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Shadows of the Trees: Poems & Prose
Tense and emotional...
...extremely candid poetry.
Why does poetry ask probing questions, evoke deep emotions, and elude monolithic explanations?
This book is a time capsule of a young man searching for solutions while offering none.
These poems represent a maturing mind attempting to understand life and one person's place in it.
Poems are photographs of literature where the observer can extract more words from it with each viewing.
...extremely candid poetry.
Why does poetry ask probing questions, evoke deep emotions, and elude monolithic explanations?
This book is a time capsule of a young man searching for solutions while offering none.
These poems represent a maturing mind attempting to understand life and one person's place in it.
Poems are photographs of literature where the observer can extract more words from it with each viewing.
115 pages, Paperback
Published January 17, 2022
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Michael W. Cook
6 books37 followersMichael W. Cook is a multiple award-winning author across three genres: philosophy, mythology, and poetry. He is a 2022 winner of the Readers' Favorite Gold Medal & Bronze Medal, seven 1st place Outstanding Creator Awards, Firebird Book Award, and Literary Titan Gold Award & Silver Award. He retired as a Major from the United States Air Force, received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership (Ph.D.) from Liberty University. Michael is currently working on a memoir about growing up in Downeast Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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August 3, 2022Looking forward to the excitement 🙏🤩😎
January 19, 2025
Editorial Reviews:
9.5/10 "Shadow of the Trees is now our highest-rated poetry book ever! And it's for good reason. This poetry book brings poetry back to the basics, back to the heart and soul of what made poetry so appealing to begin with: the rhythm, the beats, the cryptic stories, and the feels... Every single one of these poems is tight, well-structured, and maintains a definitive rhythm. And, perhaps more importantly, these poems "say" something beyond the words themselves... this is an outstanding poetry book... rich with quatrains. We've got ourselves a modern-day Nostradamus!" -Steven Seril, Outstanding Creator Awards
★★★★★ "This is an intense collection that one might want to study many times... poetry is music put into words... somber, sad, indeed emotional, while others express joy and elation and a sense of purpose, a direction in life... one can absorb the poet's transition through life, the maturing of years of experience after manipulating the myriad of complex tangents of youth, and then it's time to think back... The passage of time is a recurring theme in these poems... what it means to be alive, what it means to love, and what it means to lose. The poems are monolithic - strong, powerfully emotive, uniform, and indivisible." -Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
★★★★★ "I was glad to follow his growth as a person in language expressed with such freedom. This book will be an inspiration for young people and adults who want to start reading poetry... a life condensed into harmonious words. The themes evolve... observations as a teenager and the conflict between his desires and emotions... observe the development of an artistic sensibility that can only come through practice and experience... tells us about his family, school, and social environment candidly." -Diana Lopez, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
★★★★★ "Drawing inspiration from Jim Morrison of The Doors, Michael Cook crafts some beautifully written poems that capture the essence of youth angst, love, hate, hopes, and much more... delves into the unexplained mysteries of life and questions its ultimate purpose... through the lens of a young man just out of high school... explores the elusive nature of dreams... poses some existential questions... ponders his hopes and dreams... reflects upon the fleeting nature of the passage of time. I very much enjoyed Shadows of the Trees. If you're a poetry lover, I can't recommend it enough." -Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
9.5/10 "Shadow of the Trees is now our highest-rated poetry book ever! And it's for good reason. This poetry book brings poetry back to the basics, back to the heart and soul of what made poetry so appealing to begin with: the rhythm, the beats, the cryptic stories, and the feels... Every single one of these poems is tight, well-structured, and maintains a definitive rhythm. And, perhaps more importantly, these poems "say" something beyond the words themselves... this is an outstanding poetry book... rich with quatrains. We've got ourselves a modern-day Nostradamus!" -Steven Seril, Outstanding Creator Awards
★★★★★ "This is an intense collection that one might want to study many times... poetry is music put into words... somber, sad, indeed emotional, while others express joy and elation and a sense of purpose, a direction in life... one can absorb the poet's transition through life, the maturing of years of experience after manipulating the myriad of complex tangents of youth, and then it's time to think back... The passage of time is a recurring theme in these poems... what it means to be alive, what it means to love, and what it means to lose. The poems are monolithic - strong, powerfully emotive, uniform, and indivisible." -Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
★★★★★ "I was glad to follow his growth as a person in language expressed with such freedom. This book will be an inspiration for young people and adults who want to start reading poetry... a life condensed into harmonious words. The themes evolve... observations as a teenager and the conflict between his desires and emotions... observe the development of an artistic sensibility that can only come through practice and experience... tells us about his family, school, and social environment candidly." -Diana Lopez, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
★★★★★ "Drawing inspiration from Jim Morrison of The Doors, Michael Cook crafts some beautifully written poems that capture the essence of youth angst, love, hate, hopes, and much more... delves into the unexplained mysteries of life and questions its ultimate purpose... through the lens of a young man just out of high school... explores the elusive nature of dreams... poses some existential questions... ponders his hopes and dreams... reflects upon the fleeting nature of the passage of time. I very much enjoyed Shadows of the Trees. If you're a poetry lover, I can't recommend it enough." -Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite 5-star review
June 23, 2022
Shadows of the Trees is a collection of thought-provoking poetry and prose. The poems are chronologically presented based on the time of composition, which makes me feel like the poet wants us to follow his journey by following these pieces.
If you start from the initial poems, there’s a free flow of raw emotions. The heavy influence of American Romanticism is evident throughout, but the poet also manages to express his own passions and insights through his writings. As we progress towards the later chapters, the melodies in the poems start to develop. Poetry enthusiasts can easily recognize this shift, both in terms of rhythmic quality as well as a gradual change in the poet’s perspectives.
The poems are of varied moods – some are dark, while others carry a beautiful introspective quality. The poet not only looks inward, but also at his surroundings, and takes inspiration from life. The last chapters ‘1996’ and ‘1997’ have a somber feel, but it’s also where the melodies find maturity. Even though the poems sing of anguish and broken hearts, there is a hint of faith and hope pervading throughout them. Once you read the compositions, you would truly agree with what the poet said in the introduction – poems are “lyrics to melodies of the mind”.
Shadows of the Trees can be an excellent gift for someone who enjoys reading poetry, or aspiring young adults who love to compose. These candid poems are short but potent, so they can be read in one go, but it’s better to read them leisurely, and let the feelings sink in as you ponder.
If you start from the initial poems, there’s a free flow of raw emotions. The heavy influence of American Romanticism is evident throughout, but the poet also manages to express his own passions and insights through his writings. As we progress towards the later chapters, the melodies in the poems start to develop. Poetry enthusiasts can easily recognize this shift, both in terms of rhythmic quality as well as a gradual change in the poet’s perspectives.
The poems are of varied moods – some are dark, while others carry a beautiful introspective quality. The poet not only looks inward, but also at his surroundings, and takes inspiration from life. The last chapters ‘1996’ and ‘1997’ have a somber feel, but it’s also where the melodies find maturity. Even though the poems sing of anguish and broken hearts, there is a hint of faith and hope pervading throughout them. Once you read the compositions, you would truly agree with what the poet said in the introduction – poems are “lyrics to melodies of the mind”.
Shadows of the Trees can be an excellent gift for someone who enjoys reading poetry, or aspiring young adults who love to compose. These candid poems are short but potent, so they can be read in one go, but it’s better to read them leisurely, and let the feelings sink in as you ponder.
November 15, 2022
This book is a time capsule of a young man searching for solutions while offering none.
These poems represent a maturing mind attempting to understand life and one person's place in it.
Poems are photographs of literature where the observer can extract more words from it with each viewing.
A must-read for adolescents and young adults!
These poems represent a maturing mind attempting to understand life and one person's place in it.
Poems are photographs of literature where the observer can extract more words from it with each viewing.
A must-read for adolescents and young adults!
July 25, 2023
Different.
First off, the book cover sucks, but the font is easy-to-see, and the book cover award makes it stand out from amongst the crowd. In fact, the main reason I chose to review this book is because of the five-star badge on the book cover.
Using images in an e-book is bold, but it certainly makes this poetry collection stand out. Props to the author for taking a leap of faith. It took the author eight years to write this poetry collection; talk about perseverance.
You'll notice that this book is well-formatted and edited. "Poetry asks probing questions, evokes deep emotions, and eludes monolithic explanations." Wow! I like that statement a lot.
The poems are short, good, and unique. You'll be surprised as you're zooming through this collection. The names of each poem are eye-catching too. If you're into poetry, you won't be disappointed with this assembly.
First off, the book cover sucks, but the font is easy-to-see, and the book cover award makes it stand out from amongst the crowd. In fact, the main reason I chose to review this book is because of the five-star badge on the book cover.
Using images in an e-book is bold, but it certainly makes this poetry collection stand out. Props to the author for taking a leap of faith. It took the author eight years to write this poetry collection; talk about perseverance.
You'll notice that this book is well-formatted and edited. "Poetry asks probing questions, evokes deep emotions, and eludes monolithic explanations." Wow! I like that statement a lot.
The poems are short, good, and unique. You'll be surprised as you're zooming through this collection. The names of each poem are eye-catching too. If you're into poetry, you won't be disappointed with this assembly.
May 20, 2024
Shadows of the Trees: Poems & Prose by Michael W. Cook is a collection that delves into the complexities of existence with raw emotion and introspection. Through candid poetry and prose, Cook explores the timeless themes of life, identity, and purpose. The poems serve as snapshots of a young man's journey, grappling with questions that have no easy answers. Each piece invites readers to delve deeper, uncovering new layers of meaning with each reading. With its evocative language and thought-provoking imagery, this collection offers a profound reflection on the human experience and the search for meaning in an uncertain world.
November 22, 2023
Really Cool!
Captivatingly tense and emotionally charged, this collection of extremely candid poetry is a thought-provoking journey through the complexities of life. Each poem is a snapshot of a maturing mind grappling with profound questions and the elusive nature of existence. With a captivating style that leaves room for interpretation, this book serves as a timeless exploration of self-discovery, making it a must-read for adolescents and young adults seeking poetic reflections on life's uncertainties.
Captivatingly tense and emotionally charged, this collection of extremely candid poetry is a thought-provoking journey through the complexities of life. Each poem is a snapshot of a maturing mind grappling with profound questions and the elusive nature of existence. With a captivating style that leaves room for interpretation, this book serves as a timeless exploration of self-discovery, making it a must-read for adolescents and young adults seeking poetic reflections on life's uncertainties.
April 28, 2023
Journey Into A Poet’s Mind
This collection of poems is interesting because it takes one in a journey through the author’s life. The reader will find topics about love, loss, the meaning of life etc. My favorites are ‘Oracle Closing’ and ‘Tainted Love.’
This collection of poems is interesting because it takes one in a journey through the author’s life. The reader will find topics about love, loss, the meaning of life etc. My favorites are ‘Oracle Closing’ and ‘Tainted Love.’
March 20, 2024
Growing pains in poetry
“Shadows of the Trees” is a compilation of poetry that seems to grow with the author. It begins with simplicity and grows more intriguing as you continue through the book. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
“Shadows of the Trees” is a compilation of poetry that seems to grow with the author. It begins with simplicity and grows more intriguing as you continue through the book. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
October 6, 2024
My kind of poetry
Like with all poetry- beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like his darker poems because that is the type of poetry I enjoy. If you’re like me, you will enjoy this. If not, then skip this one.
Like with all poetry- beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like his darker poems because that is the type of poetry I enjoy. If you’re like me, you will enjoy this. If not, then skip this one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews