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Gary Beaumier's poems present crystal clear but novel new images - images that are so refined and honed they feel like long-absent and newly discovered friends - instantly recognizable and welcomed with amazement and love. The poems are a beautiful, soft flow of line and language emerging like a rill discovered in the obscurity of some literary, linguistic woodland. This is deeply compassionate and emotional poetry that never-the-less eschews sentimentality. - Henry Stanton, Publisher, Uncollected Press The poet manages to bare his soul in the perfect distillation of words - this is the work of Gary Beaumier. Raw, heartfelt, and aching with all the messiness and longing of life. - Mary Boyle, Managing Editor of Ozaukee Living Local In these poems present, past, and even future coexist, death and life two sides of a coin. Beaumier deftly conjures--and honors--memory as a landscape where endless discovery beckons, where sanctuary may be found. - Virginia Small, Poet & Author ofGreat Gardens of the Berkshires

ÓYEME, the debut poetry collection by Nuyorican writer - Jessica Diaz, draws from her Bronx & Borinquen roots to warmly welcome her readers to LISTEN. Follow along on her introspective journey as she reflects on family, relationships, culture, love & loss and how to feel whole again despite pain, longing and insecurities that may remain. Devoted to nurturing self-love, (r)empowerment, confidence and pride in where we've come from and where we are striving to go, Diaz celebrates these lessons learned to emphasize how healing allows us to embrace our full self. This compilation is dedicated to listening to the subtle whispers of advice from our spiritual guides as well as the jarring jolts of harsh realities when life and love shout out the lessons that our heart and mind need to learn, and remember.

In her debut poetry collection, "Phasing Freely," Tyler aspires to bring radiance and courage to the lives of others. Drawing inspiration from the moon and its transformative phases, Tyler invites readers into the waning and waxing of her mental health journey through a captivating blend of poetry, quotes, and journal prompts. By sharing her story, Tyler hopes to ignite inspiration within readers, encouraging them to delve into the craters of their own lives and embark on a quest towards self-love and authentic joy.

Are you a former evangelical? Or are you curious to learn more about what a faith deconstruction journey can look like? Do you feel alone and want to connect with writing that reflects your theological shifts?Nicki Pappas spent three decades in white evangelical churches. In 2017, Nicki began her lifelong antiracism journey. From there, she continued exchanging core beliefs about gender, sexuality, spirituality, and so much more.In this anthology of free verse poetry, a former evangelical know-it-all reflects on who she was, who she is, and who she is becoming. She holds out hope to spiritual misfits who are broadening the narratives they were taught within white evangelicalism. She's also putting an asterisk on her beliefs *subject to change as I do.

Are you a former evangelical wondering how much longer this whole deconstruction thing is going to last? Or are you curious to learn more about what a faith deconstruction journey can look like? Do you feel alone and want to connect with writing that reflects your ongoing theological shifts?More Reflections from a Former Evangelical is an anthology of free verse poetry by Nicki Pappas who is, you guessed it, a former evangelical. Originally written in 2020, More Reflections has been edited and is now being released to (hopefully) help others who are navigating deconstruction feel less alone.As a former evangelical know-it-all, Nicki reflects on who she was, who she is, and who she is becoming. She holds out hope to those who are broadening the narratives they were taught within white evangelicalism. She's also putting an asterisk on her beliefs *subject to change as I do.

"There cannot be a quiet end..." I had heard once, from someone, somewhere, sometime. From childhood acquaintances or junkies on the streets. And so, here I am, yet another poem book. I've moved to Europe. Sold everything to follow a dream that seems dimmer to achieve now, than whence before I left to chase after it. A life far from quiet in the moment that is for sure. So, forgive the turmoil of the rhyme, of the sequence in which each poem is set. A poem is different for everyone. Means something different to each who recites the passion of the Poet. I hope you enjoy this collection.

The originality and power of Mignano's new poetic work consist, precisely, in not leaving readers any grasping point; they are forced to make a considerable intellectual effort to follow the poet's volutes. And is that not exactly what we ask of good literature? - Claudio Giovanardi.

With grace, candor, and wit, Carla M. Cherry deftly narrates her unfolding as a young womanand mother in her expansive poetic memoir, May He Bless My Name. Cherry lyrically details herjourney as she revels in the joys of watching her son grow, strives to overcome economicstruggles, balance family life and career, assure her son's education, and contend with a lack ofprivacy and a desire for romance as she battles imposter syndrome. And when mental illnessaffects her family, Cherry leans on her pillars of faith, family, and heritage as she pursues hopeand triumph.

"Poetic Rumblings" a collection of free verse poems - most of which were written during the 1970's & 1980's - my personal ramblings about life, its good days and bad days, with all its misunderstandings, mishaps and other unfortunate happenings. Or, it can be whatever you believe it to be! Time, Only Time, will tell.

A poetic & artistic adventure into the known and the unknown. This is one of the few poetry books written by Robert R. Blondin and the new edition published by Author Reputation Press.

Each dreamlike lyric in Biman Roy's Navigating the Quartz Forest is charmingly paired with a small handwritten note hastily jotted down on blue-lined notebook paper-artifacts from his daughter's life outside the family home. "All through the evening, we keep talking nonessentials, / tiptoeing around secret tulips," he says. These notes, like scraps of overheard conversations removed from their natural habitats, become the crystalline seeds of new poems. Side-by-side with each other, the poems act as translator for these somewhat oracular messages from an unknown world of teenage gossip and pop culture references, fitting the pieces together like a shattered mirror and filling in the jagged-edged gaps with the poet's expansive imagination. In Navigating the Quartz Forest, Roy's whimsical poems become a sparkling tribute from a father to his beloved daughter.

'Poetry is a collaboration between readers and author. The author writes his impressions and understanding of a given subject but relies on the imagination of the reader to share and explore the implications of his words. Although we are separated by time and distance, a spiritual and emotionalbond is achieved when author and reader share the epiphany of a poem.'

'Thoughts I Lost in the Laundry' is a collection of poems about loneliness, loss, and working from home. Leia Butler quietly captures the mood of a generation stuck at home, stuck in meetings, and stuck mourning lost socks and loved ones.

Lovers have the tendency to whisper secrets to each other. It is an out-of-the-world language they share when communicating. "Sweet Nothings" as they call them. This collection of 100 poems is a translation of those unsaid, unheard and extraordinary whispers exchanged between lovers.This book is best enjoyed with freshly brewed coffee and a loved one to embrace. "Sweet Nothings" is also an envelope of hope, containing letters to lovers out there who are looking for love. "Sweet Nothings" will achieve its purpose when these poems are shared among brave lovers.

My Castle Wall was written from the perspective of going from victim to survivor of sexual abuse. Within those pages are people who taught me and took away my dignity and true self. Poems and short writings guide the reader through the trauma and drama of my life, unfolded as a victim, and how I was rescued through therapy to regain my identity as a survivor.My story covers events that happened throughout twenty years of my life, being abused by no less than eleven perpetrators. As an adult, my three children became victims of a neighbor, and I had taken them into a children's therapy group. During that time, I was participating in a mother's support group.The facilitator of the group recognized signs that I was abused and asked if I would see another therapist. I went but didn't recognize that I had been abused by anyone except an uncle. Then, my journey through the abuse led me to know how serious my issues were. I wrote poetry that helped reveal my past.

"When Heart Cries," a collection that dives deep into the world of feelings. Imagine over 8 billion hearts out there, each with its own story. Now, think about the fact that we've got about a million words to express those feelings. It's like trying to catch a rainbow with a tiny net.In these pages, I'm taking my first shot at putting emotions into words. No big claims here-just an honest attempt to share what's in my heart. The book opens with a simple question: Can words really capture all the emotions we feel? Let's find out together.It's not just about words; it's a journey through the ups and downs of what it means to be human. From joy to sadness, each page is a new adventure. Emotions aren't one-size-fits-all, and that's the beauty of it.A big shout-out to Gunjan, the proofreading wizard, and the incredible artists who added their magic to these pages. And to my friends-the real heroes. Your encouragement and support turned this dream into a reality."When Heart Cries" is more than a book; it's an open conversation. Join me in exploring the language of the heart, where words become the bridge between us. It's a journey where every feeling is a story waiting to be told. Come on in.

"Teia Dos Sentimentos" is a collection of poems by Mateus Corte-Real that explores the path of self-discovery and transformation through three distinct phases. Part I: Metamorfoses e Despedidas examines the depths of change and rebirth, capturing the bittersweet moments of letting go of the past and embracing the unknown. The poems in this section explore themes of metamorphosis, evolution, and the courage to embrace new beginnings. Part II: Retalhos de Alegria Quotidiana celebrates the simple joys found in everyday moments, offering readers a respite from life's challenges and reminding them of the beauty that exists in the ordinary. The poems in this section are filled with warmth, nostalgia, and a sense of gratitude for the small miracles that grace our lives. Part III: Revelações do Oculto ventures into the realm of the unknown, exploring the hidden mysteries of the universe and the depths of the human soul. The poems in this section are evocative and thought-provoking, inviting readers to confront their fears and delve into the unseen dimensions of reality. Throughout the collection, Corte-Real's verses transport readers on a tour through the intricate landscapes of the mind and heart. His poems are a tribute to the power of words to heal, inspire, and transform. Teia Dos Sentimentos is a must-read for anyone seeking a more in-depth understanding of themselves and the world around them. It is a collection that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute ManThen Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mark 7:31-37 NIV)

This book of poems was written to inspire myself and those around me to stay true to one's self. Growing up, I was always told that I was "too much," too filled with fire, "too emotional." Throughout my years, I've learned to find beauty behind vulnerability and embrace my fire. My feistiness makes me who I am. I am outspoken, yet calm. I am filled with a spark that cannot die. I am not meant to be heard, and I am meant to be seen. With my fire comes desire.

Therapy for the Heart is a collection of illustrated poems about love, relationships, inner struggles, and healing with journal reflection prompts; a perfect gift for yourself or someone you love. This poetry book is filled with beautiful expressions of emotions and self-discovery that will allow you to take a reflective journey in the past, present and future.Samuel Golden's poems are written in a style that is both unique and relatable. This collection of therapeutic poetry will speak to readers emotionally and inspire them to be better people. The poetry journal book encourages readers to reflect on their journeys while providing Dr. Felicia Golden Grimes' mindful prompts and self-reflective questions to explore their raw emotions. Therapy for the Heart offers a kind and supportive voice for those who need guidance in their emotional struggles.P.S: The word "Therapy" in the title is only the authors' creative description for the poetry book and is not intended to substitute any professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Enter into In the Near Distance in the desert where the sounds of a ranch fill the quiet of the day and the night culminates in "a jubilation of stars." Find yourself in geographical locales as well as invisible worlds. Make way for truck drivers, states of being, alcoholism, as well as joy. Stay for a while in Appalachia where voices of family and friends from the long-ago, speak in rich, timbered voices. Stay in grief as long as you need to, mourning those who have passed on, those taken by the pandemic. As sorrow finds its level, transcend with the love of dogs, in praise of children who don't listen, and tree-climbing at 67. At the final stop, humble acceptance leaves space to continue discovering and unraveling the unknown.

"Try picking drops of the ocean with tweezers. Try expressing your grief, rage, fear, love within the tiny, out-of-breath, syllable-stingy form of haiku. Natalie Parker-Lawrence's poems, concocted from the rushing, halting words of women caregivers of veterans, honor the essence. An image, a sound, a memory, a nightmare: capture it: in so few words."-Margaret Edson, author of Wit and winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama."Natalie Parker-Lawrence's book of hybrid haiku, householes, strikes a delightful balance between delicacy and power. The poet also walks the tightrope between the personal and the universal, and she does so in such a way that the reader follows anxiously along, breathless and captivated. At turns gentle, at times brutal, but always poignant, Parker-Lawrence has the gift of the simple line that says much. I hope this book portends the start of a long career of verse."-Corey Mesler, author of Cock-a-Hoop, and Take the Longing from my Tongue."In short, impactful verse, Natalie Parker-Lawrence, shares the poignant and often gritty stories of Veteran Caregivers from around the country. The traditional haiku form evokes feelings about the natural world using a structure of stanzas and syllables. As if by necessity, Parker-Lawrence departs from the traditional haiku to share first-hand, vivid and heart-breaking accounts of those who've survived war and those entangled in its aftermath. Their explosive, shattering and gut-wrenching experiences refuse to be confined by poetic tradition and structure. No one touched by war remains whole. This collection has transformative power, taking us from despair to hope, if only in the knowledge that we are not alone."-Virginia Bryan is a retired attorney, arts advocate and free-lance writer. Her work appears in Distinctly Montana, Montana Magazine, Native Peoples and Yellowstone Valley Woman.."householes stitches the weightless Haiku to the gravity of all that proceeds war with thread borrowed from the women yoked in the collateral damage of the military-industrial complex."-C. (Christine) W. Lockhart, PhD: LT, USCG (retired), Disabled Veteran & Caregiver, author of Blanket of Stars: Thru-Hiking the Camino de Santiago and Walking with Buddha: Pilgrimage on the Shikoku 88-Temple Trail

Tricia Knoll's The Unknown Daughter dedicates itself to the incredible work of Making Known: of naming and describing the complex experience of being a daughter, of asking who we might be as a culture and a country if we took it upon ourselves to honestly do so. Knoll's book is a beautiful, taut series of linked poems filled with myriad voices, each a pebble dropped into the silencing waters of family and history, each helping to recover not just one daughter, but all. These wise and deft poems are conversation, chorus, and community all in one: they speak right to us; they invite us in. They give crucial instruction in Making Known: "sing when the first impulse may be to whisper."-Annie Lighthart, Author of Pax.Tricia Knoll's The Unknown Daughter is an un-portrait, individual and collective, historical and visionary, composed by multiple voices constellated via the titular character. This poem sequence strikingly shapes absence from so many presences. It's a timely reminder that the more things change-socially, culturally, politically-the more they stay the same, and "the unknown" must claim her own narrative.-Marj Hahne, Writer, Teacher, MFA in Creative Writing.The Unknown Daughter is a worthy monument to a monument that ought to exist. This connected series of poems offers acknowledgement and tribute to those women who didn't fit the pattern and made major contributions in science and art. In these vivid poems about the symbolic unknown woman, her family, the watchwomen at the memorial, and even an Uber driver (who says dismissively, "You won't stay long./Tell me if you want me/to drive you somewhere else."), Tricia Knoll makes her own important contribution.-Penelope Scambly Schott, Author of On Dufur Hill

Marjorie Hanft's gorgeous poems in Scrutinizing the Dust create a sensuous world of sound and taste, as well as sight and touch. Both the American Midwest and Ancient Greece come alive in the "complex sweetness" she uncovers as she surveys a forest, a rainbow, the biography of a famous painter, and "the first color in language." Sometimes touching on the comic (such as impersonating the Statue of Liberty) and, at times, the tragic ("My father takes...a new dip...into the river/of forgetfulness," these poems, filled with quirky information, shed light and music on the animals, fruits and thoughts that pepper our world.-Austin Alexis, author of Privacy Issues and For Lincoln & Other Poems. Marjorie's poems epitomize beauty and brilliance in their impeccable attention to details that place us in the moment. We see her daughter's "scars / that turn from crimson to the color of her own skin." We hear the "small sounds cluck / in her throat." And always we learn. In the poem describing persimmons she perfectly yokes the intellect with the sensuous, "in Greece / what are called date-plums are bigger softer / with smoother skin..." Hers is poetry at its most remarkable, as her imagery enables us to reach perceptions we have never imagined, "Locate the meaning / of yellow & you will find that it blinks & flickers/ with intuitive intellect in the REM world of dreams." Together her poems weave a journey through memory, history, art and the vision of words, showing us the delicacy and elegance of language. In her poem "Note to Emily," Marjorie grudgingly accepts "a sightedness" she "didn't choose." Her acquiescence to that muse, despite herself, has gifted us with luminous and transcendent poetry.-Olga Abella, author of two books of poetry, Watching the Wind and What it Takes; former editor of Bluestem and Karamu

You may know someone in this book. In fact, you might be in this book. The men-and women-who fill this book are crushes and soulmates and midlife besties and the occasional fellow you'd risk a morning walk of shame for. It's all numbers, not names, and just enough detail to make you wonder. A boy old enough for a Stoli and a man who cooks by ear, they're both here. A catalogue of crushes, a natural history of noticing, these are portrait poems, some poignant, some punchy, some impossible, all beads strung on a line of prose reflections that make you smile to think about your own secret history.-Ed Madden, professor of English at the University of South Carolina and served as Poet Laureate for the City of Columbia from 2015 to 2022.Kristine Hartvigsen's poems, part micro-memoir, part lyric, part palm "on the curve where hip meets buttock," ultimately choose us. We never forget soul mates and how the "empty chalice echo truths" in a world of sensation, disappointment, and joy." These poems arouse expectancy, explore attraction's belonging, and peer across the room with courage and heart. You'll find yourself on the list.-Tim Conroy, author of Theologies of Terrain (2017, Muddy Ford Press Laureate Series) and founding board member of the Pat Conroy Literary Center.Kristine Hartvigsen's new book is a delight. Her poems (and stories) take the reader on a poetic ride through her life of love and adventure. It covers the gambit of her creative life, her love of poetry and music, and introduces the reader to friends past and present. The Soul Mate Poems are not to be missed.-Jane Zenger, author of Night Bloomer (2022, Muddy Ford Press Laureate Series).Kristine Hartvigsen's The Soul Mate Poems is a must read for lonely hearts who want to learn how to recognize their soul mate at a dog park or in a checkout line at Big Lots. Kristine says what many won't. There is no 1 in 3 billion soul mates that you need to find to be happy. If you know Kristine, buy this book and see if you made her list.-Al Black, author of I Only Left For Tea (2014, Muddy Ford Press) and Man With Two Shadows (2018, Muddy Ford Press), and was named Columbia's Literary Artist of the Year by Jasper Magazine

KS started writing Kyivsky Waltz in 2014, at the start of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity (a.k.a. the Maidan Revolution), to answer the question she was asked more and more as the invasion grew into the monstrosity it has become: why did she love Ukraine so much? Kyivsky Waltz is a hybrid chapbook that uses poetry and artwork to tell the story of how KS experienced Ukraine from 1994 to 1996: arriving at 22, alone, completely lost and unable to communicate, yet somehow managing to find a home and people to love in a new nation with an old history. All of the author's proceeds will be donated to Razom, a nonprofit organization committed to raising funds for Ukrainian humanitarian aid.

Poems in Ear to the Ground remember Stratton's father and mother and draw from the lifestyle that like an album of fading snapshots backgrounds her upbringing on a Colorado cattle ranch. There, she learned to remember on a cultural level, too. Traces of things forgotten in have led her to study prehistoric language; pictures written on stone, petroglyphs and pictographs, and marks left on the surface of the earth. In the blender of language remembered and forgot, she strives to interpret the code. As Lawrence Raab writes, "the past isn't over until we understand it".

Readers of Wild Rain will discover a poet of uncommon originality, sensitivity and talent. Margaret Rooney's unique connection to the natural world and her keen understanding of human possibility and vulnerability, yields poetry enriched by mind bending metaphors and phrases replete with sound, color and clarity. The insightful messages contained in Wild Rain will challenge your mind and open your heart. Find a comfortable chair, curl up with this book, maybe in a wild windblown rain and treat yourself to the hidden treasure of Ms. Rooney's imagination.

Hard Feelings, Elizabeth R. McCarthy's second poetry collection, is filled with close observations of birds and other wildlife found in the Vermont countryside. Through metaphor and simile, form and imagination, the poet transforms these observations into the language of poetry. In the title poem, the last wild apples of the season are likened to grudges that linger and ferment, becoming "sour little/hearts that/rot in place." In "Scuttled Memories," an extended maritime metaphor evokes the sense of time passing when we leave our grief and regrets "stuck in the wooden hull/of memory." Yet these are ultimately celebratory poems, full of the joy of discovery, like the old milkweed seeds that "burst open/the pod door-escaping/to whorl and dance/in the autumn sun."-Angela Patten, author of The Oriole & the Ovenbird, In Praise of Usefulness and other books.In Elizabeth R. McCarthy's beautiful, new collection, Hard Feelings, we enter a world of sandhill cranes, field crickets, spring peepers, odd cats, and cleansing rain. Present and thankful for ordinary moments, McCarthy shares her deep connection to nature and the whispered wisdom she receives. She speaks to us of her preferred world, "where understanding / is the sunrise." Reverently hanging items of laundry in the summer sun, McCarthy writes about, "pinning them in silent prayer," and we experience the day through her appreciative eyes. These are poems that offer solace, even when processing grief. Above all else, these are poems of hope, "for those who / believe in destiny / delivered in the night / of each new month."-Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor of Blue Heron Review; author of The Sound of a Collective Pulse and other titles

Pack your hemp fabric Hawaiian shirts, pop tarts, and petticoats, and join the family in Kimberly Sailor's Holy Week in Cave Country for a pandemic Kentucky vacation! Progressive hip meets traditional rural in an intoxicating mash-up complete with Dollar Store meds and Facebook healing crystals when you need a little soothing after a long day's sight-seeing. Sailor's impressionistic, sound-drunk, tour-de-force lowers you down a zip-line into the rich poetic depths, from which you'll emerge enlarged, newly alive, and thankful you've been "fortunate enough to find caves / below your family's foundation." -Christopher Citro, author of If We Had a Lemon We'd Throw It and Call That the SunKimberly Sailor's Holy Week in Cave Country carves meaning into shark teeth in cave tops, and dares to ask: how did we get here, above and beneath all these fossils? She enlightens us within her rich text, showing us how we can all learn from children, especially our own. She shares with us, "My daughter talks about Heaven so casually / you'd think she visits after school." A moment so tender and light, you're grateful it was put to paper. Holy Week is bark, bite, and salve, all rolled into one. A must read. -Han Raschka, author of Splinters