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Dirty South Haiku
Dirty South Haiku sketches a childhood and young life shaped by family legends, Southern landscapes, and the mix of sweetness and grit that sits in so many memories. The book moves through tiny scenes. Grandmas with sharp edges, gumbo secrets, cousins who grow strange, drums and guitars, pageants, honeysuckles, hot sauce, hoodoo, moonshine, and music that hums through it all. Each haiku captures one quick flash. Together, they paint a loose but vivid portrait of a Southern girl growing up around beauty, chaos, and deep roots.
While reading, I found myself smiling at the warmth tucked into these short lines. The poems feel plainspoken and familiar. I liked how the author keeps the tone light, even when hinting at hard things. Nothing gets weighed down. The rhythm stays airy. A poem might nod toward heartbreak or trouble, then slip into a memory of food or song. That contrast felt honest. Life in these pages is messy, yet the speaker holds it with affection. I felt that softness, and I enjoyed it.
Some scenes passed so fast that I wanted a fuller picture, but that is part of the charm. The book plays with nostalgia in a way that feels almost slippery. One moment, we are with a machete-wielding grandmother. Next, we are at a pageant. Then, suddenly, moonshine under a night sky. The jumpiness gave the book a dreamy, scrapbook vibe. I loved that loose flow.
I would recommend Dirty South Haiku for readers who enjoy poetry that is easy to slip into and full of mood and memory. It fits anyone who likes Southern culture, family stories, or short poems that carry a lot of heart.
Pages: 39 | ASIN : B0DXQG5C42
Bridges of Words: Haikus Uniting Cultures From 57 Countries of the World
Bridges of Words is a journey stitched together in three short lines at a time. Esperanza Pretila gathers scenes, scents, and sounds from across the globe, distilling them into haiku that act as tiny postcards of the human spirit. From the cherry blossoms of Japan to the samba rhythms of Brazil, from Norway’s fjords to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, each poem captures the mood of a place without overexplaining. It’s a chorus of cultures, all humming the same song of connection and shared humanity.
I found myself reading this slowly, not because it was hard, but because each haiku lingered. The brevity makes you pay attention. Some verses felt like quick Polaroids, others like whispered secrets from the past. The restraint in the writing works well. It never tries too hard to be profound, yet it often lands that way.
What I liked most is how the book manages to be both intimate and universal. The voice is warm, almost like a travel companion who notices the little things others might miss. A few haiku didn’t hit me as strongly, they slipped by too softly, but even those had a role in shaping the overall rhythm. The dedication and acknowledgments at the start also set a deeply personal tone, reminding you that this is not just about places, but about the people and lives behind them.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry that travels light yet carries weight. It’s perfect for readers who appreciate slow moments, quiet reflection, and the beauty of small things. If you’ve ever wanted to tour the world without leaving your chair, or if you just need a gentle reminder that we’re all connected, these bridges of words are worth crossing.
Pages: 130 | ASIN : B0FHVTBSQ8
Being a Voice
The Life & Times of a Poet is a raw, emotional, and deeply personal collection of poetry that traces your journey from your Caribbean roots in Barbados to the cultural tapestry of Canada. What inspired you to write this particular collection of poems?
I was inspired to write this collection of poems because after writing my first three books, people did not know who I was as an author since I was not telling my own story. So I decided to get more personal with this one.
How did you decide on the themes that run throughout your poetry book?
I chose the themes that are depicted in the book based on the experiences that I had. Therefore, if I was going through a bad situation on a given day, I would write about it and put it aside for the book.
Did you write these poems with a specific audience in mind, or was it a more personal endeavor?
I think that it was a bit of both but I wanted the black people in British Columbia to feel it more since these are some of the things that they still go through daily.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
This book allowed me to be more vulnerable with my writing and to be more comfortable with expressing that vulnerability. I learned that I was not the only person feeling these things and by being a voice, that would help people with their healing processes.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The Life and Times of a Poet
The Life & Times of a Poet is a raw, emotional, and deeply personal collection of poetry that traces the author’s journey from his Caribbean roots in Barbados to the cultural tapestry of Canada. Through powerful verses and spoken-word-style rhythms, Marlo Browne dives headfirst into topics like identity, racism, mental health, love, heartbreak, masculinity, and cultural belonging. The poems are honest, vulnerable, and often punch you right in the gut with their truth. It’s not just poetry, it’s lived experience poured into every stanza.
I found myself genuinely moved by the sheer heart in these pages. Browne doesn’t hold back. In the opening piece, “The Life and Times of a Poet,” he sets the tone with lines like “I’m living the life and times of a poet, / Probed, pushed and persecuted / With people with pitchforks.” That feeling of being out of place and under a microscope carries through much of the collection. And when he writes in “I Saw a Black Man” about seeing someone who looks like him getting arrested, it’s heartbreaking. The emotional weight is real. I also have to mention “Be More,” a favorite of mine, for its open letter vibes to other misfit poets and its honest exploration of masculinity and mental health.
But let’s talk about “Boudoir.” That poem turns up the heat, and not in a subtle way. Browne’s erotic poetry doesn’t shy away from graphic intimacy, and while it might not be for everyone, I appreciated the fearless expression of desire and vulnerability. The contrast between something like “Boudoir” and “You,” which is a tender tribute to his mother, shows just how wide Browne’s emotional range is. That’s what really stood out to me, his ability to be both fierce and soft, political and romantic, introspective and outspoken.
The Life & Times of a Poet feels like sitting down with someone who’s been through it and is finally ready to talk, no filter, no fluff. It’s especially meaningful for anyone who’s had to leave home, find their voice, or stand firm in their truth. I’d recommend it to readers who love modern spoken word, raw memoir-style poetry, or who just want to hear from a Black poet navigating life between worlds.
Pages : 135 | ASIN : B0CGW1M1S1
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.
LITERARY TITAN 