A review by author Warren Thurston from Australia. Sometimes we don't reach those around us. It is when we extend our selves further out that make our work become real.
Review: Colored Snow Flakes By Helen C. Downey Publisher: Outskirts Press ISBN – 10: 1-59800-360-7 ISBN – 13: 978-1-59800-360-4
Colored Snowflakes is a journey through a woman’s life from the tender years to maturity. The style of the poems changes as the author becomes more aware of the influences that made her. Starting in the seventies, then progressing to the eighties and beyond, the reader explores the make up of life, love and death.
One of the earlier poems "People" shows that the human makeup can twist and turn in many ways. Good, bad and in between, tolerant, caring, spiteful, glowing all is possible in a wide and complicated spectrum. For people need people in so many different ways.
Two of my favorite poems from the collection are "Ashes" and an untitled piece on page 130. "Ashes" is about mourning an escaped love that left deep internal scars. The images the poem evokes are as if the words are a canvas painting of a tormented soul, for all to see.
The untitled composition is a simple statement that has deep meaning for us all.
Believing in one’s self Is a lot harder than Loving someone else.
Until we as individuals can truly generate that self-belief, we shall never reach our potential as a person or master what we set ourselves to achieve. I found Helen C. Downey’s collection of poems entertaining and thought provoking, as all good collections should be. It is a worthwhile journey to undertake with the author as she lays her soul bare for the entire world to see.
Review by Warren Thurston – Pentales: http://www.pentales.com
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