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From Where I Stand
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From Robert Zimmermann comes From Where I Stand, an emotional debut poetry collection. Zimmermann explores strained parental relationships, loss of life, and the despair associated with grief. Alongside these darker themes, he delves into the small areas of life that often go unnoticed but become the hope we are searching for.
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Nov 04, 2012
Robert Zimmermann
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have-in-colorado
I'm the poet who wrote this....I won't be rating it for obvious reasons. I hope those who read it enjoy it :)
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Robert Zimmermann has created a beautiful and moving collection. You can feel from the strength of his words that the poet's whole life has been leading toward it. Zimmermann is above all an honest observer, laying his own struggles bare and appreciating the nature around him. If you want a debut collection that gets stronger with every poem you read, From Where I Stand is for you.
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"Where I Stand" by Robert Zimmermann is a beautiful collection of poetry. As a woman who spent some years as a single parent, I found "Living with Koopa" especially heartbreaking. Well worth checking out. I think that you will love it.
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Robert's poetry collection is a fresh breath of reality but displayed in a poetic way. In his collection, as a poet he conveys his words in a way that tells a story without writing a novel. His poetry reaches out and sucks you in, leaving you to wonder what will happen next in a sense. His poems are so personal and heartfelt that there is no doubt the author put a lot of work, time, and effort into creating poetry that could reach his readers in relatable ways. The entire collection came out bea
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This is an astounding collection of poems that has really blown me away. The heartfelt, honest, moving, and down-to-earth writing style developed by the author makes of this poetry collection an amazing read, even if you are not too familiar with poetry (just like me). Forget about cryptic poems whose meaning you cannot figure out; these poems will speak right to your heart, and they feel as if the author is talking right to you while chatting over a cup of tea (or coffee). Some of the poems hit
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Thank you, Robert, for this amazing contemporary poetry collection. I haven't cracked open a book of poetry in years, but I was admittedly curious about this one because I had heard such good things about it. More than poems, these were stories told in prose that felt very real and raw. Some were full of the simple beauty of the moment and others were full of heartache, anger, and pain. Wonderfully done.
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From Where I Stand mixes memoir with fiction in poetic form.
Children of the 80’s will especially relate to the beginning poems (or anyone who grew up with a domineering father who treated offspring like insubordinates rather than loved ones). I loved the poem titled “Living With A Koopa” (a title I appreciate even more as I type it here and consider its significance). The poem starts out with the Super Nintendo two brothers receive one Christmas, “It was, and still is, one of the most expensive ...more
Children of the 80’s will especially relate to the beginning poems (or anyone who grew up with a domineering father who treated offspring like insubordinates rather than loved ones). I loved the poem titled “Living With A Koopa” (a title I appreciate even more as I type it here and consider its significance). The poem starts out with the Super Nintendo two brothers receive one Christmas, “It was, and still is, one of the most expensive ...more
I will admit that I am not very educated in the skill of writing/reading poetry. My husband loves poetry so he has exposed me to some of the greats. I just recently met Robert Zimmermann and he asked me to read his book. I still won’t claim to understand most poetry, but I can honestly say that his work affected me and my emotions.
This book contains poems that led me on a journey of life struggles and the courage to become comfortable in my own skin. Usually poems are worded in a way that I just ...more
This book contains poems that led me on a journey of life struggles and the courage to become comfortable in my own skin. Usually poems are worded in a way that I just ...more
The Good: Some say that poetry is no longer accessible to the “everyman”. Poets write for other poets, in some high-handed language that is akin to double speak. Sometimes, I wonder if the poet even knows what he/she is writing. This is why so few people read poetry anymore.Robert Zimmermann’s debut book is in no way typical. It is full of raw emotion that triggers a visceral reaction in its readers.
It is obvious from the moment you read the first poem that this is a personal collection. There ...more
It is obvious from the moment you read the first poem that this is a personal collection. There ...more
At first glance, “From Where I Stand” gives the impression of a solid body of contemporary poetical work. Looking closer, it is revealed to be so much more. Zimmermann’s collection of work is viscerally stunning. He combines autobiographical themes and marries them with lyrical fiction elements to create bodies of work that speak to the soul.
He opens with “Cold Morning On The Lake Shore” - a poem which, to this reader, evokes the feeling of a dawning hope on the horizon that seeps through the cl ...more
He opens with “Cold Morning On The Lake Shore” - a poem which, to this reader, evokes the feeling of a dawning hope on the horizon that seeps through the cl ...more
i have just finished this and given i am not a big fan of poetry i did read this all the way to the end. it is a gritty and realistic life expressed through poetry and often it gets quite harsh in its realism, you get a real view into the authors mind with this book and i would recommend to all, it is book that can appeal to all types and i would class it as adult poetry. i would like to see more by this author especially if he wrote some fictional short stories. i rate this book five stars for
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This book is about this authors life. He opens his heart through beautiful, sad words written with pure soul. You feel for the little boy who's fears he shares with us all. You must admire the man who he has become today. His poetry is raw, spoken from life experience. Fall leaves, Will You Join Me, A Storm On Two Fronts, Blue Suit, just a few of my favs. The whole book blew me away. Thank you for sharing Rob. I would have given more than five stars...
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I haven't read poetry in years...and years! There's a reason for that. I hated all those classes discussing what they could possibly mean. I mean really? Shouldn't you be able to tell that from what's written. This is NOTHING like that. The author takes you through a lot of emotions in a very real way. In a way that you can relate to. Definitely a MUST read for EVERYONE...especially if you don't think that you like poetry. You will probably change your mind!
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From Where I Stand is a heartfelt collection of poetry. You get a glimpse into the poet’s life and mind. It has clearly been a tough journey and I admire him for writing it down for us all to read. My favorite is Cold Morning On The Lake Shore.
Intense. Gives great insight into the author and his past.
Robert Zimmermann's "From Where I Stand" is the first collection of poetry I've read from the author, and as such it's my introduction to both his life and narrative style respectively.
I feel bad about saying that the collection as a whole didn't gel with me quite as much as I wanted it to, though I appreciated that it was a short read and an insight into the author's life and respective trials. I think of the collection of poems, there were five that stood out to me, while the rest felt like t ...more
I feel bad about saying that the collection as a whole didn't gel with me quite as much as I wanted it to, though I appreciated that it was a short read and an insight into the author's life and respective trials. I think of the collection of poems, there were five that stood out to me, while the rest felt like t ...more
Many of the poems in Robert Zimmermann’s From Where I Stand hit me right in the gut. I didn’t expect it. I’m not much of a poetry guy. And, no, that admission has nothing to do with too much testosterone, pig-headedness, or any of the other lovely attributes most men are accused of possessing in abundance. I simply don’t enjoy reading what I don’t understand … and, too often, I don’t understand poetry. So much of it seems to be a) self-indulgent, self-impressed drivel, b) deliberately unclear, m
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Just from reading the forward you already know your about to see a man’s soul laid raw on the pages that follow!
Now normally I look for myself in poetry and I find the more I’ll like a poem is due to whether or not I can place its emotions in my past or present. I went into this collection telling myself, you are not looking for yourself, you are here to learn about this man. Robert really has given us a look at the emotions and experiences he has been exposed to. After reading this collection o ...more
Now normally I look for myself in poetry and I find the more I’ll like a poem is due to whether or not I can place its emotions in my past or present. I went into this collection telling myself, you are not looking for yourself, you are here to learn about this man. Robert really has given us a look at the emotions and experiences he has been exposed to. After reading this collection o ...more
At first I was hesitant to read a poetry book. I'll admit it. I'm a complete dummy and often get intimidated by big words all twisted together. But I was pleasantly surprised by the discovery that these poems weren't Shakespearean cryptic. Not only did I understand them, but I related to them.
What I like about these poems are a lot of them tell a story. They aren't all roses are red, violets are blue, but real life events that most of us have experienced. And Zimmerman doesn't hold back. His po ...more
What I like about these poems are a lot of them tell a story. They aren't all roses are red, violets are blue, but real life events that most of us have experienced. And Zimmerman doesn't hold back. His po ...more
One of the most difficult things a writer can do is tell a complete story in a short medium like poetry. Robert Zimmermann not only manages to tell you a story, but to draw you in completely with each of his poems.
His poems range from the topics of guilt, divorce, growing up, and putting aside your past (just to name a few). Oftentimes his poems are dark, heartfelt, but also laced with hope.
Although there are many to choose from, my favorite poems had to be Childhood Fantasy and Behind the Mask ...more
His poems range from the topics of guilt, divorce, growing up, and putting aside your past (just to name a few). Oftentimes his poems are dark, heartfelt, but also laced with hope.
Although there are many to choose from, my favorite poems had to be Childhood Fantasy and Behind the Mask ...more
Robert opens himself to the reader in this work. He shares his pain, anger, observations as you travel with him through his poetry. Sometimes a writer will hide behind their work and say it is about someone else because of the fear of what others might think. Robert doesn't have that problem. He is honest with his emotions giving the reader a chance to take that honesty and turn it upon himself/herself. I have read the book, but I know I will return to it from time to time. He has voiced some of
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I don't know how you couldn't be moved by this collection. It was a series of poetry that was unrelated, however there was an ever present theme, a few that connected to each other. Hard to describe, but you really need to read it in one sitting. Some made me want to find the author and give him a hug, one in particular "Living with Koopa', that's just how connected you feel.
One made me smile, others broke my heart and some made tears prick at my eyes. I enjoyed it and felt a connection to it, ...more
One made me smile, others broke my heart and some made tears prick at my eyes. I enjoyed it and felt a connection to it, ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Robert expressed how he felt about different situations in life. As I read this book of poems - I felt I could relate on many levels. I also enjoyed being able to be inside someone's head and how they/he felt in many cases about particular relationships.
I am glad I will have this book to look back on and refer to when I want to "not" feel lonely in life and that there are others out there feeling like I do.
Thank you Rob for this book!!!
I look forward to reading more ...more
I am glad I will have this book to look back on and refer to when I want to "not" feel lonely in life and that there are others out there feeling like I do.
Thank you Rob for this book!!!
I look forward to reading more ...more
Zimmerman is brave, honest, wounded & sexy. A young poet making his own way through a world in which the adults who reared him were hopelessly lost, he pens an earnest, honest account of moments in a wounded past. More than a collection of poems, this is a story. A story of a soul desirous of beauty, acceptance, release, healing, and redemption. I dare you to think of MarioKart in the same way after reading this collection.
I'll start by saying that I am not usually a big fan of poetry. I feel that you almost need to be a poet to understand or appreciate most of the poetry I have attempted to read in the past. From Where I Stand is NOT like that at all.
These are genuine words, of real, often relatable experiences, written in a style that is easy to read. These poems feel very personal and I admire the author for putting himself out there and revealing so much of his inner self. ...more
These are genuine words, of real, often relatable experiences, written in a style that is easy to read. These poems feel very personal and I admire the author for putting himself out there and revealing so much of his inner self. ...more
While I know very little about the writing and reading of poetry, these poems were very easy for me to read and get a sense of what the author what thinking and feeling at the time of writing them. some of them even hit home a little bit. I look forward to checking out the other works from this author.
This little book packs quite a punch. Zimmerman's poetry is sometimes raw, sometimes painful, and always honest. Fans of modern poetry will enjoy this volume, and I know I'm looking forward to more from this talented author.
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This is poetry, and at fifty four pages it would seem like you could get through it pretty quickly. don't do that. You will likely have missed so much in here that the book will have been wasted on you. take your time.
There is just so much in this one I don't even know where to begin. I make no secret of the fact that im poetically dense, and I am. but I really do like this one. there is so much imagery, and it is laid clear for even someone like me to make good sense of it. yet I feel like I s ...more
There is just so much in this one I don't even know where to begin. I make no secret of the fact that im poetically dense, and I am. but I really do like this one. there is so much imagery, and it is laid clear for even someone like me to make good sense of it. yet I feel like I s ...more
From Where I Stand is a moving, simply and honestly told collection of poems. One of the most amazing things in poetry is when, by the end of a poem, you have a completely different understanding of what was stated at the beginning of the poem. I felt like the author accomplished that in quite a few of these poems, particularly the ones about the father-son relationship. I also liked the emphasis on individual moments and on looking deeper into the little things most of us overlook in the course
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This was my first venture into poetry. (Thanks to the Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge.) I was drawn to this collection because the writing is fairly straight-forward. I appreciated that the author's message was clear. It was darker than I expected. I admire how the author was able to bare his soul. It felt like the poetry was a type of therapy for him.
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Robert has been writing poetry since the eleventh grade. His writing started as impulsive rambling, but soon became a passion. A few years later, he attended SUNY Potsdam where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing.
His main focus is poetry, but he's also known for dabbling in ...more
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