A Very Kind Review of My Book By One of Our Own, And a Consumate Author and Poet in Her Own Right: Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor...
Book Review - My Secret Heart By E. Lucas-Taylor

. by Samishii Suzume (aka David Humphrey, Sr.)
MY SECRET HEART by Samishii Suzume(aka David Humphrey, Sr.) ISBN 1-60034-687-1 Xulon Press http://www.xulonpress.com ©2006 Poetry 259 pages
On the cover of MY SECRET HEART it says “For everyone who’s ever been in love…and for anyone who would like to be in love.” It is a profound statement to promise so much in a slender volume, and yet the book delivers exactly as described, and so much more.
The volume is divided into five sections: The Hall of Friendship; Romance; Adventure; Celebration; and Sorrow, each section gives and gives and gives, until the reader thinks there can’t be any more verse so lovely or so expressive. It was difficult to choose which excerpts of works to add to this review, as each was more profound than the last read, each work painting a vibrant picture in the mind. Many works fill the heart with joy and some bring tears to the soul, but all will leave the reader in synchronization with the words and the emotions of the poet.
From The Hall of Friendship:
Last Night Last night we shared some intimate words And personal thoughts and dreams, Funny how speaking with you Leaves one feeling alive and fresh and clean.
Eyes Eyes that grab And hold you Locked Within their gaze.
Beauty that sways And humbles you And sets your heart ablaze.
From the Hall of Romance:
The Power The power of your touch Inflames and calms my soul It changes my quiet admiration for you To a love that’s frank and bold.
I Love You My God, How do I thank the Lord For what He’s given me in you? A woman who understands And helps me in all I’m Called to do.
How do I thank the Lord For such a charming friend A woman who’s alive and bright and sexy And who has helped my soul to mend.
From The Hall of Adventure:
The Shadowman… The man came in the tavern And was seated by the door, He was noted by the innkeeper As one he’d never seen before.
He seemed in such deep thought The barkeep asked if he needed a hearty drink “Nay,” said the stranger, “I just came in, to think.
Shaolin Where should I go when I am tired Weary of life and of man, Go to where life is peaceful And I can rest in my Father’s hand.
Go where the trees touch the heavens And I can become one with myself again, I will go where there’s beautiful spring time, I will go to Shaolin.
From The Hall of Celebration:
The Father of A Blackman Is a Precious Thing to Me The Father of a Black Man Is a precious thing to me,
Allowing me to choose my purpose And become the man I was meant to be,
The Father of a Black Man Is a precious thing to me
My mother gave me vision But you helped me to see.
For You Mother Because you are so special I had to take some time To say, when God was making mothers I’m glad He made you mine.
He could have given me an average one Or an “ok” one, that’s true , But He decided in His wisdom To give me one like you!
One who’s been a confidant A counselor and a friend, One who’s nursed my heartaches And helped my wounds to mend.
From The Hall of Sorrow
The Wound… The wound was deep and painful Much more than I would have believed, Especially when it came from a Love One Pulled from her silken sleeve.
The gash bled uncontrollably Profusely from the start How difficult to stem the flow From a deep and wounded heart.
My Secret Heart My Secret Heart is a place That none can touch or share, For sorrow deep and loneliness Meet, and commune there.
Once it was a joyful place Full of light and flair But then came the time I lost my love and life became a care…
T’was sorrow that entered first Searching for a home, Settling down he built a fire And made the place his own.
MY SECRET HEART is one of the finest volumes of poetry this author/reviewer has ever read and Samishii Suzume (aka David Humphrey, Sr.) is one of the finest poets of this century to put pen to paper with such sensitivity and exquisiteness.
Reviewed by E. Lucas-Taylor, author March, 2007 http://www.elucas-taylor.blogspot.com http://www.authorsden.com/elucastaylor
REVIEWERS NOTE: David M. Humphrey Sr, is a native son of Washington, D.C. While living in Maryland, David taught weekly classes on spiritual warfare under the banner of his ministry, ‘The Warrior’s Agenda’ and also taught a weekly TV program of the same name on local cable channel; Bowie 77. He spent eleven years as a Professional Photographer for the US Department of State in Washington D.C. During his tenure there he photographed Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, several Secy’s of State, including Henry Kissinger, and many world leaders. After eleven years in the federal government, he moved into the private sector managing various departments in several well known law firms and large corporations in the DC area. David retired from the private sector in January 2002 and now spends his time writing. He has written and published two books, a popular supernatural thriller on spiritual warfare entitled 'Dark Things', (published by ‘Lift Every Voice’ an imprint of Moody Press) and a unique, practical workbook on spiritual warfare entitled 'The Warrior’s Agenda Combat Study Guide—For Lead Warriors'. Under the Pen name 'Samishii Suzume’ (meaning— the lonely sparrow). My Secret Heart...is a compilation of nearly two hundred of his best poems written under his pen name, and includes many previously unpublished works. David is also currently working on the sequel to his book 'Dark Things' as well as several companion books...
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