Seasons of a Sewer Girl: a collection of poetry and prose

by Dawn Harrell, Stephanie Bennett-Henry (Foreword)

Life has a way about it, where it gives, it takes, and vice versa. The ups and downs come and go, much like the seasons we experience throughout the years. But, just as each season arrives, it passes, and nothing lasts forever.Dawn P. Harrell shares her journey through the seasons of her life. She writes of her pain, her joy, her disappointment, and her surprise through her very unique style of poetic prose.Dawn explores her seasons of loss, wonder, love, hope, and rising, with truly heartfelt pieces that range from the proud moments of motherhood to the crushing weight felt from depression and anxiety. She opens up her readers to some of her most vulnerable times, both good and bad. Her poetry touches on so many important topics, all of which she has experienced first hand, and she shares with you through her carefully crafted words.Seasons of a Sewer Girl is a beautiful reminder to live life; seasons change, and each storm doesn't last.***Dawn's writing is truly a work of art. Her imagery is like an artist painting a masterpiece with beauty and boldness. She doesn't hold back as she spills the ink from the depths of her soul. Seasons of a Sewer Girl will transport you into her world, and you'll journey through the seasons of life, love, loneliness, hope, and everything in between.- April Y. Spellmeyer***There are very few moments when ink becomes spilled whispers of a soul in seasons of process. This book is exactly that; a soul on the journey of raw breathing. - Avante Avante-garde***I instantly felt connected to this woman whom I have never met. Her talk of healing and growth hit home for me. It made me feel things I didn't know I needed to feel. - Emily James***Not only are her words relatable, but they are a portal to our own depths within. - Kristin Kory

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2021

Reviews

[Jerome Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

** European Romanticism meets Eastern Ephemeral, with a dash of Black Metal for good measure **

I read an awful lot of poetry, old and new, classical and contemporary.  Seasons of a Sewer Girl must say is something quite unique and different from anything I've previously encountered, that alone is one of its strongest assets and qualifiers for investigating it, can promise readers they will be spellbound and enchanted by the original content from beginning to end. Interestingly, to start with the organizational scheme is not dissimilar to the approach of traditional Japanese short form collections — likely this is not coincidental, there are a few formal haiku included too, for example on page 169 — mapped and arranged by poems' associations with different times in the year, situating each work chronologically within the recurring cycle of weather and its inherent symbology, the broader meanings different periods evoke and represent. But the individual, conversational, deeply personal explorations, musings, discourse (often utilizing the second person, addressing the reader, or a specific intended audience directly) almost function like a captivating protagonist's elevated journal, or narrator in a gothic romance penning missives, keeping an ongoing record or log of their journey and travails, triumphs and stumbles, lessons and longings. In brief, tight bursts of information, elegantly relayed and interspersed with liberal white space the poet outlines a rich inner life and meaningful meditations upon its highlights with wonderful articulateness and a capable voice one might expect to find from internal dialogue of a heroine in a Bronte, Austen, Virginia Woolf novel. A highly pleasurable read even throughout the melancholic and darker passages, for the appreciators of memoirs, French films, the confessional school of poetry, and not without flourishes of the hardboiled and pulp literary traditions and thematic elements as well. Grateful the irresistible title attracted me to this book, encourage anyone similarly considering to be equally bold and add it to your library!

(I have not amazing eyes so often use the function where Kindle reads poetry to me — easy to implement on phone or Desktop, Google it! — and that particularly is of fantastic use for moments in this where the author incorporates some deft, subtle rhyming into the pieces. So much of the best writing is meant to be spoken, and this collection is no exception, I’m sure would be riveting to hear aloud recited by Harrell on a microphone at a slam!)

[A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was scrolling through books of poetry on Amazon, saw the word “Sewer” and I was like what’s that about and when I saw the rest of the name and gorgeous cover, I wanted to read it. I didn’t pay too much attention to the synopsis as per usual, but I did know a little what the poems were going to feature. At the beginning of the book there’s a Foreword talking about Ms. Harrell and how unique of a writer she is and I’d have to agree with that statement. I loved Ms. Harrell’s chapters on Heartache and Love! She made me feel things, particularly in the Love section — I was so invested in where that was going and I was rooting so hard for her. I think Seasons of a Sewer Girl has made me the most invested that I’ve been in a book of poetry, if not ever, then for sure this year. This was so amazing and it’s one hundred percent worth the read and worth your time!

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my new favourite poetry collections. Mostly because it’s not…strictly poetry. It’s more thoughts and statements that are so beautifully written they read like poetry. It’s a very powerful, empowering collection and I highlighted a lot of phrases.

[Barbara Grasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book! Definitely one to add to your collection.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

An okay read!

The book contained far more prose than poetry. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was quite a good read.

[Aleah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great poetry book!