Robbie’s Inspiration – Book review, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023 by Dawn Pisturino #poetry #poetrycommunity

What Amazon says

Ariel’s Song is a collection of intensely personal poems written between 1987 and 2023 that features various styles and themes, from twisted limericks that make you laugh to traditional sonnets that make you think and feel the world around you. There is something for everyone to enjoy: dark poems, love poems, nature poems, funny poems, poems about death and grief, poems about abuse and heartache, children’s poems, and experimental poems.

My review

Ariel’s Song is a wonderful collection of poems written by Dawn Pisturino’s over a thirty-decade period. The themes and styles of the poems is wildly varied, and its body collectively represents the plethora of passions and interests of the poet. This passion comes across strongly in each and every poem, Dawn Pisturino most certainly has a well-defined personal voice that is easily recognisable in every poem in the collection. Many of the poems have been previously published in various poetry anthologies, publications, and literary blogs.

There is an interesting and thought-provoking thread of religious belief woven through many of these poems which I found intriguing. One such poem which I really loved is Nature’s Child. This is a short extract of this poem:

“Her nakedness gleamed in moonlight and candlelight,
Sunlight and lamplight,
But she feared not the shadows of or the darkness of night.
They called her a witch, priestess, sorceress of the Devil.
She laughed at their ignorance –
These holy men of the Church –
And covered her nakedness with rose petals and fern.”

Another poem that has remained with me is My Grave. These are the introductory lines:

“I think that I shall never crave
A home as lovely as a grave.
A restful place deep in the ground
Without a trace of light or sound.
A grassy mound high on a hill,
Host to yellow daffodil.”

I found the first line very intriguing, given the peaceful and appealing nature of the rest of the poem.

I recommend this collection to all lovers of passionate and inspiring poetry.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Ariels-Song-Published-Poems-1987-ebook/dp/B0CWP2MLPZ

About Dawn Pisturino

Dawn Pisturino is a retired nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies, most recently in Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and the 2023 Arizona Literary Magazine. She is a Mystery Writers of America, Arizona Authors Association, and PEN America member. Her first poetry book, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023, debuted to positive reviews.

Find Dawn’s latest post on her blog here: https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/2024/06/03/impermanence-on-chewers-masticadores/