Customer Reviews

Falling Petals: A Collection of Poems

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Falling Petals, a collection of poetry by Joyce Ann Edmondson is a unique blend of religious and spiritual works that captures the joy and love in the heart of the author. Joyce's beautiful, poetic voice speaks volumes in this collection that embraces family, Christ, love, nature, and the reverence of each soul on earth.

I had reservations before reading this book, thinking I may not relate to a religious themed group of poems, but shortly after turning the first page, my reservations disappeared, and were replaced by a warmth and glow of words shining from each stanza. The poems are timeless, and as I read each one, discovered a spirituality that embraced my heart that I had thought long departed through years of a coarsened existence.

I have too many favorites to list them all, but there are a few well deserving of special praise.

'Reconciliation' is a wonderful tale of love, longing, and finally, reconciliation. It has an amazingly simplistic character that speaks volumes with care and thoughtfulness.

Between us lay a veil of glass,
Curtains and a screen besides,
No fear, no pain nor thirst,
No longing he denied.

'To Be With You' is beautifully written with intricate word painting that captivates the mind and imagination -

I want to be with you
At the close of the day
When the sun reflects
Its pink and lavender hues
In the western sky,
Spreads a golden quilt over the earth
And says goodnight to the hills.

In 'Diana', Joyce superbly pays tribute to the wonders of a giving soul taken too soon.

...Among the sea of common faces,
Yours alone separated the roaring sea
Which called to you and yet grew silent
At your final passing

...Your soul was fashioned
From the elements of a common
Cloth, your destiny as one of us...

I highly recommend Falling Petals, but not just for the religious, and spiritual among us, but also for those who long to feel a soothing comfort wash over them from the beautifully written poetry and prose of Joyce Ann Edmondson.


Reviewed by Kathy Nesselroad, author of 67 Pieces of My Heart, and Renderings, Words on Canvas. [...].

Falling Petals is a beautiful spiritual filled collection of poems written from the deepest memories and feelings of the author. Joyce Ann's poems are so refreshing and inspirational, a coffee table book, to read whenever the heart feels gloomy and needs a spiritual boost.

Falling Petals has a poem for everyone to delight and savor in while bringing hearts closer to the Lord. The finest feature about Joyce Ann's poem collection is they are uplifting and encouraging, often giving us faith, hope, and encouragement where otherwise none existed.

I recommend Falling Petals for all hearts young and old from all walks of life, it is a book you will treasure.

Angie Lewis
Author, Journey on the Roads Less Traveled

The Listening Tree
by Joyce Ann Edmondson

The Listening Tree is a delightful glimpse into a woman's life as she discovers her faith in God. From childhood, she unknowingly takes the hand of God and is led spiritually on her life's path. As a girl she searches until as a young woman she finds her place in God's plan-not as a Nun, as she wants, but as a wife, mother and grandmother devoted to her family, and a woman who shares God's love with others.

I find the Listening Tree to have a calming effect upon the reader. Reliving the memories of this author's lifetime and how each cherished memory brings her to be the loving woman God always knew she would be, instills in the heart of each reader that God is there waiting to take their hand, and as the listening tree, God will hear those who pray.

Nancy Lee Shrader
IS IT NOW? The End of Days!

Joyce Ann wrote the first poem for Falling Petals fifty years ago. Several more were written while her children were growing up, and most of her poems were written after her husband's death in 1994. The poem she wrote following her husband's death is one of the most touching I have ever read. After being a widow for eight years, Joyce Ann married her high school sweetheart she had not seen in several decades. She expresses her love for her husband, John, in words of both romance and friendship.

Joyce Ann uses a variety of styles and rhyming patterns in her poems. A few remind the reader of Emily Dickinson's expertise and style. Her poetry expresses thoughts about life, God, nature and family. One time I heard the expression, "I didn't have time to write a poem, so I wrote a book." That is my feeling as I read Falling Petals. The poems are written with an artistic and musical essence reflective of living life over time and growing from the changes that transformed the author over a period of years.

Joyce Ann shows her belief that God lives within each of us, and expresses this belief in various ways throughout the book. Her poetry invokes thought, warm feelings of love, and spirituality with vivid pictures one does not soon forget. She puts words together unexpectedly and beautifully as in the following:

Waking from silence
We shall be
Kings and queens,
Wear golden shoes
And dance til dawn
In the Kingdom of God.

You will want to keep this book close by and read the poems over again while feeling the presence of Joyce Ann as a friend by your side.