Sidestep Catapult Drives Me Wild

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I woke this morning from a dream of wild animals carousing in the backyard - so I reached for the book beside my bed: Sidestep Catapult, by Anne-Adele Wight. I found those same creatures described by my own unconscious lurking in her poems. Some animals are hungry; some just curious; others are downright vicious. Wight embraces the moods of these animals in all their complexity.

Wight's poetry brings our primitive nature to consciousness. As I read, an insistent remembrance of my primal side erupts through the surface, illuminating everything. Neuropsychology has mapped this part of our brains. Sometimes it is referred to as the reptilian brain, and part of it sits at the base of the skull. It lives within us and informs our behaviors, though many are eager to deny it.

A mystic teacher, DC Vision, once said to me, "People think the natural world is beautiful. It's not always so glorious. When you look closer, you see nature is savage. It devours itself." He spent several years traveling by horse across the United States, so he should know.

I have my own gut feelings about the reptilian brain. Avoiding interactions with the natural world and denying we are part animal pushes our primal instincts deeper into the unconscious. Repression makes this part of human nature, which is linked to survival, more dangerous - or something to fear. Wight chooses to confront our inherent animal instincts instead. In What Led to the Hawk's Nest, her wild creatures appear unbidden in the civilized landscape. "Florida panther paces towards you out of garage." Later, "teeth close on your wrist." This theme is reiterated in Leopard Flower, "did you order animals for the toolshed?/ they'll split it open."

To our civilized minds, wild animals are unpredictable and cruel. Yet there is a distinct memory of the human world being a part of this:

Eons have passed since we lived in the sea
still speechless
in language heavy-forest
our throats lack bone and cord.

Wight points out the separation between humans and animals: communication through language is what drives a rift between species. Yet even with all their skill, humans lack the apparatus to speak to animals.

Wight's subjects are imbued with light and fired by crystal energies. Her book harbors the uncontainable: the elemental forces of nature and the mysteries that envelop them. Earth, air, water, fire and spirit coalesce in many of her pieces. Crystal communication, plant energies, expressions of water and bursts of air emanate energy and light through movement or even in stillness. Though these elementals travel a slightly different frequency than humans and animals, they are no less powerful. When activated, the elementals portend signs of supernatural importance. Transatlantic Night Flight is a good example of this:

From inside Ptolemy's crystal
gridlines divide the Atlantic
humming traffic control.
Emeralds fall around me
sounding calliope
brings them down in a windfall
hooting carousel tunes.

Is this the music of the spheres?

I love the way Wight posits the final question, set apart from this stanza. She is adept at perceiving through multiple senses. Wight is also attuned to the experiences of the astral body.

Christmas Shopping takes this holistic, sensual awareness even further:

every letter an element
each element its opposite
each opposite a color
every color on fire

Solstice Eve recounts a magic ritual where those gathered fuse with the natural world and initiate a stream of energy that is set quickly into motion.

Four people five trees
how force is number
working here and now.

Something pulls toward tree skin
from the core of a ring of five
music struggles in upper branches

In magical rituals, intention guides outcomes. The act of gathering creates a centrifugal force held onto by those in circle and perceived and expressed through feeling, sights and sounds in nature.

Wight's work is the product of a mind with acute sensitivities. For those who see themselves as a part of the natural world - not just a banal observer -- Sidestep Catapult will provide a jolt of recognition and a renewed sense of unity with our wild animalistic core.

Elizabeth Kirwin is the creator and founder of FairesInAmerica.com, a website that gives insight into the fairy culture of the United States, a branch of neo-paganism that is on the rise. Kirwin is a professional writer, performance artist and Organic SEO specialist. Visit http://www.fairiesinamerica.com/ or email info@fairiesinamerica.com.

I Wear The Color Green - A Most Excellent Book In Green!

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This is an excellent book of poems by Cedric L. Jones. I truly like the way he articulated the language of poetry in this text. When I first picked up the book and looked at the cover, I thought it would be about the Green man of the forest; however, I have found it deeper that the Green man of the Forest. I also thought it would be about the army as a unit wearing green, where everyone is all about an army of one. However, it is much further.

The poem, "The Lazy Days of Summer," is one to drift away with especially with eyes closed. It will take you on a journey of butterfly and carpet rides. This is very memory refreshing. Additionally, "In The Mist," is equally refreshing. These leave one with adventure in the heart of taking that step outside the comfort zone and into another dimension where life has a different perspective.

Jones appeared to be opening his heart regarding love in this wonderful book. In the poem, "And I'm Alone," we find verses as such. "What is Love?" enhanced the tone with a series of rhetorical questions. "I Still Keep Holding On' is emblematical of the fact that he will not give up on love, and "Dear Daddy" further break the images down for all to understand. One will find the poem entitled, "Green," on page 31, which show green to be an integral part of the whole.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is "From the Mind." It is right on point with the theme. The 2nd part is entitled "Some Boys Do," which has a different message from the former.

There are some wonderful list styled poems in the latter section, and/or poem with the list techniques incorporated; such as, "Fingerprints" and "Sigh." The rhetorical question techniques raise many life challenging questions in the section, and the emphasis on the dash is also used to highlight answers and thoughts. Finally, the poems are centered to the left margin, which makes it easier for the eye to follow and read.

This is a most wonderful book to read. It is highly recommended.

Joseph S. Spence, Sr. (aka "Epulaeryu Master"), authored "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), published in seven languages, "A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul," and "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul." Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for Arkansas, and is a US Army veteran.

http://www.TheAwakenedOnePoetics.com/

Absolute Intention by Elias Ahmed - Book Review

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My first impression of seeing the photograph of Elias Ahmed on the back cover of "Absolute Intention" was that he is a handsome man with a penetrating stare, seeming to me to be trying to look "through the photograph" into the soul of the reader. This became more obvious and self evident throughout his writing.

In Elias Ahmed's collection of poetry, each topic is honestly revealed as particular attention is paid to "setting the scene" in the reader's mind for what will follow. From his introductory comments about who he is, where he came from, and why he wrote this book, he continued on scores of topics from his experiences, his faith, his upbringing and cultural influences. His faith is irrevocable in Almighty God as he subscribes to the character traits of love and forgiveness, honesty, education and the pursuit of knowledge. He tells of how to use integrity and faith as a compass in life, and to appreciate each day as it is a "present" to be enjoyed and savored.

Elias Ahmed categorizes his introductions and poems into innately fundamental human personality traits. The obvious ones such as love, lies, pride, friends and humility are then embellished with surprisingly novel topics such as Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Princess Saima, and one I thought rather gospel in formation titled, Mama Said So. Reading these poems it was necessary to "slow down" and take the time to absorb the feeling behind the words. In a way Elias Ahmed is coy and artistic with his creative license and enjoys the time he spent writing the words knowing they would be read by a variety of individuals of whom he does not know.

One lesson learned stems from Native American wisdom of a Cherokee teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person too."The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replies, "The one you feed."

Although the above excerpt expresses a wisdom not of Ahmed's origin, the concept of feeding the good in yourself, nurturing your faith and providing an optimistic outlook on life will result in having the fundamental respect for yourself and thus be conveyed to all you meet is in fact his own belief.

This book is a personal portrait of the author and expresses wholesome and sustainable values. The cover art of a field of wildflowers which sets a tranquil frame of mind in the reader, along with the pink clouds and rainbow signifying a nurturing earth, as that is the "Absolute Intention" of the poetry of Elias Ahmed.

Barbara C. Miller is a book reviewer for Pacific Book Review. Please visit http://www.pacificbookreview.com/ for more information.

The Pursuit of Happiness for All

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The Pursuit of joy is a universal right for all
The Pursuit of enjoyment is a given at one's birth
The Pursuit of true contentment is everyone's birthright.

You may know this that we all strive for happiness
You may now aware that it is always available
You may get it at any given moment, time, space, and place.

It does not require any effort
It does not belong to any particular group of people.
The Pursuit of zest is for all.

We do not need to be rich to be happy
We do not need to be famous to be blessed
We do not need to be recognized to be anointed

It is way of being
It is already within you
It is A PERSONAL CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE.

I intend that everyone is happy
I intend that 6 billion people on Earth to enjoy this life
I intend that we all make a PERSONAL CHOICE now

The Pursuit of love is for you
The Pursuit of life is me
The Pursuit of beauty is for all of us.

Everyone deserves happiness
Everyone deserves to be happy
Everyone must have The Pursuit of Happiness.

We are one all of us together no matter what
We are for one another
We cannot alone in order true authentic happiness.

The Pursuit of Happiness is for the world
The Pursuit of Happiness is for the entire Earth
The Pursuit of Happiness is for humanity.

Are you ready TO BE HAPPY HERE AND NOW?

Jos? Angel Manaiza, Jr. is The New All-American Boy.

Acts Three Through Five of Macbeth

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In the third act Banquo suspects that Macbeth is the murderer, so Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son. Macbeth and his wife have a banquet. The murderers he hired kill Banquo, but his son Fleance escapes. At the dinner Banquo's ghost arrives, and takes Macbeth's seat. Macbeth is tormented, and Lady Macbeth tries to cover for him. All the guests leave. Lord Macduff somehow does not believe Macbeth is innocent. He follows Malcolm to England right away to incite the English king to help in the attack on Scotland and Macbeth.

In act four Macbeth gets ready for the war, and asks the three witches to foretell the outcome of the war. The witches answer, you will not die, and neither will your army get overthrown, until Birnam Wood moves to Dennison Hill. Macbeth can't get out of the habit of killing people. (bum bum bum) When Macbeth finds out that Macduff left to go to England he kills Macduff's wife, children, and servants. The King of England and Macduff start planning their attack on Scotland. Another Scottish lord tells Macduff about his family. For the good of Scotland Macbeth must be disposed of.

In Act five Lady Macbeth is being driven wild by her sins, staying in bed all day only getting out to sleepwalk. His real wealth came when he was a partial owner of the Globe Theater. Nobody knows much about his life after that except he bought the biggest house in Strateford, and lived there until his death.

Bruises Are Only Battle Scars

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Daveda Gruber shares with us how although bruised in life she was not beaten. These bruises became learning tool for her to share with others how they can become stepping stones. So please have your tissues handy as you go from poem to poem reading her story.

Bruised But Not Beaten (Acrostic/Hotan/Book Review)

Bruises shown in each poem
Reality hits your heart
Understanding of her pain
Inner courage for life storms
Searching for answers within
Endurance being mom and wife
Dynamite poems flows from the heart

Battered but did not stay down
Uses poems to find healing
Touching lyrics within the book

Nurturing poetry from the start
Outstanding truth within the lines
Tissues needed to wipe the eyes

Bloody tears as she tells her story
Etched in the heart over the years
Allowing the reader to feel her fears
Teaching others how to endure
Each poem has a story to tell
Now you can read and know of Daveda's scars

"Bruised But not Beaten"
Even Angels Cry she writes
Lost Reality Shares all
Did You Know
Instead I just Cried

Provoking
No Remorse I read
Daveda Leaving Footprints
In her twelfth book

**Bold print in above is poem titles you will find in this book. I recommend it to all readers.

When this book arrived in the mail and I began to read it I could not put it down. The poems had me captivated from the start. Daveda shares with us some of her hardships of being a wife and mom. Her fears are seen here in being in an abusive and controlling relationship. She also shares with us first hand of the agony and torment of losing loved one. A sister she lost and to this day her body has not been found. The death of a daughter..and so much more..There is healing in the pages of this book.

Asian Poetry - China and Babies and Winnie the Pooh

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I've been thinking about something to do,
I've been thinking about
Mao Tse-Tung and Lao-Tzu;

breathing deep, whispering breeze,
wind blowing softly underneath wandering feet,
a horse that is galloping at fullest of speeds;

trying to concentrate all my intent,
life's mysterious
windy, twisting, turning sharp bends;

I've been thinking about a sunset
with no beginning or end;
butterflies flying inside of a dream-
did I dream the butterfly or did he dream of me?

I've been thinking about something to do,
just thinking,
like a meandering stream,

tranquility's waters,
swaying, brown, gentle trees, mistiest mountains,
blue-gray harmonious green;

I've been thinking all day of Winnie the Pooh,
what does it mean the path of Kung Fu, a wise owl
and Lao-Tzu too,

Five pecks of rice elixirs of life,
Dragon and Tiger mountains
and Four or Five books of life;

I've been thinking about the Tao and Te Ching,
about a silent song
not to sing,
and also about the mother of ten thousand things;

I've been thinking about babies and Buddhas
and something to do,
but whenever I start
I don't even begin to get through,
I've been thinking all day
of Winnie the Pooh,

thinking of filling
the cup up past the brim, I've been thinking about
a sunrise with no beginning or end;

I've been thinking of a letter
I'd rather not send, of retiring when
the work comes to an end

I've been concentrating as hard as I might
to think of nothing
throughout the twilight
nothing at all
is what I intend
walking silently
with my one friend;

I've been sitting here
silently under a tree,
awaiting a vision
I'd hoped might come to be;

I've been thinking of yes-
at the same time thinking of no,
I've been thinking about a place
I might possibly never go;

A hundred flowers blooming simultaneously,
a hundred schools teach
contending to be,
a mysterious song
of harmony;

a dulcimer player
playing his fingers and strings
passionately,
in a subway station in New York City;

a bus riding to the top and winding its way
through Newark's twisting streets
of dangerous turns
at the end of the day,

in the path of the bus's middlest alleyway,
people standing
and sweating,
counting the days;

thinking about a road and way through a path,
I've been thinking about
harmony's orderly,
musical, virtuous craft;

I've been looking at everything
in perfect place,
and of five thousand words
and a buffalo's back, a buffalo's face;

I've been thinking all day
of something to do,
of Buddha and babies and Winnie the Pooh
of all life's reflections
in harmony,
of the gentlest breeze
that might touch
the gentlest leaf.

China and Babies and Winnie the Pooh This story incorporates the elements of Chinese religion and philosophies, and is also drawn from the ideas presented in the book The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff (Penguin, 1982), which documents the striking parallels between the Chinese religion of Taoism and the story of Winnie the Pooh. The characters of Winnie the Pooh and their rhetoric parallel closely the cadence and tone of the holy writings of Taoism. Winnie the Pooh was released as a book in 1926, but seems to have been actually written towards the end of WWI by A.A. Milne. The book was illustrated by an associate, Ernest A. Shepherd, who worked with Milne on a satirical political newspaper prior to WWI. The characters look much the same as with what we are familiar, from the children's movie produced in 1966 by Disney (who bought the rights to Winnie the Pooh from Milne's widow). There were a total of four Pooh books in the series that were originally written.

Dawn of a New Discovery: Inspiring World Poems Edited by John Scott with Jane Statlander, Ph.D., Miami Dade College

This is a small collection of poems, original and from several sources, that is hoped to inspire interest in writing and reading poetry. The poetry presents a kaleidoscope of ideas concerning lands, spirituality, children and youths, oppression and violence, school life and struggles, as well as painting a picture of hope.

World Poetry

Dawn of a New Discovery. 384 pages. Paperback. Over 20 poets represented, past and present.