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Politics of the Minotaur: Poems
Politics of the Minotaur is a collection of short poems by award-winning poet Karla K. Morton. The poems discuss times in one’s life that make people question their fate and destiny. It might be a happy moment or a sad one, a big or a small one. But in these moments, you sometimes question your life and what the universe has in store for you. The common theme is that all these events become our identity and come to define us. This collection of poems explores these moments in various lifetimes and embraces them.
Karla is known to take her inspiration from nature. That’s not just limited to observing nature and writing about it. Rather it is seen across all her works with a keen eye for small details and beauty of life, faith and trust in the process, and the belief that everything is a part of a much bigger plan and that there’s a universal force guiding us all.
The title Politics of the Minotaur is fitting for this collection. In a sense, the Minotaur represents a monster that feeds on human flesh. However, if you look more closely, you realize that it, in fact, symbolizes vitality, strength, and power. Hidden inside a labyrinth, to be able to access this strength, one has to peel out layers and layers to truly access the power that the gods have given us. While there are clear mentions of a higher force of nature and destiny, the book isn’t based on spirituality. If you’re just someone who enjoys observing and appreciating the simple beauty of nature and life, you are definitely going to enjoy this collection.
For me, the poem that stands out the most is “The Importance of Coffee.” On the surface, it is because I do enjoy coffee, but reading the poem and reflecting on it, the meaning is much deeper. It reminds the reader to take time and appreciate the moment, look around and see what is right before you and stop thinking about the future and other obligations. Focus on the now.
Politics of the Minotaur is a beautifully put-together collection of poetry. The poems, just like the Minotaur’s labyrinth, have multiple layers to peel away and must be appreciated with patience, just like nature.
Pages: 103 | ASIN: B09NZPWZST
Perfectly Poetic
LogieBear wants to know if brown bears are perfect. His Grandmother’s answer surprises little LogieBear. Grandma Bear tells him that yes brown bears are in fact perfect, for brown bears, and that every animal is perfect for itself. Grandma Bear and LogieBear then go around the zoo and look at different animals while she shows him what makes each animal special, different, and perfect for them.
Perfectly Poetic: Zoo Animal Haikus by Katie Anderson and illustrated by Donna Greenmeyer is a whimsical picture book about different animals you can see in a zoo. Their stories are told through Haikus and highlight what makes each animal special. The accompanying watercolor paintings for each animal were beautiful and attention-grabbing. I especially like the panda painting, it was vivid and had a lot of personality. The layout of the book is clean and simple, perfect for picking one poem to read at a time for babies or children with short attention spans. Each poem can be read alone and talked about individually, or it can be read all at once for a comprehensive message. I can see a teacher using this in class assigning each student a poem to lead off on learning about an animal.
While I enjoyed all of the poems, the last one was my favorite. The message of everyone is different, and everyone is perfect is so important for children. It is stated so simply and clearly that preschoolers can even understand the concept. Individuality should be celebrated and that is what Grandmother Bear does as she shows LogieBear around the zoo.
Perfectly Poetic: Zoo Animal Haikus is a beautifully written children’s book with eye-catching illustrations and charming poetry that will draw in children with its fun facts and simple format. Kindergarten and young elementary students will love reading this kid’s book and exploring all the animals it introduces to them.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B09QXXDN96
LITERARY TITAN 