Customer Reviews

No Rhyme or Reason

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While the Wildman isn't usually a big poetry kinda guy however, I found 'No Rhyme or Reason' to be a very well rounded book of verse!

A few of the ones that got me inside enough to be moved and I could really relate to included

'Beware the chocolate Candy Sale Snake' - everyone has to relate to selling and eating those

'I Love Winter' - I don't, but could relate to it!

'Reawakened Heart' loving someone is huge for your life

'Earth Daughter' - insightful

'Wonderin Youth'

'Ode to an Unselfish Child'

'Man behind the Mask' - Touching, moving, thought provoking, scary

'Everything I Hoped for' - heart ripper for losing one you loved

'Please, Mommy Please' - Sad that it really is true

'Seas of Fate' - impact, sad, you do good with your life

The title is a misnomer. There is plenty of rhyme in these 33 offerings, and a good deal of reason, as well. In my line of work, I buy and read a lot of poetry. Usually when the promotion for a book is as strong as it is in this case, I assume the book has serious flaws. What a pleasant surprise to find one that lives up to the hype. The vast majority of poetry books I've read in the past thirty years are offerings in which the author has a personal 'cause' or a vendetta against real or perceived injustices. This is not the case. If you like Calvin Trillin, you will love this author. Unlike Trillin's obsession with politics, this author deals with social themes that go to the core of our humanity.

How refreshing to read a book of verse that is both a celebration of life and something that is easy for everyone to access. The poem, 'Mommy, Please Mommy', brought tears to my eyes and to those of everyone else I have shared it with. While there were many more that I liked, other favorites are: 'Sailing Blindly Into the Storm', Garden In A Bottle', 'Head Down Into the Wind', and 'January Snow'. It took me about a dozen readings before I got 'Numerology', but when I began to examine the other works more deeply, and then counted the number of poems in the book, I finally got the symbolism in that one poem. All the others are easily accessible, and most of them tell wonderful stories, each from a different perspective than you would expect. The last poem in the book, Tomorrow Is Another Day, could summarize the overall theme throughout the book. I'll let you find out for yourself. I highly recommend the book, especially as a first offering from this author. It's the best $10.00 I've spent since I can remember.