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The Common Ground
Short description
“All life is a revelation through images and observation. Discovery can be through the eyes of another. . . Present to me your mind as a blank canvas, and see a portrait of humanity. Within this composition, the two of us shall meet upon the common ground.”
Extended description
Written thoughts are the avenues into the souls of others, connecting points which provide a common ground of similar experiences, feelings, or discussions. In this collection, I hold the mirror up for you to see your own reflection. This is life captured in poetry.
I am painting mental pictures with words of actual moments in time, complete with the thoughts and emotions of that moment. Think of it as a kind of snapshot for you to view and ponder.
The Common Ground is a poetic journal, though not presented as such, comprised of life experiences and encounters at different ages starting from a young girl to mature adulthood.
“I invite you to take your time and explore the human emotions found here: pain, joy, death, love, hate, life. It is my hope and intention that just as in viewing a picture in a gallery, you will be able to observe, absorb and relate to what is presented.
I hope that you will be able to find and draw something of your life’s experience in what has been mine.”
“All life is a revelation through images and observation. Discovery can be through the eyes of another. . . Present to me your mind as a blank canvas, and see a portrait of humanity. Within this composition, the two of us shall meet upon the common ground.”
Extended description
Written thoughts are the avenues into the souls of others, connecting points which provide a common ground of similar experiences, feelings, or discussions. In this collection, I hold the mirror up for you to see your own reflection. This is life captured in poetry.
I am painting mental pictures with words of actual moments in time, complete with the thoughts and emotions of that moment. Think of it as a kind of snapshot for you to view and ponder.
The Common Ground is a poetic journal, though not presented as such, comprised of life experiences and encounters at different ages starting from a young girl to mature adulthood.
“I invite you to take your time and explore the human emotions found here: pain, joy, death, love, hate, life. It is my hope and intention that just as in viewing a picture in a gallery, you will be able to observe, absorb and relate to what is presented.
I hope that you will be able to find and draw something of your life’s experience in what has been mine.”
- GenresPoetry
ebook
First published December 7, 2013
20 people want to read
About the author
Noa Daniels
2 books3 followers I once told a friend that I was an introvert who masquerades as an extrovert. He said that wasn't possible, but I beg to differ.
I think I'm like most people. We all want love and acceptance. Most of us are terrified to put our real selves out there, so we put a safe someone out there to hide behind. And slowly, we allow our real self to ease out and tip toe into new relationships relative to how we've been previously judged or hurt by ridicule or rejection. It's all about trust. I am the extrovert who speaks for the introvert whom I protect. I am opinionated, and with the publication of my first book, The Common Ground, I have to say the extrovert has jumped, dragging the introvert, naked off of a cliff. So this is all new and very scary, but if it received positively, I hope it will be an encouragement to others to take bold steps to express who they are. The world deserves you and your talent and you deserve to take that big step to believe in yourself regardless of whether you are loved or rejected. So here goes, and I hope I have friends in the end, old and hopefully, many new ones like you.
I think I'm like most people. We all want love and acceptance. Most of us are terrified to put our real selves out there, so we put a safe someone out there to hide behind. And slowly, we allow our real self to ease out and tip toe into new relationships relative to how we've been previously judged or hurt by ridicule or rejection. It's all about trust. I am the extrovert who speaks for the introvert whom I protect. I am opinionated, and with the publication of my first book, The Common Ground, I have to say the extrovert has jumped, dragging the introvert, naked off of a cliff. So this is all new and very scary, but if it received positively, I hope it will be an encouragement to others to take bold steps to express who they are. The world deserves you and your talent and you deserve to take that big step to believe in yourself regardless of whether you are loved or rejected. So here goes, and I hope I have friends in the end, old and hopefully, many new ones like you.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 22, 2013
As a reader of a great deal of indy poetry (partly to keep tabs on my competition, but mostly for the enjoyment of fresh, un-institutionalized prose), I was pleased with the quality of the work in The Common Ground. The Southerner’s voice and humor are there, as is a deep insight into the human condition that the poet relates honestly and openly. The work is a mix of free verse and rhyming verse, and while I naturally shy away from rhyming verse, I found that a few of the poems sounded better to me as spoken word.
Sing-Along greets us with a lively treatise on the joy of self-realization about that point in our lives where we develop the capacity to love. The use of weather as a metaphor for emotions in both A Fresh Start and Weatherman was clever. I drew parallels with my own life from Walk with me Awhile, and enjoyed the memories that this poem invoked.
I liked the opening stanza of Pipe Dream, but the rest seemed to explain the feelings of the piece rather than simply present it to the reader to absorb and process. Less is more here with this strong opening.
A few of the poems seemed to describe the speaker's insecurity, yet it takes great courage to do the necessary self-examination in order to grow emotionally. I'll assume these were persona poems and not a literal retelling of uncertain events from the poet's past.
Amazing how powerful a single question can be in Useless. And despite the great imagery in Sword Play, I thought the poem ended nicely without the last stanza.
I'll Get the Message - great lines, "I'm trying to give up my place in your life." and "... but my fingers are bleeding, still hanging on, ...". An Old Dog – another great line: "I have many interests, not all of them you." reminds me of Carly Simon's "You're so vain". A Dance in Time - great line: "As we’re carried along, we are carried away."
I loved the metaphorical seasons, rich in color in describing the women starting with Feminine Whiles. The playful imagery and the Southern flavor of Backyard Bay made for a great ending to the book.
Final verdict: Not just a good read, but a Great Read!
Sing-Along greets us with a lively treatise on the joy of self-realization about that point in our lives where we develop the capacity to love. The use of weather as a metaphor for emotions in both A Fresh Start and Weatherman was clever. I drew parallels with my own life from Walk with me Awhile, and enjoyed the memories that this poem invoked.
I liked the opening stanza of Pipe Dream, but the rest seemed to explain the feelings of the piece rather than simply present it to the reader to absorb and process. Less is more here with this strong opening.
A few of the poems seemed to describe the speaker's insecurity, yet it takes great courage to do the necessary self-examination in order to grow emotionally. I'll assume these were persona poems and not a literal retelling of uncertain events from the poet's past.
Amazing how powerful a single question can be in Useless. And despite the great imagery in Sword Play, I thought the poem ended nicely without the last stanza.
I'll Get the Message - great lines, "I'm trying to give up my place in your life." and "... but my fingers are bleeding, still hanging on, ...". An Old Dog – another great line: "I have many interests, not all of them you." reminds me of Carly Simon's "You're so vain". A Dance in Time - great line: "As we’re carried along, we are carried away."
I loved the metaphorical seasons, rich in color in describing the women starting with Feminine Whiles. The playful imagery and the Southern flavor of Backyard Bay made for a great ending to the book.
Final verdict: Not just a good read, but a Great Read!
April 25, 2014
An amazing collection of poems that come straight from the author's soul. A highly recommended read!
March 16, 2014
First off, let me say that I am not a poetry aficionado. Maybe that’s not the word I want. Connoisseur? Better word. And I’m not that, either. But I love poetry nonetheless. I love how it inspires. How little lines evoke a moment, a memory, an emotion. On the bookshelf behind my favourite reading chair, I have a collection of favourite volumes: Alfred Tennyson, E Pauline Johnson, Matthew Arnold, John Keats. They collect more dust than fingerprints, but they are always there, waiting for my mood.
There is no reason that Ms. Daniels’ collection should not occupy that shelf also.
My four-star rating: lost half a star for some formal style issues [not many, but they distracted] and half a star for some poems that did nothing for me.
Which is so unfair.
Poetry is subjective. Well, damn, everything human can make that claim. [A note: I wasn’t always sure if I misinterpreted “cleverness” as “error” - and I’ll not cite any examples, because . . . well, that’s for a reader to decide on his/her own.] But the point is, I didn’t like or “get” all of the poems in this collection, while others moved me deeply - which is to be expected. For me, the parts I loved were inversions of tropes and expectations; delicately reworded clichés; raw emotional venting of anger and sorrow; a bit of Jungian psycho-synchronicity allusion.
Of course, on the off-chance that Ms. Daniels reads this review, she may well shake her head in dismay that none of that was in there. But it doesn’t matter. Because reading this work changed little bits of me, and that’s what good poetry should do.
A poet does not hold an enviable occupation. But I’m glad that poets exist still - especially ones of Ms. Daniels’ skill - in order that I may enjoy such efforts.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog on Goodreads.
There is no reason that Ms. Daniels’ collection should not occupy that shelf also.
My four-star rating: lost half a star for some formal style issues [not many, but they distracted] and half a star for some poems that did nothing for me.
Which is so unfair.
Poetry is subjective. Well, damn, everything human can make that claim. [A note: I wasn’t always sure if I misinterpreted “cleverness” as “error” - and I’ll not cite any examples, because . . . well, that’s for a reader to decide on his/her own.] But the point is, I didn’t like or “get” all of the poems in this collection, while others moved me deeply - which is to be expected. For me, the parts I loved were inversions of tropes and expectations; delicately reworded clichés; raw emotional venting of anger and sorrow; a bit of Jungian psycho-synchronicity allusion.
Of course, on the off-chance that Ms. Daniels reads this review, she may well shake her head in dismay that none of that was in there. But it doesn’t matter. Because reading this work changed little bits of me, and that’s what good poetry should do.
A poet does not hold an enviable occupation. But I’m glad that poets exist still - especially ones of Ms. Daniels’ skill - in order that I may enjoy such efforts.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog on Goodreads.
March 2, 2014
Title: The Common Ground
Author: Noa Daniels
Publisher: N.D.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:
"The Common Ground" by Noa Daniels was some wonderful poetic journal of this author's "Written thoughts are the avenues into the souls of others, connecting points which provide a common ground of similar experiences, feelings, or discussions.' This author has all of this 'mirrored up for the reader to see their own reflection...captured into poetry.'
I loved how this author was able to present this poetry for the 'young girl to the mature adulthood.' Be ready because this poetry will 'explore the human emotions such as: pain, joy, death, love, hate, life.
Here are a few that I really enjoyed:
Woman: ..."Lord, where is Adam?
Feeling All Right! ..."and the feeling is feeling all right."
I'd Try for you...I'll give myself, my heart, my life, my love to you.
Weatherman..."Baby you change like the weather"
Wrap Your Arms around Me..."Trust me, darling, cause it's true...All I ever need is you."
Remember..."I wonder, what you remember ...I cannot separate myself from you. Can you remember?
I'll Get the Message..."Please forgive me for calling, please forgive me for coming by."
Lady...The Night goes by slowly; she continue to weep. The light is still burning as she drifts off to sleep. The cold wind is blowing, a warm heart grows numb. If you survive the winter, the spring
will surely come."
and
Acceptance..."I am no angel, he is not saint. We still love each other in spite of what "we ain't."
These and many more of these author's poetry can be found from the read of "The Common Ground" that I would recommend to you as a good read. I found that there are some that are different but there is little bit for everyone to think on as you are reading though this well written poems.
Author: Noa Daniels
Publisher: N.D.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:
"The Common Ground" by Noa Daniels was some wonderful poetic journal of this author's "Written thoughts are the avenues into the souls of others, connecting points which provide a common ground of similar experiences, feelings, or discussions.' This author has all of this 'mirrored up for the reader to see their own reflection...captured into poetry.'
I loved how this author was able to present this poetry for the 'young girl to the mature adulthood.' Be ready because this poetry will 'explore the human emotions such as: pain, joy, death, love, hate, life.
Here are a few that I really enjoyed:
Woman: ..."Lord, where is Adam?
Feeling All Right! ..."and the feeling is feeling all right."
I'd Try for you...I'll give myself, my heart, my life, my love to you.
Weatherman..."Baby you change like the weather"
Wrap Your Arms around Me..."Trust me, darling, cause it's true...All I ever need is you."
Remember..."I wonder, what you remember ...I cannot separate myself from you. Can you remember?
I'll Get the Message..."Please forgive me for calling, please forgive me for coming by."
Lady...The Night goes by slowly; she continue to weep. The light is still burning as she drifts off to sleep. The cold wind is blowing, a warm heart grows numb. If you survive the winter, the spring
will surely come."
and
Acceptance..."I am no angel, he is not saint. We still love each other in spite of what "we ain't."
These and many more of these author's poetry can be found from the read of "The Common Ground" that I would recommend to you as a good read. I found that there are some that are different but there is little bit for everyone to think on as you are reading though this well written poems.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews