Try Reading a Poet's Collection of Poems

 

Today, I am reposting a 2017 book review of a collection of poems by Ronda Miller. Ronda is a Kansas poet whose work I much admire. Many poets publish books of their poems, often with a theme to the entire group. I have several poetry collection books like this. They can be read time and again, enjoyed with each new reading. 

The next time you are in a bookshop, hie yourself to the poetry section and spend some time browsing. Treat yourself to a purchase. Or spend a little time in the poetry section of your local library. Check our a few and immerse yourself into the world of the poet who produced the book. Check the online suggestions at the end of my review to purchase Ronda Miller's poetry book.

Here is my earlier review of "Water Signs" by Ronda Miller. The collection was published in 2017 but still popular today.

Ronda Miller's latest book of Poetry has recently been released. WaterSigns follows an earlier success titled Moonstain, a book I read multiple times and thoroughly enjoyed. So, I looked forward to swimming my way through WaterSigns, poem by poem. I was not disappointed. In fact, just the opposite.

In the foreword of the book, Ronda Miller says "...emotion flows like water," and I found it to also be true that her poems have a flowing trait to them. They move fluidly, line by line, bringing the reader much to digest and like. 

A mystery writer, Louise Penny, wrote a piece of dialogue spoken by a poet that I have thought of often. It came to me again when reading WaterSigns. The old poet in the book says "Poetry begins with a lump in the throat."  Many of Ronda Miller's poems must have begun that way. More than one brought a lump to the throat to this reader, as well. 

The book is divided into sections, each one headed by a very fine black and white photograph by Crystal Socha.  Sections are titled Aquifer, Confluence, Raindrops, Mirage and Reservoir. Each section is filled with poems about nature, people and life as seen through the eyes and memories of the poet. She intertwines the high plains of her childhood and memories with raw emotion. Her poems give a sense of place, are visual and filled with sensory details. They are sometimes touching, sometimes surprising but always from the poet's heart.

To conclude the foreword of her book, Ronda Miller says "I don't write poems, they right me." 

I especially liked a poem about her grandmother's glasses and one that shows Grandmother standing against the wind. In "Harvest," we see a hired man who is kind to children but has another side, as well. One titled "In Japan" made me laugh and "The One" wrought sympathy from me. Ronda Miller bares her soul in these and other poems. 

WaterSigns can be ordered from Meadowlark Books with free shipping through July 2017.  Or order WaterSigns at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Kansas readers can find the book at The Raven Bookstore in Lawrence and at Ellen Plumb's City Bookstore in Emporia.

- July 16, 2017  

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Poetry--Read It, Write It, Love It

Today is the last day of National Poetry. I used this poster early in the month to make readers aware of what we are celebrating all this month. So, it seemed appropriate to repeat it as we finish this time of recognizing, reading and writing poetry. 

It doesn't mean we should ignore the other eleven months of the year. Certainly not. Instead, it is hoped that the month of giving attention to poems and poets will inspire others to both read and write poetry. 

Do you have a favorite poet? Is it someone from ancient days or a contemporary? A person you know? Or just a poet you admire? 

I have several friends who write and publish poetry. I admire these people as they have no fear of releasing their innermost thoughts and feelings through their writing. They have a desire to share with others, and we readers are often the better for it. I have purchased the books listed below and have read them all more than once. Do read a poem multiple times. So much more comes through the second, third and fourth time. 

Books of poetry by people I know. Find some of them on Amazon. 

Moonstain by Ronda Miller

Music I Once Could Dance To by Roy J. Beckemeyer

Asparagus Roots by Jane Banning

Today, Fish Only by Miho Kinnas

The Museum Muse by Tom Mach

Stage Whispers by Roy J. Beckemeyer

So Runs The Water by Tom Mach

What do you notice about the titles? Each one piques interest; leaves a question or makes you a bit curious. It must be difficult to title a collection of poems. Some poets will use the title of one poem in the book. Others will use the title of a theme that runs through the many poems in the book. The next time you're in a bookstore, go to the poetry section and read the titles. Do some stand out for you more than others? Are there some that you want to remove from the shelf and leaf through? 

Have you ever read or heard a prose writer praised with a comment like His prose reads like poetry? A high honor indeed. 

We say farewell to National Poetry Month today, but I hope that you will make time to read or write some poetry the rest of the year, too. 

Moon Stain--A Life Experience

                                                                    Ronda  Miller

"Poetry is our most natural connection between one another."  So says Ronda Miller, a poet who resides in Lawrence, KS. Ronda's poems ring with the bold truth of her life experiences.

Already published in many journals, Moon Stain is her second published book of poetry. She was raised in the High Plateau area of northwest Kansas on her grandparents farm. It was here that nature sowed the seeds to heal a troubled heart and where the poet in her was released.

Moon Stain is the title of her book and also the name of the first poem the reader is treated to. It is, I must admit, my favorite. There are many other fine poems but this one touched me when I first read it and does each time I read it again. A child whose mother has died experiences the pain of loss again when she finds a stillborn calf in a barn. The simple telling of how it affects her brought a lot of emotion to this reader.

Many of the poems reflect the healing balm of the Kansas prairie throughout the poet's lifetime. Others detail her lovers, substance abuse, birth, her family, even a very old coat--all the things that have made her the person she is today.

In Stone Eyed Cold Girl, the poet curses her mother for committing suicide and leaving her wounded for life. In The Year I Went Missing, she writes of what may have been a typical teen rebellion--she runs away and experiences life on her own. One of the final poems in the book is titled Meeting Noah, a description of a visit to the grave of a four day old infant with the baby's father. This one reached my heart as a mother who visits two such graves. The reader would not have had to experience such loss to be touched by this poem. It is so well written that anyone would feel the scene described.

The section titles all deal with the moon. Listed in order, they are Blood Moon, New Moon, Moon Shadows, Moonbeams, and Full Moon.

Ronda Miller's search for nurturing and love has led to difficult times in her life but it has also brought an awakening through her poetry. In her final poem in Moon Stain, Ronda Miller lets her readers know she has reached acceptance and peace in her life. This is a book to be read multiple times.

Moon Stain can be ordered at Meadowlark Books or Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

Read the title/poem, Moon Stain, here. Reading it just might entice you to purchase the book.

Ever Think About Writing a Book of Poems?

Nattional Poetry Month is nearly over. This morning, I learned that a poet in my state writers organization has a book of poetry soon to be released. I'm looking forward to reading it for one reason. Roy J. Beckemeyer is one fine poet.

He's started a blog about the process of writing a book of poetry. I hope to follow it as Roy guides us through the steps taken to do this. His blog can be found here.  He's only posted twice, two consecutive Sundays, so I'm guessing it's gonna be a Sunday kind of thing.

Poets can assemble a book of their poems in different ways. There might be a theme of some kind--transportation, childhood, coming of age, job-related, love, tragedy--any number of choices. Or, it could be just a crazy quilt assembly with the theme coming through in each section rather than the entire book.

If the poet is prolific and has hundreds of poems to choose from, how in the world does he/she do it? I think all writers have their own favorites and those are the ones that will be selected. The ones that shine through the stacks of poems written over years.

Have you ever thought of putting a book of poems together? Do you have enough poems in your files to make up a full book? Poetry books are often short so perhaps you do. Here's a book with blank pages for you to get inspired.