The Invitation [Paperback]

Joyce Åkesson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 2009

The poems in The Invitation deal with emotional, metaphysical, surrealistic, existential and philosophical questions. They reflect over the state of being, encounters, relations, truths, individual and universal themes and aim at expanding the human self-expression and awareness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"We are invited to probe here, among these reflective gifts, the mysteries within and beyond the veil of the physical and, as our receptive orbs meet with Akesson's philosophically pensive forays, to transform our own viewpoints, no matter how realized, in order to ourselves reflect and move forward. I view each of these insightfully poetic pieces with the reverence of one who is open to absorbing the wealthy perspective of a soul divinely sparked to delve gently into the depths of her own experience to bring forth gem after inspiring gem. And I am not disappointed. Rare it is that we are invited to get to the the crux of all matters in an enjoyable ride. Unadorned by trend, "The Invitation" is exactly this. There is a celebration here of the tool of language well mastered. One enters, absorbs and is enriched." -- Melody Lemond, author of "Sea Moon Poemshapes". --Melody Lemond, author of "Sea Moon Poemshapes".

"The Invitation" is a bewitching, compelling break from the ordinary. The words seduce, dance, in Socratic manner, woo spirit's deepest drives to question beyond the borders of the linear self. The exploration is magnificent, masterfully led by a poetic seeker who waltzes through veils and layers that bewilder most. It does not matter what philosophical, cultural or religious background you have. You are free to disagree with what a moment is. The Invitation's ecology moves, touches, teases epic and epicurean nourishment. All are welcomed to this brilliant banquet of budding, blooming queries, linked as flowers at midnight, with Akesson's stellar, silvery shine." ---Lana Deym Campbell, well-known painter and poet. --Lana Deym Campbell, well-known painter and poet.

"I view each of these insightfully poetic pieces with the reverence of one who is open to absorbing the wealthy perspective of a soul divinely sparked... There is a celebration here of the tool of language well mastered. One enters, absorbs and is enriched." - --Melody Lemond, author of "Sea Moon: Poemshapes". --Melody Lemond, author of "Sea Moon: Poemshapes".

About the Author

Joyce Åkesson has an academic background. She is the author of Love's Thrilling Dimensions and Majnun Leyla: Poems about Passion and several works about foreign linguistics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Pallas Athena Distribution (July 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9197764140
• ISBN-13: 978-9197764148
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,467,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joyce Akesson has studied the Semitic languages at Lund's University, Sweden and has previously been a lecturer there during many years. She is the author of nine books about foreign linguistics: "Causes and Principles in Arabic", "A Study of Arabic Phonology", "The Basics & Intricacies of Arabic Morphology", "The Phonological Changes due to the Hamza and Weak Consonant in Arabic", "A Study of the Assimilation and Substitution in Arabic", "The Essentials of the Class of the Strong Verb in Arabic", "The Complexity of the Irregular Verbal and Nominal Forms & the Phonological Changes in Arabic", "Arabic Morphology and Phonology based on the Marah" and "Ahmad b. Ali b. Masud on Arabic Morphology, Part One: The Strong Verb".
She has also published several articles about Arabic linguistics in two Journals, the Journal of Arabic Linguistics (the ZAL or Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik) Wiesbaden, and the previous Acta Orientalia, Denmark. She has also written a lemma about sarf "morphology/phonology in the Encyclopaedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, vol. 4. Leiden: Brill, 20.
She is also the author of three books of poems "Love's Thrilling Dimensions", "The Invitation" and "Majnun Leyla: Poems about Passion".
Two of her poems have also been selected in an Anthology in the UK, "The New Poetry: In Love".

You can check her web page www.joyceakesson.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invitation to be cherished!, April 6, 2010

By 

L. Holm "L.Holm author of Fairytales for Femmes" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Invitation (Paperback)

Poetry must be approached gently with all our senses and faculties attuned to the melody of the words and the message behind them, because poetry speaks to all our senses in a language of its own; a language beyond the ordinary.

"The Invitation" invites us to a landscape within the author's mind, as she observes what is, and what might have been, in her profound and humoristic reflections about the ordinary and the extraordinary aspects of life.

In "Past and Current Potential Lives" Joyce Åkesson tries to imagine past lives, and then she wonders how her life would have been, had she made other choices in life. Why do we make the choices we make?

In "Traveler" there is a strong sense of loss. Loss of self, loss of autenticity, loss of joy?
"I lost my sense of time.
I lost sight of the railroad tracks
which led to my childhood's home."

Some of the poems are expressed as hypnotic, almost drum-like statements,
or as repetitive questions; as "Searching for a poem", "The Adventurer," "Eyes", "Intrusions",
"Complexities", "Longing", "Fire", "Drive", "Memories";
while others like "Conflict" paints a Bergmanesque scene where the couple wonder if they will ever be able to love each other again.

In "Questions About Love", "Some go and come", "The Secret Mirror", "Love's Essence" and "In Spinoza's World", Joyce Åkesson explores the eternal questions about the essence and the different aspects of love:
"to be reborn
through someone else
-with eyes closed-"
and how the world would look if we could not feel any deep passion.
"Love is the Master and the Path."

In "Reflections", "Soul and Body" and "Possibilities" Joyce Åkesson reflects masterfully about life and "the awareness of living".

"The Invitation" will leave you smiling, filled with awe and joy and wonder. It will invite you to look at life and love and everything in between a little differently and you will be very glad you accepted the invitation. Every time.

L. Holm author of "Fairytales for Femmes" and "Clonehead; Once in Everland."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Yet Profound, November 9, 2009

By 

Early Bird - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Invitation (Paperback)

I never know what to expect when I pick up a book of poetry. I think good poetry is spare and simple, yet I hope it can make me think about important ideas. The Invitation does that. It's a small book that gave me a great deal to think about, and I enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it and I hope to see more from Ms. Åkesson.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, thoughtful poetry, October 20, 2009

By 

Amora Rose (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Invitation (Paperback)

I have to be honest...I usually don't like poetry. It seems that everyone thinks they are a poet, but few can pull off something worth reading. This book is the exception: these poems are exquisite. Reading this book is as relaxing as a cup of chamomile tea but as though provoking as a philosophy jam. Joyce tackles life's big questions and presents her philosophy via poetry.

This is a must read for any poetry fan, especially those who are into deeper poetry (William Wordsworth comes to mind). And even if you don't much care for poetry, you won't be disappointed with this book.