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The Right Inspiration
Whisk of Dust is a collection of poems that weave together themes of love, faith, struggle, and beauty. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
I’m often inspired by simple things that others might take for granted. I found inspiration from different aspects of my life in writing this collection.
Were there any poems that were particularly difficult to write? If so, why?
None were difficult to write. With the right inspiration and motivation, the words were not difficult.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
I like to think of this collection as universal. They are for anyone who can relate and or just enjoys poetry.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
There has been no change, my desire has always been and still is to inspire and uplift with my writing.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | YouTube | Amazon
Whisk Of Dust
Sherman Kennon’s Whisk Of Dust is a collection of poems that weave together themes of love, faith, struggle, and beauty. The book moves from meditations on nature’s quiet power to reflections on family, peace, and the eternal search for meaning. Some pieces are tender love poems, others carry a sharper edge as they question hate, violence, and the human tendency toward conflict. Each poem stands alone, but together they create a tapestry of longing, resilience, and hope.
Kennon has a way of turning simple moments into something luminous. Rain becomes music, stars become unreachable love, and a whisper turns into a lifeline. The writing isn’t complicated, and that’s part of its charm. I found myself lingering on certain lines, not because they were ornate, but because they were plainspoken truths that cut deep. At times, I wished for more polish or variety in rhythm, but I also realized that the rawness gave the poems their sincerity. They feel like words written in the quiet hours, when thoughts spill out before being smoothed over.
I also felt a kind of ache reading this book. The poems about loss and confusion carry weight, and the ones about love glow with warmth. There’s a rhythm of hope throughout, even in the darker verses, and that rhythm kept me turning pages. Some poems made me pause and smile, others had me staring out the window, letting the words sink in. The simplicity sometimes made me question if a deeper complexity was hiding underneath, or if the point was simply to embrace the words as they are. Either way, I felt pulled along by the honesty in the voice.
I’d recommend Whisk Of Dust to readers who appreciate straightforward yet heartfelt poetry. It’s a book of feeling, of spirit, of small truths stitched together into something larger. If you enjoy poetry that feels like a conversation with someone who’s seen both joy and struggle and wants to share both, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0CZ7DS197
365 Sonnets: Celebrating Each Day with a “Little Song”
Paul Buchheit’s 365 Sonnets is an ambitious and heartfelt celebration of the calendar year, offering a daily dose of poetic reflection tied to holidays and observances, both whimsical and solemn. Each poem, crafted in the timeless sonnet form, is a compact meditation on themes ranging from joy and love to war, injustice, memory, and the simple beauty of nature. The book is structured like a poetic almanac, giving readers a lyrical “little song” each day, grounded in history, emotion, or observation.
Reading through this hefty volume felt like wandering through an immense museum of emotions and ideas, each room dedicated to a different day and theme. Some sonnets shimmered with beauty, quiet mornings in forests, birdsong, a grandchild’s laughter, while others struck hard, tackling war, greed, and injustice with fire and grit. I was particularly moved by the range of references, from Dante and Milton to civil rights leaders and ancient myths, all woven into the poetic form with a thoughtful, often musical rhythm. The mix of Shakespearean and Miltonian style gave the collection a classic feel while keeping the voice fresh and personal.
Some felt deeply meaningful. Others, though still well-crafted, felt more like poetic exercises than emotionally urgent reflections. I found myself craving a little variety in form, not in rhyme or structure, which Buchheit handles skillfully, but in pacing and tone. Still, it’s hard not to admire the dedication it took to write a sonnet for every single day of the year.
365 Sonnets is a labor of love best enjoyed in small bites. I’d recommend it to readers who love formal poetry, who enjoy mulling over a single, well-crafted thought with their morning coffee. It’s a perfect companion for teachers, poetry lovers, or anyone looking for a moment of daily reflection. It made me pause, think, and feel, which is all I could ask of poetry.
Pages: 387 | ASIN : B0F94CSM5L
Resonance of the Soul -Flowers and Harmonics
Dr. Ivan Edwards’ Resonance of the Soul – Flowers and Harmonics is a heartfelt and unfiltered collection of poems that dives into love, identity, culture, struggle, healing, and faith. Each section is like a room in a house built on raw emotion and lived experience. The poems weave together the intimate and the universal, from first love lost too soon to biting political commentary, from cultural pride to spiritual survival. It’s a spiritual map made of pain, joy, humor, and truth, written with a clarity that cuts and a tenderness that soothes.
Reading this book made me feel a range of things. Hopeful, angry, nostalgic, and sometimes just quiet. I loved the groundedness of it. Edwards doesn’t pretend to float above reality. He rolls around in it. His words hit you because they come from somewhere real. The poem about the mango, for example, starts sweet and ends as a bitter lament for what greed and corruption can destroy. There’s beauty, but also a sharp awareness that beauty is fragile. I was especially moved by “My Lioness,” which read like a love song with teeth. He writes women with deep reverence, and that matters. Some poems could feel a bit sermon-like, but even when he preaches, it’s from a place that feels earned, not lofty.
I also found his writing incredibly rhythmic and easy to feel, even when the topics were hard to face. The language is warm, clear, and full of music. No line feels accidental. He plays with structure, short bursts, long breaths, and questions that hang in the air. Sometimes it’s angry, sometimes forgiving. Sometimes it’s tired, then suddenly it’s dancing. There’s wisdom here, not just in ideas but in form. His poems about disability and struggle are some of the most honest I’ve read this year.
If you’ve ever loved someone deeply, if you’ve ever lost your way, if you’ve ever been underestimated, or if you just like poetry that speaks from the gut, this book is for you. It’s good for people who want their reading to feel like conversation, prayer, and protest all in one. I’d give this to artists, parents, students, wanderers, or anyone looking to feel seen.
Pages: 122 | ASIN : B0FJ8KLFTQ
A Myriad of My Life Experiences
Finding Poetry, Finding Me explores through poetry and art the world around you and the relationships you have with yourselves and others. What inspired this collection of poetry for you and why was it important to share with the world?
This collection of poetry was inspired by a drive to create. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the privilege to support approximately 35 authors on their book publishing journeys and realized through this process that I, too, had a story to share. I tossed and turned for months on end about what I wanted to work on and what I wanted my contribution to the literary space to be. Concurrently, I was spending time weekly with a writing group working on honing my craft, and in this space, I was often working on prose or poetry. Ultimately, a large amount of the poems in this collection were written during NANOWRIMO 2022 or just after. I see this collection as the product of a myriad of my life experiences to this point. I truly believe that at the core, we all have a story to share, and I really felt compelled to share mine in the hopes that it would empower someone else to share theirs.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this collection of poetry?
One of the most important things I have learned while learning about the power of poetry is to stop and use my five senses. A lot of my work revolves around the fact that I often struggle to stay present in the moment and stopping to realize that was actually incredibly empowering. It allowed me to be able to write about moments of my life, both positive and negative, with a lens of realism and truth. I hope to convey to readers that they are not alone, that despite horrible things that are going on in our world there is still beauty, and that sometimes just picking up a pen and writing can be the answer that our brain, body, and soul are crying out for.
The artwork and poetry appear to be harmoniously integrated with each other. I am curious to know if the artwork was specifically created to complement the poetry or if it was a natural fit. Would you be able to elaborate on the relationship between the artwork and poetry, and about their creation process?
I decided I wanted to add simple visuals to some of the poems to add another entrance point for my readers and to enhance the way we think about and respond to poetry. My publisher and I worked together over several months to find illustrators and illustrations that worked with certain poems. I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.
What is the next book you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Currently, I am still writing poetry as often as I can, but I have also been working on some playwriting since the publishing of Finding Poetry, Finding Me. I hope to publish a second poetry collection, but it likely won’t be before 2025 as I spend the next year focused on marketing, supporting, and speaking about this current collection. I love writing poetry and writing in general, and I hope I have the privilege to work on another book soon.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | RebeccaPaigeEditor | Linktree | Amazon
until it is streaked with lines
of the world
of my heart.
In Finding Poetry, Finding Me, author Rebecca P. Bruckenstein explores the world around her and the relationships we have with ourselves and each other. She allows the musicality of poetry to infuse the way she walks in the world, stepping in and out of the past, present, and future. Through her work, she hopes readers will turn inward to discover a roadmap to finding their own personal connection to poetry. The poems in this collection range from childhood memories to the residual effects felt after the global COVID-19 pandemic, telling the story of life, friendship, pain, and self-discovery. This illustrated poetry book showcases that poetry can be found everywhere around us.
Finding Poetry, Finding Me
In Finding Poetry, Finding Me, Rebecca P. Bruckenstein offers readers an intimate glimpse into her world through a debut collection of poetry that bridges personal experiences with universal themes. Bruckenstein’s verse navigates the complex terrain of life, linking the personal with the communal across past, present, and future. Her poems, characterized by emotional transparency and vulnerability, delve into a spectrum of human experiences, ranging from love and loss to the nuances of self-discovery and resilience.
The collection is adorned with simple yet evocative sketches that complement the poems, enhancing the reader’s immersion into the emotional landscape Bruckenstein crafts with her words. This visual element adds an extra layer of depth to the reading experience, offering a visual echo of the themes explored in the text.
Organized into four distinct sections, the collection begins with reflections on writing and the author’s journey as a poet, offering insights into the inspiration and connective power of words. The second section revisits the past, evoking a sense of nostalgia through vivid recollections of childhood experiences and relationships. The third part delves into a journey of self-discovery, touching on Bruckenstein’s connection to nature, culture, and her Jewish heritage. The final section, “Community and Me,” focuses on home and family, concluding the book on a note of emotional resonance and hope, even in the aftermath of global upheaval.
This poetry collection is particularly accessible to those new to the genre, though its depth and relatability will resonate with a diverse audience. Bruckenstein’s ability to articulate complex emotions in a relatable way makes each poem a conduit for introspection and connection. Her work is not just a reflection of her inner world but also an invitation to readers to explore their own emotional landscapes.
Pages: 167 | ASIN : B0CQ14R6BS
LITERARY TITAN 