Lightning spears through the clouds They bleed in crystal drops Thundering cries rip the firmament Fearsome storms rage around When all is spent, the skies reveal The splendor of a luminous moon
Wild oceans furiously lash around In a melancholy rhythm Laments of a wait prolonged Rip through the crystal sands Until the waves catch a glimpse Of their rain-washed beloved
Poetry inspired by the book cover for W. T. Horton. A Book of Images. London: The Unicorn Press, 1898 — Source.
A book that reverberates with hope and the power of goals to keep us going even in the face of challenges.
The Story That Made Us Stronger by Iris March is a novel that glistens with hope and sparkles with the endurance of the human mind and body. It’s a bittersweet story told from the viewpoints of a nurse and his patient, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. A mysterious building with an unknown past draws them together into a bond as they both seek to achieve their goals.
As Connor Jackson goes around investigating the building that attracted his attention during his daily runs, Katie Brandt finds a diversion in his reports to learn more about the abandoned structure. Connor is her window to a world that is becoming increasingly distant as she struggles with the impact of cancer treatment. Connor has a loving extended family but he has inner battles and preparing for a marathon is his way to find purpose in his life beyond work and family.
This story is about compassion and a journey of healing. The tenderness of Connor as a nurse and Katie as a young mother fighting to get well for her family is the central theme of this book. However, the more exciting bit is the mystery of a rundown building with a strange pole. This part keeps the story moving along and connects the reader with Connor and Katie’s journey. In the storyline about the building, I see a metaphor for the unknown that we always seek to unveil, to understand, and the mission that keeps us going on each day. We all need a mystery to pursue because sometimes what we go through in our mundane existence is too hard on us.
A book about illness, particularly about cancer can be melancholy but the writer brings to us Katie’s struggle in the least overwhelming way possible. There is a distinct warmth flowing through the pages of the book – a subtle energy that pulls at your heartstrings, and the promise of a mystery that you want to solve. The narration is smooth and balanced. It includes cancer information and its treatment. Connor and Katie’s experiences are entwined in the pages of a book where there is a thrill, a budding romance, and most importantly hope. This book brims with humanness and is an endearing read. I highly recommend it for a gentle summer evening or a bus ride home.
Book cover for Andrew Lang. The Book of Dreams and Ghosts.
Cold breath in the shadows Raspy voices in the distance A disconcerting huff Changing to laughter Cold as the night From beyond the graves Rises a specter of noises Are they real, or only I hear Whispers that bruise My soul and tear apart My frightened heart! I shudder and wonder Is it really all in my mind?
Poetry inspired by the book cover for Andrew Lang. The Book of Dreams and Ghosts. London ; New York ; Bombay : Longmans, Green, 1897 — Source.
Book cover designed by Walter Crane for A Masque of Days by Charles Lamb.
Tread gently and stay for a while The crisp summer air beckons Emerald trees tip their branches Swaying leaves give a nod Hear the birdsong in the breeze Sunkissed glades, always serene Look around you, notice the pace It’s tender, slow, in a lazy way
We pursue and embrace chaos The hustle and hassle of our days Sleepless, hopeless, washed away Riding a storm, dropped like debris A wild goose chase; always in a hurry Our souls are tired; we know it all The entire futility, yet we cannot Tread gently and come to a halt
Today, I wrap them up, Tuck them away in a corner The worry and weight I carried I shove them aside Now, I seek to return to words That aspire to be heard
They tore out the letters Wriggling on my lips – These troublesome thoughts They snuck into my space Where the poetry should live With the stories craving to be
I am ready to reclaim my peace Banish the darkness With whatever spell it takes, To let the ink not run dry And creativity to burst forth Like molten sparks from my core.
Blue Pen Strokes 