Leaning Toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them

by Tess Taylor, Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Foreword)

This beautiful poetry anthology offers a warm, inviting selection of poems from a wide range of voices that speak to the collective urge to grow, tend, and heal—an evocative celebration of our connection to the green world. Much like reading a good poem, caring for plants brings comfort, solace, and joy to many. In this new poetry anthology,  Leaning toward Light , acclaimed poet and avid gardener Tess Taylor brings together a diverse range of contemporary voices to offer poems that celebrate that joyful connection to the natural world. Several of the most well-known contemporary writers, as well as some of poetry’s exciting rising stars, contribute to this collection including Ross Gay, Jericho Brown, Mark Doty, Jane Hirshfield, Ada Limón, Danusha Laméris, Naomi Shihab Nye, Garrett Hongo, Ellen Bass, and James Crews. A foreword by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, reflective pauses and personal recipes from some of the contributing poets, along with original, whimsical illustrations by Melissa Castrillon, and a ribbon bookmark complete this stunning, hardcover gift format. 
 

Genres: Poetry, Gardening, Nature, Nonfiction, Anthologies, Ecology, Plants

200 pages, Hardcover

Published August 29, 2023

Reviews

[Dona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the editor Tess Taylor, publisher Storey Publishing, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of LEANING TOWARD LIGHT.

Poetry anthologies and collections are definitely not all created equal, and this is one of the superior ones-- if you happen to be interested in gardening. For those readers who aren't, they may have trouble connecting to the work in this book.

My favorite thing about LEANING TOWARD LIGHT is the variety. To start with, there are four sections in the anthology, each dedicated to one of the seasons. Also, this book contains more than just poems for each season, but also essays and even recipes. Additionally, so remarkable writers have contributed to this book, like one of my favorite poets, Mark Doty.

A tiny excerpt:
...Three hundred bulbs
Huddle under earth,
Three hundred odds against weather.
When the darkness takes over,
I close my eyes. Everything is just where I left it.
from "Daffodils" by Michelle Gillett

Rating: 🌱🌱🌱🌱.5 / 5 seedlings
Recommend? Definitely! Great Spring reading!
Finished: February 16 2023
Read this if you like:
🪴 Plants
🌷 Gardening
🌦 Changing seasons
📜 Contemporary poetry
📄 Personal essays
🧄 Fresh recipes

[Meepspeeps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful collection of poems, especially for the weeders among us.

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Leaning toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them
Author: Tess Taylor
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: August 29, 2023

I received a complimentary eARC from Storey Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Thoughtful • Pretty • Chaotic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Caring for plants (much like reading a good poem) brings comfort, solace, and joy to many—offering an outlet in difficult times to slow down and steward growth. In Leaning toward Light, acclaimed poet and avid gardener Tess Taylor brings together a diverse range of contemporary voices to offer poems that celebrate that joyful connection to the natural world.

💭 T H O U G H T S

As an avid reader and green thumb, I was really looking forward to dipping into this collection of poems centering around gardening and the human connection to the natural world. I would by no means consider myself to be a poetry connoisseur, so I didn't really know what to expect.

Divided into seven distinct sections, each with antidotes, illustrations, recipes, a variety of poems or musings, I was able to digest this collection in one sitting. The highlights for me were the recipes, and I preferred the paragraph portions of the writing to the actual poetry. As much as it is organized into sections, it is also disorganized in another way. Some poems didn't really seem to fit where they were. As I progressed, I found myself skimming, which is never a good sign with poetry and/or when it's a topic that interests me.

As an avid gardener and nature lover I expected to love this anthology. However, only several of the poems resonated with me, and the majority did not. Overall, this was a quick read that was highly forgettable and missed the mark for me. Maybe it would be more for the casual reader who enjoys gardening than for avid readers. The artwork is beautiful and it is definitely more of a coffee table book than anything else.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• gardening
• contemporary poetry
• human/nature connection

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"We befriended a plot of earth, and it befriends us in return."

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift from a friend. It took me a great deal of time to get through, but then again I'm not sure what sort of pacing is best for a poetry book. A bit of my professor's work is featured here. I didn't enjoy it very much which is just as well considering she doesn't like my poetry either. I like the separation of work by theme (i.e. planting & sprouting, weeding & wilding). The recipes and little anecdotes scattered about were nice too. The best poem is the first one.

"A Small Needful Fact"
by Ross Gay

Is that Eric Garner worked
for some time for the Parks and Rec.
Horticultural Department, which means,
perhaps, that with his very large hands,
perhaps, in all likelihood,
he put gently into the earth
some plants, which, most likely,
some of them, in all likelihood,
continue to grow, continue
to do what such plants do, like house
and feed small and necessary creatures,
like being pleasant to touch and smell,
like converting sunlight
into food, like making it easier
for us to breathe.

[Stephanie]

A lovely poetry collection! The introductions and recipes at the beginning of each section were a nice touch.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

From this book I learned that 'anthology' means 'a gathering or collection of flowers', and what a beautiful garden this book is! I am very grateful to Netgalley for gifting me an ARC of this book.

Leaning Towards Light was an incredible journey into a world most poets overlook; the world of nurturing, planting, and tending our piece and place of nature. And we get to see into the lives of the people who nourish them, and are nourished in return. This was a stunning collection from such an incredible range of poets and writers, it seems that our patches of Earth are dearer than most know, and I hope this is only the first in a long line of collections.
While also the focus of this outstanding book, we are shown that gardens are an ever growing, ever changing medium in which difficult truths of life can be conveyed and understood. I was left speechless by many poignant truths, joyful memories, and grieving admissions, so seamlessly woven into the motions of pruning, staking, and feeding. Possibly the shortest poem in the book, an entry on three little sunflower seeds left me nearly in tears!

So whether you have a green thumb-- or in my case, spend more time trying to save plants than eat from them-- I recommend this to all who knows themselves to be lovers of gardens, life, nature, and poetry.
I cannot wait for it's publication, and will eagerly add to my collection, and share among other green-thumbed enthusiasts!

[Alanna-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

"It should surprise no one that, as a poet, I've been tickled for years to learn that the word *anthology* means a "gathering of flowers"" (Aimee Nezhukumatathil - foreword).

And such a wonderful "gathering of flowers" this book is!

First, it's gorgeous! While I originally saw this book digitally, I didn't finish my review in time and asked my local library to bring it in for me. Truly, this collection is absolutely MEANT to be seen in it's gorgeous hardcover format. The illustrations (by Melissa Castrillón) are so joyfully colourful, playful, and perfectly emit the right vibe for each section that they preface.

I love that this anthology of poems is sectioned according to the seasonal cycles that any garden (and life) goes through. Each begins with a stunning illustration, a short note and recipe from one of the contributors, and is followed by a collection of poems that speak to that particular season.

What I love most about this beautiful book, is that the contributions are from a true myriad of poet gardeners. There are a few classic entries, but most of the poems contained within these pages are from contemporary and emerging artists - many of whom are from the Global Majority. Essential inclusion, for a better world ❤️ Plus, there is a section at the back of the book which introduces each of the contributors, in turn. This amazing editing by Tess Taylor, accompanied by a beautifully-written foreword by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, completes what is an absolute delight of a book.

Ultimately, this book is for you if you have any ties to gardening whatsoever, and a soulful appreciation of life. This book would also make an incredible gift for any soulful gardener in your life (even if they only have a few pots on their balcony)!

Huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher, Storey Publishing LLC, for a digital ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review. Gratitude also goes out to my local library for bringing in this book when I didn't finish my review in time!! May it bring joy to so many in our community.

[Jess • justpeachyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a gorgeous anthology of poetry, recipes, and art centered around the theme of gardening! It would make such a beautiful springtime gift (mother's day perhaps?) paired with a plant or a homegrown packet of seeds. Tess Taylor did a really lovely job of including a mashup of traditional (mostly white, cishet, male) and contemporary BIPOC voices, all of which perfectly capture the magic of being more connected to the earth through the act of planting, tending, and harvesting the fruits of a gardener's labor.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Storeypublishing for granting me access to this arc in return for an honest review.

Leaning toward light is a beautiful. meaningful poetry anthology from diverse authors all accompanied with gorgeous illustrations by Melissa Castrillon. The theme is a celebration of plants and the joy they can bring and our compulsive need to grow and nurture gardens and our personal plant collections.
It's a must-buy for me. Highly recommended.

[Claudia Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet, endearing book!
Filled with beautiful poems, illustration, and even recipes, it shares the beauty and joy of gardening and caring for the Earth. I am not a gardener, in fact I don't even have a green thumb, but I do love nature and flowers, so this was a charming read.
The collection of poems is very well curated, including authors I had never heard of but will for sure be looking for next time I go to a bookshop and authors I knew but had never read the particular poem included. I recommend this book to anyone honestly, whether you like gardening or not, you will surely enjoy reading these poems and looking at the beautiful illustrations.
I'm also very excited to try the recipes included in this,

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book outside while shifting periodically to continue facing the sun as it crossed through the sky. Would highly recommend such a reading experience

[Haurenlill · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet read for a summer day

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of poems with a central theme of gardening. And it stays pretty on topic. It was neat to have recipes for each of the sections. It would make a good gift for a gardener who enjoys poetry.

The title says it’s edited by Tess Taylor but on the second to last page it says it’s edited by Hannah Fries. And now I’m more curious about that than the collection.

[Rennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to thank Tess Taylor, Storey Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with the digital ARC of Leaning Toward Light.

This book is a beautiful collection of insights from people of various backgrounds and cultures that revolve around our relationship with ourselves and its reflection in nature.

I was enamored with the illustrations and the way they skillfully separated the different stages of growth and tending, capturing the shifting of seasons and the progress of plants. Each chapter felt like a journey through the processes of processing and healing, conveyed by the contributing poets in a way that feels safe and comforting.

My overall takeaway is that, like a garden, we need to tend to ourselves and create an environment that encourages our flourishing. Leaning Toward Light highlights the resilience that both plants and humans possess and celebrates our interconnected journey with the world around us. While there are moments of beauty, there are also day-to-day challenges that can distract us from it.

Whether you are a poetry enthusiast or someone seeking introspection, I highly recommend picking up this book and immersing yourself in its pages, stepping into your own garden.

[Maryam Shawaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never finished a book faster! It's something I needed to read, and I'm so happy I stumbled upon this wonderful collection of poetry that sings to nature, plants, and gardening. Tess Taylor has succeeded providing the reader with sensory details through the choice of poetry selected with care for each section. I especially loved the provided food recipes before each section of poetry begins. If you love nature, gardening, and poetry that celebrates these earthly elements, this book is definitely a must read!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book.

[Sena · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars. a lovely coffee table book. the foreword was a bit long, but there were definitely some gems in this collection, such as those by ashley m. jones. 'deep lane' and 'on the twelfth of march', in particular, were some favorites. including recipes were a nice touch, this would be recommended as a gift for anyone with a green thumb.

i received an ARC in exchange for an an honest review.

[Cheryl Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I've written poetry, but when I did, it almost always featured plants and planting, often with the subtext: You never know how things will turn out. (Gardeners tend to learn that lesson in their first season.) So this anthology was made for me.

It contains poems about gardens, plants, and food, arranged by season, and includes recipes with brief commentary by some of the poets included in the anthology. The poetry is accessible, but layered with meaning. There are joyful poems, sorrowful poems, wistful and poignant poems, old poems (Virgil, Basho, Keats, Whitman, and others), new poems, poems by literary icons, and poems by newcomers.

I ate it up. I had to keep my notebook of favorite lines close at hand.

It's a beautiful book and a great gift for any gardener with a literary bent.

[Kerensa Cracknell · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, this collection of poetry wasn’t for me. I’m sure the poems chosen are very good but they’re just not my style. Too modern! I’m old-school when it comes to poetry - the only ones I enjoyed in this book were the one by A. E. Housman, the two by Keats, and the one by Wendell Berry (I love everything by Wendell Berry although this isn’t one of my favourites). I also appreciated the inclusion of ‘To Everything There Is A Season’ from the Bible - I’m not religious but I do love that piece of writing (although I wouldn’t class it as poetry!) For me, the best bits of this book were the poems I mentioned above, the artwork, some of the pieces of writing and quotes at the beginning of the chapters, and the recipes.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book but not really what I was expecting. I felt it was more of a short memoir than a poetry book. I am not a fan of memoirs but I liked a few poems.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years, we've turned our Mid-Michigan country acre into a series of gardens, islands of happiness and peace (and sweat and toil, but that's needful, healthy, even) where everything is a treat for the eyes or the taste buds, or both. I can't imagine life without at least a small patch of soil to push a seed into. When it's too cold or rainy to work with the soil, I enjoy staying indoors with a good book. Leaning toward Light is a lovely rainy-day read for any gardener.

The subtitle of this book is what first caught my eye and put a smile on my face. "Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them". I admired the cover art, and when I opened the book, I saw fresh and vibrant illustrations in harmony with that cover, scattered throughout. I paused to make a cup of herbal tea, as I could clearly see that enjoying this book would require one.

Don't skip over Aimee Nezhukumatathil's introduction, which gracefully ties poetry, life, and gardens together. As you continue reading, you'll find anecdotes, recipes, and of course, lots of poetry. My personal favorites are "Wild Oregano" and "Interview with the Pear Tree", but your favorites will depend on your personal experiences with life, gardens, food, family, love, memories, and who knows what else? Everything is connected. If I counted correctly, 89 different poets are represented in this book, and that makes a remarkable gathering.

So, scrub the soil from your hands and set your galoshes aside, just for a little while. Enjoy a celebration of our gardens. It's bloomin' good!

My thanks to Tess Taylor, Storey Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Mish Mash Succotash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this anthology. Every page felt like a gift, like warm sunshine or big fat beads of spring rain.

There is a lot to savor here-- a diversity of voices, perspectives, flavors, smells, emotions. This is a really rich book, and the vibrant artwork throughout is so charming, really complementing the variety of poems, recipes, and prose.

I was pleasantly surprised to see some names I knew like Whitman and Keats included here, but I have to say I enjoyed reading the newer voices, especially those whose experiences are different from my own-- the black women and the immigrant mothers who nourish their families with the fruits of their garden toiling. I appreciated the focus on inclusion and the theme of regeneration. I think they're both particularly pertinent to our point in history.

"Gardeners, are, by their nature, people who believe in regeneration...They understand that the broken world we inherit can also be amended, with compost, worms, and steady tending. They have seen that the tended earth, in turn, offers up radical abundance--"

I also enjoyed the shared recipes, especially the feta, tomato, and basil pie recipe from my home state Mississippi. It was nice to see little glimpses of how these gardener poets use their harvests.

Overall, I think this is a very special little book and would make a fantastic gift for any gardening friends. And I'll definitely be checking out the other work of several of the authors included in this anthology-- I love that it tells you about each of them and their work at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[j :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I have ever picked up a garden shovel to plant in my life, but reading "Leaning toward Light" made me want to, just to fully understand the beauty behind the process of life. Each selected work, whether it be the infamous "season of mists..." of Keats or an everyday person speaking about their time working with nature and with the earth felt moving and mesmerizing. Each piece of prose gave me the full impression that the authors felt a genuine and true connection to the life they were speaking so highly of, and the book moved my emotions as it waxed and waned out of seasons; the bloom of the spring, the glory of the summer, the battle of the autumn, and the acceptance of the winter. It's poetic, in a sense, to be able to find some sort of connection to nature through these writing pieces, and Taylor's intricate and precise decisions on placement of works to give the maximum emotional effect was extraordinary. I was additionally deeply moved by the bright, opening works of art sprawled throughout the pages, thanks to the amazing work of Melissa Castrillon. I found that the combination of the artistic style to give voice to what words could not, and the placement of words to give sound to what art was unable to made for a full picture of exactly what the book encompasses: the story of plants, nature, and life.

I would highly recommend this book to any individual who is moved by poetry and prose. I do not think in the slightest that you have to be involved with gardening or nature to find joy and serenity in the pages of these pieces. Everyone who enjoys the careful analysis of writing would find something to love within Leaning toward Light.

[Courtney Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read More Reviews Here

This anthology of poems is just what I needed during these long, dark winter months filled with beautiful poems, illustrations, and recipes. The promise of spring and the hope that gardens bring are both present in this collection. From the anthology, it is said, "Gardens are what hope looks like in public. And these poems are also emblems of that hope." I believe wholeheartedly after reading this and experiencing the hope that gardens and poetry can bring to the soul.

After reading this I learned that an anthology means, a gathering or collection of flowers.
This collection of flowers has a great sampling of some well-known poets and new-to-you names that provide a wide look into what poetry has meant and can mean for those all around us. My love of poetry started last year and I am so glad that I was able to be exposed to some new names and return to some familiar poets. This was a joy to read and beautiful to look at. The images are gorgeous, illustrator Mellissa Castrillon did a fantastic job bringing to life the feeling of each season and the joys gardening and nature can bring.

Final Thoughts: I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates nature and gardening and are interested in poetry but doesn’t know where to start. There is a wide variety of types and topics to find something anyone will love.

[Vijayalakshmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this anthology of poetry promises growth and wholeness, and it certainly delivered that for me. I've been reading a few poems a day, for the past couple of weeks, and I've found it incredibly relaxing and/or reflective. Progressing across the seasons (in the US), the poetry, takes us through the garden as it transforms, while also tying them to everything we experience as humans. So, it's not just toxic positivity about sunshine and happiness that we get, but also the dark days, or the days just spent waiting. We move through grief, and loss and injustice, and see how engaging with the soil, and growing plants can be healing. I'm interested these days in the idea of collective/community care, and gardens — the growing of food, specifically, is an idea that comes up again and again as something essential to bringing people together, in everything I read about the topic. Reading these poems, I can see why. Each of the sections (pertaining to a season) is introduced by one of the featured poets, who narrates a personal anecdote related to gardening, and how that connected to something important in their life and shares a recipe that stars fruits/vegetables that are seasonal. The anecdotes were beautiful and moving, and I fully intend to try out the recipes. This is a beautiful, joyful book, and it would make a lovely gift for friends who like gardening and/or poetry.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess Taylor is the editor of a beautiful poetry book. She brings the garden into more light. Then, gifts us with the bounty of words, flowers and fruit. Wendell Berry is one of the many famous poets included in "Leaning Toward Light. There is no shame if a poet's words have never come through your lips or been heard by your unsealed ears. Now, today, is the time you waited anxiously for a new serendipitous moment.

Each poem spoons up its worthiness, it's celebration of light, soil and seed. Laura Villareal writes about uncontrolled happiness when the last days of winter forks up beauty after a snow. Gerard Manley Hopkins looks afar and wonders what if. He is filled with praise for what we hold in our hands now. If we hush, there is the infinitesimal movement of a new bud. Again, there is Tess Taylor writing about an Artichoke. Never seen a dragon? There are "dragon scales" you must hand pick.

.The poetry, prose and Art are amazing. There is nothing to take for granted. It is a heavy treasure chest filled with love and connection.By the way, among the flowers and fruit are recipes. Have a cucumber. How much? The only cost is a lullaby. Complimentary copy from Storey Publishing

[Megs_Ginelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaning toward Light is an absolutely beautiful collection of poetry about gardens and plant life from a wide range of mainly contemporary poets.

With all the negativity and tragedy that’s going on in our world, this book reminds me of the goodness and purity there is in the natural world, and how we can be a part of that. By slowing down and paying attention, we can find peace and connection. A garden teaches us to take care of others as well as ourselves.

The book is set up in the cycle of a garden through the year, from planting and sprouting, to growing and tending, being and waiting, grieving and release, the harvest, all leading to winter. The artwork by Melissa Castrillon is gorgeous.

There are several recipes throughout the book, going along with a season and personal story.

The imagery in the writing is outstanding. I love how gardening teaches us to “live always in the possible” (Jason Myers, “Closing In”). It’s a state in which we should all wish to live.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Storey Publishing, and Tess Taylor for the opportunity to read and review this work.

[Dezirah Remington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaning Toward the Light Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them
Edited by Tess Taylor

Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the e-ARC
Available August 29, 2023

You see a woman of a certain age,/not old, yet seeing every sign /of how the world will change her./More and more, you’ll find her in the garden/but not for onions or potatoes. /She wants blooms, color,/a breaking in the earth’s disorder.”
~Cleopatra Mathis

This is a broad collection of poetry, spanning from Keats to some very contemporary pieces, this is not you grandmother’s garden poetry collection. Here there is love and loss and passion. Poems that invoke the pain of history and a demand to be seen.

This is the work we have always know –/ pulling food and flowers from a pile of earth./The difference, now: my father is not a slave,/not a sharecropper
~Ashley M Jones

While the collection is well balanced and organized by seasons, having this many poets from such a wide variety of backgrounds and times creates a little disharmony that I didn’t expect. Maybe this is the point, to keep the collection from becoming too serene or expected.

[Tyler G. Warne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaning toward Light, and anthology, by Tess Taylor captures the essence of art and nature. As I sit and write my own poetry in a poetry garden located on San Juan Island, I fully understand the liberation of a gardens and art. Rather than feel bound and trapped by urban structures, the poetry and the garden work together to spawn thoughts and ideas. This book exemplifies freedom to express art.

Poems in this anthology reflect the essence of poetry. All gardens and the plants within them lean toward a direction. They rely on sun, warmth, and posture to blossom

Any poet knows they lean on something in their words, verse, or intention. The art captures their reality and the expression embraces their fall. Courage and despair receive grace from light. Each poet represents the art. To cultivate more. Depth, color, direction, and motivation appear in the images of flowers. Fruits and vegetables provide the palate for the audience to attain.

Whether the poet is contemporary or of the past, all plants in the garden continue to grow. The art continues to grow with each poem by the nature of the garden.

[AardvarkReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaning toward Light is a lovely garden-centric poetry collection that is perfect for green thumbs. Mainly comprised of poems by a range of contemporary authors, with a little Whitman, Keats, and co. sprinkled in for good measure, the anthology is thoughtfully and carefully organized into appropriate sections by theme.

On the whole, the selected poems are introspective without resorting to insipid navel-gazing, and uplifting without being cutesy or trite. Diverse authorship was a clear priority, and I was pleased to discover some new authors to add to my reading list. The illustrations are beautiful, and this book would make a wonderful gift for a horticulture enthusiast.

I did not particularly enjoy the inclusion of recipes at the beginning of each section, feeling that they were out of place and detracted from the flow of the book. This is just a personal preference, so others might find them appealing.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaning toward Light is a beautifully done small anthology of not just poems but short introductions, recipes, and art as well. The poems touch on the power of working the land, seeing the beauty in what can be produced, and the memories that can be evoked through sight and smell.
Collecting poems and snippets from some of the most well-known, the best, and creative up and coming poets, Leaning toward Light offers something to touch the soul of everyone.

I admit I laughed out loud, cried, and travelled down my own memory lane as I read the words collected in the digital pages. I have even tried a recipe or two so far using produce from my own little container garden and found them to be delicious!

This really is a wonderful collection that readers of poetry and those that want to give it a try will greatly enjoy and appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.