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Finding a Balance Paperback – January 14, 2015
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- Print length50 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherXLIBRIS
- Publication dateJanuary 14, 2015
- Dimensions6 x 0.13 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101503528006
- ISBN-13978-1503528000
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Product details
- Publisher : XLIBRIS (January 14, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 50 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1503528006
- ISBN-13 : 978-1503528000
- Item Weight : 3.03 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.13 x 9 inches
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Lauren writes poetry, memoir, and fiction short stories who lives in California with her husband of thirty-three years and their chocolate lab; they have two grown children. She has authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). Her latest book, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose was published in 2021. And in 2022, she contributed four poems to the anthology: Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships. Lauren writes about family, experiencing loss, finding joy in the smallest things, and nature from her many backpacking and camping adventures.
Parallel to her passion for writing is her love for reading. Whether it is a gripping thriller or a heartwarming romance, she enjoys exploring different worlds and meeting diverse characters, drawing similarities to reality that translate into her own writing. Her writing projects are sometimes serious – drawn from painful subjects and raw emotions - or they spotlight her silly side – pulled from humorous moments captured in photographs.
Lauren is inspired to write from her love of nature and the marvelous wild world that surrounds her: the smell of the woods, the sound of a babbling brook, and the chorus of birds singing. Recent backpacking trips with her husband along the California coast and Sierra Nevada mountains have stirred up thoughts to pen about love, lost friendship, family, and the possibility that anything can happen. Hikes along the Paper Mill Creek remind her that life is fragile. From trout hatchlings to swallowtail butterflies, Lauren marvels at how the world is interconnected and that every living thing matters. She hopes her readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in her poetry and stories - some detail that resonates with them beyond her words.
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The poet's shock at the news is clearly described in her poem The Cards We're Dealt, a saying I use myself in relation to my own family's illnesses. This is a quote from the opening stanza:
"We sail through life smoothly
until a wave knocks us down
with no means for escaping
no turning around or backing away"
Seeing our loved ones in pain and ill and not being able to do anything about it is one of the heaviest burdens a mother can bear. These words say it all:
"Shaking my head,
I lie in beads of sweat'
gripping the edge,
waiting to fall
into the depths ..."
From Reality's Edge
Not all the poems are about chronic illness. Many are about the poet's love for her family and her husband of 26 years. There are some delightful romantic poems in this collection. The one I enjoyed the most is called The Box:
"You placed it in my hands, adorned with a red bow
only a short clip of time had passed by our window
After pulling out tissue paper of white
I was entranced by the amazing sight
For inside was a lifetime together
and a house to be filled by the love we would gather
The walls stood bare waiting for memories to dress
showing reasons for us feeling truly blessed
The best gift of all, thought, I am thrilled to say
was your heart at the bottom, committed to stay"
I have read another book by this poet and find her writing and poetry to be simple and genuine, filled with realistic emotions and thoughts and not couched in complex wording that is difficult to decipher and understand. There is poetic strength in simplicity.
Most of the poems rhyme, some subtly and some more pronounced. I generally prefer free-form poetry, but there are some lovely pieces in here including a selection of haiku. A few of my favorites were: Pillow, Healing, Refreshing, and Butterflies to Stay.
For an example of her poetry, this is the first stanza of Healing:
Gasping for air
with my head underwater
lungs on the verge
of exploding
I’m in orbit
heading into a world
of other dimensions
where gravity
has no bearing…
Yet, her journey remains hopeful. ("I believe highlights of/optimism would be an/appealing change/Then I’ll start to pave/a new path and/be on my way.") There are smiles in these pages. Blessings are never discounted in the face of adversity. There is the comfort of loving and being loved to overcome disappointment and fear of loss. The strength of Lauren’s poetry is in its necessity in her life, its romantic expression, its healing composure, and its enthusiasm for the magic and meter of words and the perfect balance between what they disclose and leave unrevealed.
"… what lies beneath/could tangle one’s feet/but sometimes choice/isn’t an option/and your toes get sucked in/before realization pays you a visit/and you struggle beyond words/to keep your head above water/trying to protect what’s in your heart/what truly matters."
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Joanna Ahbourn