Customer Reviews

Absolute Trust in the Goodness of the Earth

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Alice Walker seems to love the color blue. I didn't count how often, but blue is woven in and out of the poems. It is like there is a blue ribbon of healing words sent out to the reader.

The poems weave a tale of the wonder of life and send out a call for the end of war and mistreatment of each other. Alice Walker sets an example of thanking and honoring friends for being who they are.

The poems in this book dusts off the reader and sets him/her off to do the work that needs to be done.

"This is the true wine of astonishment:
We are not
Over
When we think
We are."

I saw Ms. Walker read poems from this book last night in Los Angeles. She spoke of how she thought she was done with writing and then the poetry started one day. She described the return to poetry as a "spring" beginning to flow again. Anyone involved in creative pursuits, such as writing poetry, can surely relate to the "spring" metaphor. These poems are simply beautiful and seem effortless as you read them. They seem to come from a vast, open space. Reading the poetry engages the reader in a celebration of life, the spirit, and hope for humanity. Highly recommended!

I have enjoyed the work of Alice Walker from a distance. For years I have thought she seemed like an interesting individual, one worthy of much admiration.

In this collection of poetry, though, that admiration turned into soulful, connected admiration as it felt as if we linked arms and sat around a fire together, her poems as the guiding force to a deep and meaningful friendship.

I never imagined her thinking, as she writes in the introduction, "Will I write?" and then coming to a time of personal quiet following the events of September 11 and turning that moment of quiet into a time of walking through life, asking questions and then - following a Rilkean model - living the questions and holding a word-mirror to her life and those questions and writing down what was reflected.

She writes of sensuality, mortality, vitality... look:

She writes, in "Loss of Vitality"....

"Loss of Vitality
is a sign
tThat
Things have gone
wrong

It is like
sitting on
a sunny pier
wondering whether
to swing
your feet"

I discovered Alice Walker is a woman who writes poems with refrigerator magnets and then writes them down, for us to read and enjoy later.

I discovered she is like me.

Every woman should read this book. And every person who loves every woman should read this book. Maybe even read a poem a day, together.

Alice Walker's poetry transcends the egocentric concerns of the over-privileged conflict seeking few and reaches for a far loftier goal. Ms. Walker states this goal in the simple truth that in order to have peace we must at first be at peace with ourselfs. A fact that eludes so many of our world "leaders". Her poem on pg.179 "Dreaming the New World in Careyes" is the focal point (in my opinion) of this book, and a microcosm of the world today. I believe many people will certainly relate to the topic as they read it. At the conclusion of her poem Ms. Walker writes "Unhappy, but determined to disrupt the dream of peace". This sentence has become painfully relevant today. Ms. Walker's poetry is sensitive and insightful and in todays world speaks volumes above the din of war. For me her writings have become a breath of fresh air among alot of war-mongering halitosis.

Alice Walker possesses a gift that she has continually shared with her readers. In both her fiction & poetry writing she weaves a web of magnificent beauty, keeping alive the hope that humanity and life is good. Her work comes from a source of profound truth deep within, awakening that part that is within each human being. When I feel disoriented or in need of solace, Alice Walker's writing sings to me as a mother to child. I feel blessed to have discovered her writing, as it has been a gift beyond all others. Her poems rise up as prayers to the Divine & I am thankful to experience this connection. So thank you, Alice, for sharing your profound gift with us all.

It's no secret what Alice Walker can do with words in books. Just when I thought I'd read it all by this wonderful woman, this poetry collection took me to new heights. I found myself indulging in her soulfelt musing in bed, in the bath in between times with my children and just any time I had a moment to read it. I read these poems like a novel, because in actuality, it's what they really are.

If you don't have this poetry collection yet, you're already missing out on one of the best books of poetry out there. Get it!

Thank you a thousand times, Ms. Walker, for the gift of your new poems. They literally danced off the pages and into my soul as I read them. I enjoyed the preface and especially being introduced to the shaman/priestess/healer, Maria Sabina. My favorite poem is "Thanks for the Garlic". You are a beautiful, amazing Apprentice Elder and someone I definitely will emulate in my own journey to become......

I just love this book. When it first came out I kept checking it out at our library.

The poetry is heartfelt, erotic, silly and touching. There are wonderful love poems as well.

Her poem from this volume "Thousands of feet below you" is circulating on the net right now.

This book is the biggest piece of literary trash I have seen in a long time. It is a collection of peace-mongering propaganda that seems to take issue with political reality as much as the author does in her own life. The agendas in her poems spoil the spirit of the pieces and make the reader resent the author. The poems are rather sophomoric at best, and are poorly written. Most of them make no sense; you would have to be inside Ms. Walker's head to comprehend her contorted style. It appears that Ms. Walker should re-enroll in a college level poetry class. THIS BOOK IS TRASH. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK--I TOOK MY COPY BACK AFTER 24 HOURS.