Falling Through Time

by Sherry L. Ross

This collection of poetry is about time and consciousness. In one way, time is merely a human construct that does not exist except as we have imagined it, so that we can function in our daily lives. In another way, time is omnipresent, a super-reality, existing and permeating everything. It weaves in-between the vastness of space and in-between the vast spaces of our minds and it makes us a the universe and each of us as individuals. Time encompasses everything, all of the past, present and future. Time, then, is truly timeless. This other kind of time, for me, has become synonymous with consciousness, the consciousness of this universe, which holds in it all that has been, is and will be. It is the great author, the teller of all stories and all histories simultaneously.These poems are a composite of a small amount of mine. It is me falling through my time here on earth. I hope they will resonate with you and your own exquisitely unique and universal consciousness. Falling Through Time is a masterful collection of poems, which could only have been written by a poet at the height of their powers. There is a sense that the boundaries of time – almost life itself – are there to be pushed at, broken down, a deep yearning to break free and understand what is beyond. The poems in this deeply personal volume move from the sharp, detailed vignettes of remembered moments to a more abstract, transcendental finale, reminiscent of the Northumbrian poet, Kathleen Raine.- Steve Griffin, author and poet of The Things We Thought Were Beautiful, Up in the Air, The Boy in the Burgundy Hood, The Girl in the Ivory Dress and the Tirthas series.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sherry Ross is an authentic Gothic dream-landscapist, a nostalgic story-winder, a cosmic-conscious adept, and a faery conjuror. Certainly, she must be a ‘sensitive’ and a ‘prescient’ whose life is balanced between the rigors of a normal life and what seems, to this author’s understanding, one also in touch with the “twilight-world.” By this I mean the cosmos, faeries, gardens, fireflies, the dark wood, dusk, wetness after a rain or dew, slipperiness, moist dirt, autumn leaves, damp grass, remembrances, the lives of her family and herself – that mysterious Intersection with its very sheer veil. Scotland, as the capitol of the Elven Kingdom, is a metaphor for much of her work.-- Dr. Swanson received his Doctorate from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. He is the author and editor of over 20 books on Art, Culture and Religion, including The Biography and Catalog Raisonne ́ of the Paintings of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, JW Godward 1861-1922: The Eclipse of Classicism, Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Dr. Swanson was the former Director of The Springville Museum of Art in Utah for 35 years and lectures internationally.

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2021

About the author

Sherry L. Ross grew up in a home where writing and art were part of everyday life. She spent most days reading classic fantasy novels and writing poetry. Her first middle-grade novel, RETURN OF THE VINETROPES, is the fulfillment of a childhood dream. It combines her love of fantasy with poetry and prose. She has lectured on poetry and writing to middle school aged children. Ross is also the author of The Sorrell Ridge Cookbook and a book of poetry entitled Seeds of Pomegranate. In addition, she is the editor-in-chief of the Art Renewal Center, a non-profit foundation leading the revival of realism in the visual fine arts. Sherry Ross currently lives with her husband Fred Ross and their three cats in a house in the middle of the woods.

Reviews

[Jessica Cantwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stroll through memory lane

Growing up I loved poetry. I would walk to the library to get works by Robert Frost, Edgar Allan Poe and Shel Silverstein. As I edged into my teens that fondness slipped by the wayside. I have recently stumbled across a few poets on Instagram, Sherry Ross, being one of them. Through their work, my passion for poetry has returned. Falling Through Time was a breathtaking read. I fully intended on reading one poem a day to lift my spirits but ended up being so captivated, I couldn’t stop. The title of this collection is on par, as I fell through time while reading it. I landed back in my grandmother’s kitchen, baking cherry pies, tiptoed up the stairs of her walk-up attic to see all the ghosts of my past then found my way into the garden when my kids were young and we unearthed a sleeping cicada. Through the authors words, I met her family. Those come and gone before her and those still living. I danced with shadows and felt the wind on my face in Scotland. Thank you, Sherry Ross, for the stroll through memory lane and for inviting me into the stories of your life. You are an inspiration!

[Ellen Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling Through Time by Sherry L. Ross is a collection of poetry I’ll carry in my heart and consciousness for a long time.
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It is written in three parts - Relative Time, Story Time and Cosmic Time. Within the book’s pages you’ll find free verse, rhyme, narrative poetry, sonnets and haiku.
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All of the poems are personal and insightful. They deal with serious subjects, such as life and death but are so beautifully written, with such sensitivity. In fact, the poems, especially the ones in Cosmic Time, are philosophical. Ms Ross stretched my consciousness until I felt I had touched something beyond our world, beyond my limited consciousness that I’m aware of in my daily life. I cried and my spirit soared, and I saw something beautiful.
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To say I have a favourite poem is impossible. There wasn’t one poem that wasn’t my favourite . However, I will mention a few.
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I found both of these moved me deeply…
For my Daughter Kara Now a Mom
For Gregory, An Early Memory of my Son.
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The Dream Catcher’s Song
Is it calling me home with my own DNA?
Has my number been dialled or can I still stay?
Is it sending me elsewhere, a world dark and deep?
Will I wake here on earth or die in my sleep?
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Ode to a Sunset - the last stanza
The voyage back is eons long,
each of us a different song.
It’s just a tale of getting home,
by painful choices, made alone.
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I highly recommend this wonderful collection of poems by Sherry L Ross, a master poet.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that made my head spin; made me pause and re-read and laugh and gasp and sit and stare out of the window and see the world in a new way. It made me wish I was a better writer.

I don’t normally read poetry, so if that’s you too, then rest assured you’ll find plenty to love about Falling Through Time.

Sherry Ross does what a great creator does: she encapsulates a moment, an incident, a time, a feeling, a fleeting transience that nevertheless leaves a mark on the character … and on the reader. Time and again I was stopped in my tracks to read lines, stanzas, whole poems over again to see how the writer achieved this alchemy.

On line after line, through image after image I nodded and thought: “yes, that’s how it was,” or “that’s how I feel”. First love and lost love, mishaps and misunderstandings, and the mysteries of time itself are explored in loving, pin-sharp detail.

The warmth, generosity of spirit and humanity of the author shines through in each tiny treasure.

[Nannette Kreitzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful medley!

I read a poem the first time to absorb the words, the second to find the meaning behind them, then - if it’s good - a third time to hear the music. Falling Through Time is a medley of poetry in a cappella. Ranging from poignant to fanciful, Ross hits every note in her eloquent serenade. One of my favorites is A Haunting at Craigievar Castle, Scotland, a flash fiction in verse found in the “Story Time” section.

[gabriela dellosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite and enchanting superb collection of poetry. A must read!!!

Sherry Ross's "Falling Through Time" is an exquisitely crafted collection of poetry. She takes the reader on an enchanting and memorable poetic adventure. Sometimes the journey feels familiar, other times it is fantastic and introduces other realms to us.
The real world and fiction are skillfully, twisted, shaped and merged into a compelling and riveting read. The poems delightfully engage the readers' senses from so many angles. They are like artistic puzzles that intrigue and inspire the imagination. Visually, they paint striking, vivid scenes that are hard to forget. Phonetically, Sherry's superb use of words, have a lyrical flow that is beautiful- the sounds of her chosen words create atmosphere and mood. This combination of visual and lyrical elements have a powerful layered effect that is thought provoking and filled with emotion, the mark of great poetry.

I absolutely love how this collection is organized in terms of the sections: Relative Time, Story Time and Cosmic Time. We weave in and out of time-- one moment we are in the present, other moments we are in the past or future. There are, memories, dreams and ideas of a vast world that immerse the reader in timeless artistry. Universal tales, that can relate to all, like "The Old Apartment" a poem that fuses memory and fantasy, where we visit a departed grandmother. Another poem, "In All Directions" makes us wonder about our present existence and about infinity, a dance between the familiar and unknown. You can read Sherry's poems many times and each time discover new surprises, a real joy to read.

[D.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful poetry. One of the poems even made me cry, which I wasn't expecting.