Contemporary love poetry, marking the transition from hetero to same gender inclinations... with meaning and value.
DESTINY
Our lives are shaped
by who we love...
(how it goes,
or doesn't)
if in the dark
no one's voice is near
because of this
and only:
* *
Sand, wind, time, waves.
Between the corridors of Los Angeles and Denver - the crush of night, the stark of day - love and loss are as present as the deserts, mountains, valleys, and canyons we veer through... rivers or trails crossed... people and places missed or touched.
Deciding who to love, or even how - is not an option. Either one does, or one doesn't. Even the best of choices can fail, the best of plans go awry. This is the story of our lives. To know the difference between death and morning is the secret of life. There is only the doing or the not doing. One must be led by the heart, the mind, the spirit. And one's God. Without these, surely we will break.
Excerpt
Available in Kindle, soft and hardcover.
Professional Reviews
Exceptional, Beautiful, and Thought-Provoking. By Veritas Vincit on October 28, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Although I haven't read other work by Atwood, I was immediately taken by the title of this collection, and by the simplistic nature of the poems presented in the book description. I have scribbled some poetry in the past, and his simple, stark words spoke to me immediately. His musings on love and loss and life and existential quandaries was shocking, jaw-dropping....revelatory. Capturing complex ideas in simple words and snatches of thought is something that great authors (and poets) are able to do with seemingly effortless ease, and Atwood is no exception.
The power of his verses, even when they are only a line or two, somehow strike deep in the heart of meaning, pushing the reader's mind to fall in line with the poet, allowing us to see and feel something of what he is similarly seeing and feeling. Drawing in a reader into poetic flow is challenging, particularly in a generation where poetry is so often overlooked or forgotten. We are no longer hard-wired to appreciate simplicity in sentiment, but Atwood delivers a collection of emotional weight that looks simple on the surface, but hides far more powerful meaning beneath.
Simple Poetry and Complex Ideas - A Wonderful Collection ByJohn J. Staughtonon November 7, 2014
Short and simple has always been my favorite kind of poetry. Pablo Neruda, William Carlos Williams...they don't need massive stanzas or complex language - they simply need beautiful sentiments expressed with honesty. Atwood similarly shared his own vision of the world, of life and loss, of tragedy and love, with clear, crisp poems that are designed to be mused on and contemplated. There doesn't have to be an academic inquiry into what he meant; this book is simply a collection of language used in its most basic form - to express feelings in powerful ways. I rarely sit down and read through a book of poetry. It's usually something I flip open for a few minutes to center myself or calm my mind from the constant influx of letters and words and syntax that I deal with as a freelance writer, but Atwood's book was soothing and poignant at the same time. I read through it just like a book, and enjoyed the story that this talented poet had to tell. Beautiful stuff, Mr. Atwood. I look forward to more.
Pulls the heartstrings, and brings back memories ByDan Clarkeon November 5, 2014
I bought this book for my wife, and as is her habit, she read a lot of her favourite ones to me, her very unpoetic husband. And by the end of the night, I was actually reading it myself. Richard Atwood has a natural talent to put complex thoughts, feelings and ideas into surprisingly simple seeming verses. Even more surprising is that some of these poems are only a very short handful of lines, and yet they get their point across beautifully.
At several points my wife cried as she read the poems to me, and I’m willing to admit they tugged my heartstrings as well making me remember some of the sadder moments in my life. And then I’d hear another poem and the sadness would lift as his words made me remember the love of my life, or moments of kindness I had received and shared with my friends and family.
I’ve listened to poetry before and even enjoy several pieces, but this was the first time I actually sat down wanting to hear more. I can’t recommend this book enough.
This is a book of free verse poetry that addresses the seven main tests in life and offers some sensible solutions to passing those tests with minimal discomfort.
A further collection of poems, many from years in the Middle East, but also the California San Francisco and Central Coast areas (Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur, Berkeley, etc.).
