Soul Ache

Sometimes you feel numb – numb to whatever it is going on in your life. You’re not necessarily sad or mad, but you aren’t happy either.

You feel that if you slip away and attempt to feel something, it will all get better. But it doesn’t, it never does. You’re probably sick of hearing: ‘You’re not alone, just be happy, it’ll pass, your life isn’t that bad.’ Just feel it out. Feel your pain and know that it’s ok to feel numb.

This is your permission slip to not fully know what you’re feeling, and an explanation for why you’re feeling that way.

Somnambulist Chronicles

months of wondering what the hell happened, and if it was a dream or not. finally arriving upon an affirming decision, only to second-guess myself again. all those things they say about emotional young women: rape accuser, attention whore. why am i the one at fault? you did this to me? all i did was type it out. but you are the one who wrote me this. and you know what? let the blood boil. it was never ego going to my head. it was blood rushing to my head. just like it happened then. and all the nerves permanently stained by emotional memory; the ones that are supposed to be sacred to a woman. the ones that were mine, but you made yours. a tragic haunting: they speak to me in the night. and after years of waiting, wondering what can i do? they whispered to me, closely in my ear: write the book.

Something More

Whether one takes the road less-traveled, or takes the well-traveled road more slowly, each choice is a deliberate one made on the calculated chance that, perhaps, such particular choice will yield an ever-desired, but always elusive 'something more' that will grace one’s life. For example: the unexpected perception of something sublime in the ordinary; the mysteries of an open door; a new awareness of a familiar voice; intrigues of a fragrant hour; the thrill of a sudden, new consciousness-raising thought or emotion; any ‘something more’, really, that at once sustains us and comforts us.

In this book, it is these moments of experiencing something more that author, John Swearingen, shares with the reader, in verse form, the delight he found in each such moment of experiencing something more, hoping they, too, will be delighted in the telling.

Soldier's Poems

In this powerful and moving collection, Vietnam War veteran Every Man bares his soul through poetry that vividly captures the fear, anguish, camaraderie and haunting memories of war. With stark imagery and raw emotions, these verses transport the reader to the jungles of Vietnam, inside the mind of a young soldier thrust into unimaginable horrors. His words give an unflinching look at the brutal realities of combat and its lifelong aftershocks, including the challenges of returning home to a society that doesn’t understand.

Covering his tours of duty and the decades that followed, these poems grapple with themes of survival, grief, alienation, and the struggle to heal from the physical and psychological trauma of war. While the Vietnam War is the focal point, many of the poems draw parallels to other conflicts and deliver a thought-provoking commentary on war in general. This timely and timeless collection is a must-read for veterans, their loved ones, and anyone seeking to better understand the true costs of combat and the resilience of the human spirit. A Soldier’s Poems ensures that the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and the realities they faced will never be forgotten.

Softness and Steel - A Poet's Way

Karlene Logan’s debut collection of romantic poetry reflects the deep feelings and emotions of hearts in love at every age.

Strong, beautiful, and heartfelt, her poems will leave a hopeful mark on your mind and heart long after the last page is turned.

Situetry: Living in Pandemica

Situetry: Living in Pandemica addresses a townspeople’s fears, disputes, confusion, and optimism through Stephanie’s eyes. Emotions riding high through tension and frustration, citizens wait to win back their world from a dangerous virus while their lives hang in the balance. Living in gloomy conditions, citizens feel challenged for many reasons. A personal necessities shortage ensued as in-demand items are hoarded by almost everyone possible. Residents were agitated and fearful because they believe that being governed by others, their rights are being taken away. Eventually, this led to a war among pro-mask and anti-mask adult citizens that trickled down to the young. Making memories were crushed as locals could not frequent hangouts for celebrations, good eats, and laughter with friends. Social distancing forced different approaches about intimacy and sexual activities. Citizens speculated what normalcy will be like come Halloween, the holiday season, and a new year. If that new year will be normal at all.

Singing Down the Rain

Poetry can be viewed as a reflection, a song, if you will, of society in the time it is written, but at the same time, it is timeless in the continuum of past, present, and future. In the dance of words, the reader will follow the Rorschach Ink Blots in the dance of words to find meaning in the visual imagery presented here.

She Said!

In the end, life is but memories of time. The time we are given to form these memories are very limited. Yet, most of us get stuck in our loop of beliefs, thoughts, and actions, that we write and rewrite the same story, with the same ink. And at the end, we realize our life is not the story we hoped to read, or it is just a page in an otherwise empty book.  

This poetry book reflects life that resonates with most of us. It is a book that attempts to see and review each life through each own lens. To embrace growth through failure, to learn from mistakes, to champion self-acceptance and self-love, to embrace our differences and to accept change. It is a book of awareness of self and others. 

Serenity

Can we find within ourselves the ability to achieve serenity?

Serenity, I’m told, is the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. But how do we accept the things we cannot change, muster the courage to change the things we can, and gain the wisdom to know the difference?

Join Melanie on her tumultuous journey from chaos and destruction, navigating the highs and lows, hitting rock bottom, and striving to find that elusive state of serenity. Some will stay by her side, while others will leave, each playing a role in the boundaries set and the solutions, if any, discovered. Who will offer help, and who will bring pain and sadness as Melanie traverses these challenging times, places, and seasons?

Will she learn to accept and let go? Will she find the courage needed? Will she be wise enough to make the right choices? Ultimately, who really wins – the person holding on or the one letting go?

Searching Home

Something good isn’t always good. Something bad isn’t always bad.

Good thing then isn’t always good now. Bad thing now isn’t always bad later.

Something good for you isn’t always good for me.

Something bad for me isn’t always bad for someone else.

A good choice isn’t always the best,

A bad choice isn’t always that bad.

And sometimes it’s better to make bad choices than only good ones.

Some bad choices are detrimental, but even that isn’t the end. 

Some reach their destination sooner than others.

The destination is when you are no longer dreaming,

When you’ve achieved and accomplished,

And when you are good, you’re left with this question: ‘Was this the best?’

I stop trying to reach the destination.

I made some bad choices.

I made some good choices.

I lost some things.

I gained some things.

And then I pause, and think,

‘It wasn’t that bad after all.’

- Shiona Lee

Rushing to Red Lights

Never stop looking at the beauty in ordinary places! How often do you allow yourself to really look at the divine in the world around you? Take some time to connect with your soul, with your loved ones, with the trees and water.

Poetry helps us find our place in the world. It lives in our bodies and desires to be expressed. We are all poets once we learn the diverse ways in which we can express ourselves. Today more than ever I believe we need to find our creative outlets to deal with feelings of isolation, disconnection, and rising fears of unrest in our world.

This morning, I had to take a little time for self-reflection. This morning my heart was too heavy to hold back my tears. I knew my heart needed grace and balancing in a time that felt overly troublesome. There are times when the information coming in from every place outside my head feels unsafe as a response to social media, TV, the continual stream of angry sad hurting people pointing fingers with no grace in their hearts.

Reflections of a Prisoner

In this book, you will find short poems about different things in life. It’s based on thoughts and feelings of a prisoner of their own mind, along with a tad of personal dealings which we try in life to hang onto hope.