty acrostic poems, based on words such as “Gratitude,” “Imagination,” and “Rainbow.” Lovely, illustrative photographs are also interspersed among the poems.

Singh is a gifted poet, and the book clearly demonstrates her ability to master these various micro styles. As noted, the poems cover a wide range of topics, and they evoke an equally wide range of emotions. However, I found that the sheer number of poems began to make them seem somewhat mechanical, as if the form of the poetry were more important than the message. As such, I didn’t enjoy the micro-poems quite as much as the two previous Balroop Singh collections I’d read, “Emerging from Shadows” and “Moments we Love.” I’d recommend reading only a few pages of micro-poetry at a time, with lapses for contemplation, rather than trying to cover the entire volume in one sitting.

All in all, I was very impressed and rate the book with four stars.

[Lauren Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an enchanting collection of micro-poetry inspired by haiku, tanka, and senryu, also including acrostic poems. Nature, love, and life itself have inspired the growth of these poetic blossoms. Balroop reveals her graceful way of stringing words together, forming vivid images for the reader, inciting a myriad of emotions.

What I find noteworthy is her admission of thinking these forms would be too simple to write, therefore, her interest had waned. But when she met the challenge, she realized the task was anything but uncomplicated. And she met the challenge flawlessly. As I turned each page, more favorites appeared, too many to list, but here are a couple that resonated:

clasping trees beam/in the misty morning breeze/a glorious sight – these lines evoke backpacking memories of waking up in the morning in our wilderness home, greeting the majestic trees.

I heard melodies/of crescent moon that hung above/Darkness melted with the lilting sound/

that merged in the symphony of sun/I chose life.

In this poem, I am reminded that our lives are not without strife but hope always prevails. Life is so much bigger and glorious than we realize.

Through Balroop’s magical word-weaving, she expresses the gift of surrounding beauty not to be taken for granted. She reiterates that we should persevere through the darkness because the light will shine again, and a heart that finds the deepest of love is a heart of gratitude. An exquisite poetry collection to be treasured and read over and over again. Highly recommended!

[Angela Panayotopulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm a bit familiar with haikus, I don't recall coming across acrostic poetry in quite some time (if ever). Singh's poems are a delight to read. My favorites are those which use lots of alliteration, but not so forcibly, such as:

"shrouded in sorrow
she walks through shadows of life
seeking some solace"

"birds look at the sky
bright blue promises buoyancy
spring is trotting in"

"snowflakes shimmer
snow witch has cast her spell
sun tries to warm her"

Sometimes the repetition of a word--e.g. "clouds", "whispers", "evokes"--throughout a poem grows too redundant for me, even though it is clearly purposeful, and makes me wish for a bit more variance. On the other hand, I enjoyed the variety of seasons, weather patterns, and landscapes in the collection.



In many instances, Singh's poems remind me of Bob Ross's paintings: there are happy clouds and happy flowers and happy trees, and exuding bursts of color and texture and delight that anyone can emulate with enough patience and love. Yet like Ross's work, there are darker themes and undertones--in his case, in his actual backstory; in Singh's, these themes (loss, sadness, regret) are sometimes present in her poetry, maturing the content and contrasting beautifully with the lighter themes.

Personal favorites: Fragrance, My Muse, The Sun Was Orange, and Dusk.

[Miriam Hurdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slivers: Chiseled Poetry is a collection of poetry that includes poems inspired by the Japanese poetry haiku and tanka, as well as poems in the acrostic form. Readers would find the nature and creatures personified. Ms. Singh’s imagination is vivid, and her descriptions of these emotions are rich. The sky, the clouds, the wind, the flowers, the seasons, the birds, the human heart speaks in their unique language. They speak to each other and communicate with deep emotions. Every spark, every raindrop, every movement of the breeze and gusty wind conveys a message. Every changing shade in the sun, the moon, and flowers expresses deep and meaningful emotions.

The poems in haiku, Tanka, and acrostic that I appreciated are:

Exotic birds smile
Toss their heads as spring sings
Exuberance glows

Kind hearts seldom suspect anyone
Love is more important for them
Offering unconditional love
They seek happiness in connections
And accept all imperfections.

Rainbow

Refulgent arch in the sky
Accentuates the beauty of horizon
Impromptu magic of nature
Nonplussing mystery for some
Beguiling charm for others
Offers immediate delight
Wondrous and ephemeral art!

The beginning of the poetry briefly explains the metric system of the haiku and tanka and the rules of writing acrostic poems. Readers would find this description informative while appreciating the beautiful poems. I recommend this book to poetry lovers and any readers interested in these poetry forms.

[Sandra Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

SLIVERS by Balroop Singh
I am a great admirer of haiku and tanka. They are forms of poetry that take discipline, deep thought and each word stands alone. SLIVERS, Ms. Singh’s latest offering is in the tanka vein. It also includes acrostic poetry. (The first letter of each line spells out a word.) As usual, Ms. Singh doesn’t disappoint delivering lines such as:

‘where two hills meet
clouds play hide and seek
river watches calmly’

‘calmness of wintery sky
softens the morning light
magic percolates’

‘swaying in the sun
gold of sunflowers smile
exuding positivity’

And there is much, much more.

I found this book to be delightful.

[Gene Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lengthy collection of poetry, as the author experiments with styles inspired by haiku and tanka, then closes out with numerous acrostic poems (where the first word of each line forms a single word). Her topics cover nature, beauty, relationships, and small things, like wild turkeys that wander in the front yard in the morning. Several lovely photos are also included. This style of poetry is harder to pull off, and might be a little demanding for the average reader. The craft is admirable, however, and credit to the author for challenging herself and producing so much of it for this volume.

[Eunice Nascimento · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of excellently crafted poems with a wide range of literary devices used cleverly. I fell in love with the beautiful photography in the collection; the bright colours so evocative of weather seasons and memories of some of the places I’ve visited.

This book will delight readers who love poetry, specially shorter forms inspired by haiku and tanka poetry.