Here at Dawn: Poetry and Prose

by Beau Taplin

Find the magic in this collection—the moments and words that seem to glimmer and shine with their own inner light.

Find deep magic in the pages of Beau Taplin's third book, Here at Dawn . The message is There is nothing ordinary about you or this remarkable world we inhabit, there is wild beauty, there is poetry, alive all around you. The secret is knowing where to look...and you can start right here.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Romance

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2019

Reviews

[Kandi Steiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something... extraordinary about Beau Taplin's poetry.

I have been a poetry fan since I was very, very young. I read my first book of poetry in the second grade and wrote my first poem in the third. Out of all the many mediums of writing, I believe poetry is the most difficult. To take something deep and passionate and terrifyingly true and not only explain it in very few words, but to also make it FELT in very few words... it's truly magical. And Beau has the gift to do just this, to explain and to put words to feelings you never could put your finger on and to make you FEEL it.

My favorite book of Beau's is In Bloom. I just loved that one so much, and maybe it hit me extra hard because I was "in bloom" when I read it. I was in transition, somewhere between rock bottom and a new birth, and I connected with every poem on each and every page.

Here at Dawn is a new kind of magic.

Every morning, I started my day with Here at Dawn. It started with one poem a day, and then two, as I drank my coffee and let my brain wake up. I swear, every time I opened this book, I felt myself slip away to a beautiful forest somewhere in another world. I sat down in the cool, plush grass under a beautiful willow and next to a rushing stream. I wore a crown of flowers and plucked at the grass with my bare toes as I let his words carry me away. It was always an out of body experience, and after each poem, I closed the book and stared out my window and smiled, feeling the words, feeling the magic of life.

Something special about Beau's poetry is that I share it with my mother. We live in different states, so every morning, I take a picture of the two poems I read that day and send them to her and we discuss them. Beau may never know me personally, but he has personally affected my life. He has given me and my mother a special ritual which I cherish so much now and will cherish even more when she's gone.

If you love poetry or if you're new to it and just wanting to give it a try, I highly recommend Here at Dawn or ANY Beau Taplin book. You will walk away enchanted.

[Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the gifted review copy!

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to Andrews McMeel publishing for the eARC
so i got into this expecting a regular "instagram poetry" book with flowery language and little else, but it was a pleasant surprise. the flowery language is present but with purpose. there's actual substance to these poems and passages and my personal favorites were: 'a needle and thread', 'true fulfillment', 'the gift in goodbye', 'self expectations', 'the pioneer', 'in this silvery moment', 'the magic trick', 'a shipwreck in a storm', 'a villain and a friend', 'a soft landing', and 'verses of birdsong'. these are the main ones that resonated with me, the tone of this book was very calming. but there was the repetitive direct life advice which was unnecessary and added nothing new. it wasn't even hidden in the lines for the reader to figure out what the author is saying. i personally don't like that maybe others do. but overall, it was a decent read.
ps. the illustrations were a nice touch and fit the whole vibe of this book
pps. i think an audiobook of this with ambiance sounds and a soothing narrator voice would be an unforgettable experience.

[Rebs ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never had I read a poetry book as touching as this one.

The authors starts by addressing the reader telling them that when he was a young boy he would find wonder in all things around him, and that by the collection of these poems he hopes to encourage the reader to do the same - and you know what, he did just that.

I absolutely loved this book and will be picking it up as soon as it’s released. I will also be picking up his other two books.

thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Jungian.Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. Thank you #Netgalley for sending me this book
It is a collection of verses that addresses the importance of finding magic in the most basic things in life. There are so many parts of this book I want to talk about (BUT just pick one up). It illustrates the magic of life and the importance of self-acceptance, self-love, defeat, strength, traveling, relationships, and expectations.
A specific verse titled "The Needle and Thread" reminds me of a Korean drama "When the Weather is Fine" wherein one of the characters was telling a friend of his that his major and most proud of accomplishment was learning how to enjoy the most basic things in life.
"The secret is to never lose sight of the simple, everyday miracles in life:
good food, literature, laughter, music, compelling conversation, nature, and art.
Look for them in every day, and even when it feels like your whole world is unraveling you will never be too far from a needle and thread" - absolutely love this

Another verse I like among the many is titled "The Symphony of the Earth" here Beau says talks about how important each person is and how much we are very linked
"You matter
You are valuable
Your life is not only your gift
It belongs also to others"

I just love this, you are one of the stars in the conservation, we all need each other, your importance cannot be overestimated, you are a jewel in a set, we complete each other. I just love this.
I could go on and on about how much I love this book, so here are a few verses that I really enjoyed
"True Fulfillment"
"And let there be light"
"The Ever-Knowing Self"
"The Composer"
"Self-Inflicted"

[Mona · Rating 2 out of 5]

AN AUDIENCE OF ONE In times of heartache,
there is no power
in pretending
you no longer care.
All healing must begin
with recognition of the wound;
let it out
in silver tears,
sing it from the rooftops
if you have to.
You are only
punishing yourself
hiding behind a performance
for an audience
who has already left
the room.

[R A I N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I awoke - a bit sleepy, a bit dreamy. Darkness still enveloped everything - inside and out. But I could hear the birds chirping excitedly. I got up from my bed, put the duvet aside, and went to open the window. Ah, the rush of air filled me just as it filled the room. I felt renewed. Sleep went away. I was filled with a certain energy. I had to get out, out of this room, out of this house. Just go outside and marvel at the soft hours before sunrise; watch the stars rushing back to their heavenly abode.

Everything felt so remarkably new, and yet nostalgic. I have been here before, I thought, picking up a twig – twisting it about my finger.

The grass felt damp beneath my bare feet. I could feel the droplets compressing under every step I took. There was music all around. In the sky, on the earth, on every branch of every tree. There was still an hour before sunrise and I wanted to soak in every moment of this delicious dawn before light exposed the beauty and the magic disappeared.

I have often walked alone – in the wee hours of the morning – and imagined fairies whispering to each other about how the big folk don’t know how full of magic the world really is! I agree with them. I look at the delicate bud, cusp it in my hand with a gentle stroke lest it falls before ever blooming. So beautiful. The leaves dance with the gentle air, as if mocking me, making sure I know that they revel in this magic every day while I, I am just an occasional visitor. I know. *sigh* I know.

This is what Beau Taplin’s Here at Dawn is all about.

Have you ever taken a walk in the garden at 3 am in the morning? Breathing in the magic that hangs densely about you at that time of the day? If you have then you’ll know; you’ll know EXACTLY what he is talking about.

This whole vast world in which we live our tiny, tiny lives – is brimming with miracles. You just have to look for them.

Look, there it is – in the chirping of the birds.
And there – in the smile of the little girl dancing in the garden.
And wait, WHAT IS THAT? A squirrel. Look at its tiny hands. Isn’t it adorable? Such magnificent detail. Such craftsmanship.
And the couple over there? So lost in each other’s eyes they’d hardly notice if a bomb exploded by their side. Must be such a heavenly feeling – not caring about anything else in the world other than the person in front of you.
Oh my! Look! A bookshop. Let’s go together and browse for hours and hours, lose ourselves in those countless stories. And never come out. Not so soon anyway.

Surely, surely the ability to enjoy these little things – these seemingly mundane and routine things – must be magic at its supreme?

When you walk down the road – going to the class, grocery shopping, meeting someone, taking a bite – you pass strangers, people of all backgrounds. They don’t know you. You don’t know them. And yet a single kind smile to someone struggling to shush their crying child is a like the wave of a magic wand. If you think you don’t matter to people around you, then think again. You, dear reader, are full of life, of love, or kindness – YOU MATTER.

Listen to me, “Here at Dawn”, we don’t take people seriously. We regard them magically.

You are a miracle. A force of nature – gentle, loving, caring. You give to others JUST BY BEING, don’t you understand that? Taplin is asking you to take a look in the mirror and see – take a hard look at the person smiling back at you.

THAT person is nature.
Nature IS that person.
YOU are nature.
So mingle with it.
Take pride in it.
Lose yourself in it – in this feeling of belonging.

Taplin’s words sent a rush of creativity through me. I felt – serene – the kind of feeling that you experience watching a sunrise. Fresh. Renewed. He made me see that the world is just waiting for me to wave the magic wand of my attention. If I could just look closely, listen attentively, close my eyes and feel keenly – it’d be plain as day to me that this whole vast universe is a reflection of me, of my inner feelings.

Here at Dawn, sitting alone with my thoughts and the poet’s, I realized how true happiness arises from deep within, knowing YOU ARE ENOUGH.>b> I read his words and they resonated with me like a chord longing to be struck. Until you realize that everything springs from your own self, you will remain unhappy, forever. And it’s this beautiful realization that made my heart swell and jump for joy.

Taplin’s poems made me feel complete again, as I am sure they will have the same effect on you – for these are little truths wrapped inside a handful of words. The medium may change but the core message? Never.

Sitting there, with this beautiful book in my hand, I felt a surge of gratitude rise and rise and rise within my whole body and stop – suddenly – in my heart. Why did I feel that way though? It’s just the way Taplin talks about goodbyes – the beauty they contain, the lessons. And their necessity. It’s funny really, how we forget to embrace such an inevitable thing, to cherish those last few memories forever, to make the most of them. Well, no more. Because I cannot help but take his words to heart, lock them within until they make a firm impression on it. Never to forget. Never again.

I have sown flowers
deep into the earth of your memory
to remind me that,
even in the most lightless
of places, beautiful things do grow.

The way this whole book vibrates with gentle notes of hope makes for a beautiful experience. Never a page goes by that doesn’t make you feel glad that you are reading it, that fills you with gratitude that you are here – here in this gorgeous world – alive and free and much too childlike – just as you SHOULD BE.

When the clouds of uncertainty and bad actions reflect upon your sunny dreams, Taplin encourages you to take responsibility where it is required. You cannot run from it. You cannot hide from it. He wants you to understand that it’s YOU – you who is the cause of it all and by accepting that responsibility, you create yet another miracle – of freedom. Freedom from ignorance, from failure.

Here at Dawn, you will understand the beauty of a helping hand – given or received. As Taplin says,

We only flourish when we lean on each other.
This is how all great things
are grown.

This collection of poetry reinstated the need of companionship, of friendship – of the importance of surrounding yourself with genuine people and giving thanks to those who accept you without any judgment. I never knew it was possible to pack such – non romantic – thoughts into lovable poetry and yet, the poet has achieved this. And I am glad that he did because it is a delight to read, to own, to cherish

Beau Taplin poems are also wise with experience. They contain knowledge that can’t be faked. They want you to understand them, understand the meaning in between – and as you’ll do so, you will find yourself liberated from every thought and feeling that has been weighing you down.

As I said before, reading these left my heart overfilling with gratitude – for the ghosts of the past, for the candles of the present, and for the dreams of the future. It’s been such a lovely, lovely experience reading these – one that I emerged wiser from, kinder to myself and the world around.

So come, dear reader, dance with the poet in the rain. And forget all your worries. Lose yourself in the magic all around you. You are beautiful. You are your own. You are the world.

Let him teach you the art of living and loving and living lovingly.
Rise.
Reborn.
Here – in the arms of the beautiful dawn.

For more reviews and bookish talks, find me on:

The Withering

Twitter

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here at Dawn: Poetry and Prose by Beau Taplin

2 stars

This collection focuses on poetry and prose with a blending of illustrations and art. The art is very beautiful and adds a great layer to the collection. However, the collection was a HUGE letdown. This collection has a lot of promise, but I personally did not care for the use of diction and the particular poetry that Taplin writes. It was just not for me. I think why I was so letdown was because the introduction talks about his deep love for magic and I thought this poetry collection would feel magical. It didn’t and the poetry was your typical modern poetry. It was nothing spectacular and I think many will enjoy the collection, but it wasn’t for me.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 1.5

Plotastic Scale: 2

Art Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: Beautiful cover.

Thank you, Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book a few years back. revisiting it now, though, i can’t honestly say it held up for me. i'm not saying this to be mean but it gives 2016 tumblr ...

the poems are very straightforward, leaving little room for interpretation or for the mind to wander. i like poetry i can sit with & chew on throughout the day, but these pieces didn’t linger. no image or feeling truly stayed with me

the collection moves from the rush of new love to heartbreak and eventual healing, all heavily romanticised yet presented in a way that feels shallow on the page ... this book simply wasn’t for me, much like rupi kaur and similar modern poetry writers

2.0 stars

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Beau Taplins poetry is utterly captivating and reaches out to you through every poem. This book was so beautifully written and I connected with it from the very first poem. I felt the poems were so relatable and understandable and I found myself going back and re-reading someone them again and again.

These poems speak to you and tell you you are as unique to the world around you as the world around you is to you and to embrace your uniqueness.

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to start out saying poetry and how it speaks to others is a very personal type of experience. What calls to one person might not to another and vice versa. Mostly, this collection did not call to me and some of the phrases were just odd or nonsensical. Also, there were so many preachy poems and ones falling into the stay positive no matter what quotes we see circulating on instagram. I did enjoy a few of the poems, however, and found the artwork scattered throughout added something extra. But overall I was left disappointed. I might check out another collection by the author, though, to give one more chance.

[Anirudh Kukreja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short, sweet read: I literally finished this within an hour. Taplin has a talent to tap into emotions that are pervasive and applicable to everyone and articulate them in the gentlest and clearest way possible.
Best book to read when you need a break from thrillers or a relatively heavier genre.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry collection was very inspiring to me. It contains a range of different topics, which I really loved. Most of the poems inspire you to become better and be kind to yourself, which I absolutely loved.
I’ll definitely check out other books by Beau Taplin.

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[Fra Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

HERE AT DAWN is just another masterpiece written by Beau Taplin, of who I am not sure, if he's more a new generation of therapist or just a master of modern poetry, who has an amazing sense of themes that strikes everyones soul deep down. This book is pure encouragement how to deal with every lifesituation, equal how difficult things get and it feels like the author is writing from owen deep experiences. Love, loss, fears, depressions, heartbreakes- to name just a few- things that may drag us down but as the sun rises after every dark night, so this book guides our thoughts in a positive direction. HERE AT DAWN creates the same atmosphere as this moment in nature: The view on something new combined with the hope for the good or the better. A rising sun, a rising self as it lies all within us. As always, Beau draws beautiful pictures in the readers mind just by his words, pointing out the pretty little things, the details around us, the beauty of nature. Apart from that, the linnen-cover and and layout of the book are really  wonderful. A must-read for every fan of Beau Taplin and of modern poetry. Doubtless 5*

[Giuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love reading the opening remarks and this one filled me with love and light. There is truly magic and poetry all around us.

The poems are inspiring and powerful, I liked some better than others, but they all convey a genuine and moving feeling.

The longer pieces were my favorites, because I could truly immerse in the author's world and find warmth.

I highly recommend this to any lovers of poetry and anyone who ever second guessed themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

aight this collection was so lovely aw I am usually a sappy romantic poetry reader but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the self love and emphasis on like internal/external everyday magic.
I know - sounds wild
Ngl some poems were a slap in the face where I was like damn I hate that I relate to the NEGATIVE part of this (ie Raincoats) and other poems left me with wanting to
Seeee all the magic I am and there is.

[Elizabeth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful collection of poems and reminded me of why I fell in love with the authors words to begin with. I definitely tagged a few of my favorite ones to look back on. I really do appreciate the mix of themes that was going on as sometimes poets tend to stick in one trite genre. That usually being a love interest who is all consuming. I absolutely appreciated the pieces about the soul and Mother Nature.

[Aida ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"as far back as i can remember, i have searched for the hidden magic in things"

that line -one of the first- really reflects what this book holds. this was my first beau taplin book, and i'll sure read his other works after this.

[David M. M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is physically lovely, and the words within honestly were lovely too. I know I've grown tired of poetry directed at me, the reader, personally, but Taplin has important things to say and says them with skill and with love. It was honest and earnest, and I deeply value that.

[Aida ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this. i know a lot of people don't like this poetry style, but i think it's beautiful.

[Kari Napier · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading one of this poets books... I quite liked it!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so beautiful

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry

[Cass™ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

I’m a bit surprised at how much I really enjoyed this! When reading poetry books, I look for two things: 1) how well did the poet convey their message through the collection and 2) how much did I connect to it as a whole. Beau Taplin succeeded at both! It had a very clear message of healing and self-discovery that is portrayed throughout the collection of poems. It felt solid and unified as a whole. I just wish it was organized a bit better to depict a stronger image of healing. Sometimes the poem placements didn’t seem like it was following any specific patter to enhance the experience. in my current stage in life, the themes explored are some that I hold very dear. So to see some of my own personal experiences and emotions put into words was a bit gratifying. This is a collection that not only I think is great on its own and anyone could enjoy, but people that have gone through a major life-changing event would really connect to and love.

I just wish it wouldn’t get quite preachy on the whole “look within you” sort of thing. It started out great and somewhere in the middle those peachy poems started to roll in and by the end most, if not all, of them just sort of muddled in my mind. I can’t really remember a single one. This is the main reason I knocked down one star, and the other .5 is due to the lack of organization from my perspective. But other than that, I think it’s a great poetry book that I can see myself recommending! This made me excited to read more of Beau Taplin’s future works!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beau Taplin does it again in Here at Dawn a few years after I read his book Worlds of You. Here at Dawn explores the simplicity and beauty of the wonders and magic of the world around us and also ties these elements with thematic issues of love, loss, grief, depression, resilience and other important life lessons. I love how he explores the must to not lose sight of the small things in life the ones that keep us afloat, that define who we are and separate us from others. This book celebrates uniqueness and individual authenticity in many forms. The imagery that he paints in this book shows in spades and he pulls at the heartstrings in many of his pieces. So many times, Taplin refers to the readers as composers, explorers, pioneers, adventurers etc. implying that we are the creators of our own life's story. Where one of the quotes he explains that our pain is not like a prison but is the key to a gateway of new possibilities. We just need to know what to do with it.

Taplin explores symbols and motifs of the sea, stars, a shipwreck, gardens, a celestial dance of lovers, roses, war and battles and so many other metaphors he uses to fill in and compare to these big things he is communicating. One of the lovely things he explores in his works is the beauty and innocence of childhood the frolicking in laughter and the hope of it all. Beau Taplin also admits that even as adults we can become small and sad like children but must rely on our inner mother and father qualities to help heal our inner wounds. Here at Dawn is a collection of works that explore some of the darkest pain but how we can draw open the curtains - cue the thoughts of the movie Frozen and rise again just like the sun in the morning. Even reading this book on a laptop surrounded by built walls and structures, you can't help yourself but feel you are surrounded by the enchantments of nature. That's what Beau Taplin does to you. He does it for me.

Favourite quotes:

“A steady love and someplace to call home are far more precious than all the earthly possessions and wealth in this world.”
“The secret is to never lose sight of the simple, everyday miracles in life: good food, literature, laughter, music…”
“True fulfilment is what lies within yourself.”
“If today you spoke to a friend or smiled at a stranger, then today was a resounding success.”
“You are never too old to dance in the rain, blast your favourite song, to wander into the unknown or make love like it is the very first time.”
“It is the child in you that makes the world enchanting.”
“Thankyou for teaching me how to see through a mask and understand a clever disguise and that I can weather a storm and stand on my own two feet.”
“It is important to know when to be sweet and kind but also to know when to draw swords and fight. A rose is a rose with flower and thorn so is a human both devil and god."
"We must take time to learn its waters, its tempests, its treasures, both its power and impossible depths, so now when we arrive now seasoned captains of our own selves, we know only smooth seas together.”
“Pain is more than a weatherman warning of a coming storm or a kindly neighbour trying to point out a house fire in your living room.”
“The time in which we found each other and where the whole world bloomed in response.”
“Let this hurt sharpen you like a blade.”
“Travel builds character, it makes you a child, there is still a journey away a mystery to solve which is only a plane ticket away.”
“You are the architect of the universe you inhabit.”
“When we surrender together in ecstasy, we craft our own universe; when we fall into each other, we become gods.”
“We only flourish when we lean on each other. This is how all great things are grown.”
“I will gather all the flowers of the mountains and lay them here at your feet just to welcome you home.”
“Finding you was like drawing the curtains on a warm spring morning day; a breath of light and new beginnings, as though the world itself had been remade.”
“Remember you are the composer of your own life and happiness. If you don’t like the music, change the arrangement.”’
“Whether you are the artist, the mathematician, the entrepreneur, or the gardener; read, write, stargaze, solve, travel, illustrate, compose, explore.”
“When I say I think the world of you, I mean to say you embody the majesty of all that streams, all that grows, all that burns, all that rises…”
“Why is it that all things of beauty must be their loveliest just before they are gone.”
“With frail bones and wide wrinkled grins, we will set out on one last adventure.”
“I am sorry I only wanted to be a safe harbour for you but I have storms of my own too.”
“When I arrive, I will move gently through each dark narrow hall, and I will proudly draw back the curtains.”
“You have shown me a love that runs barefoot through the wild or swims free in the ocean dressed only in moonlight.”
“The differences between us could span all the earth but when we embrace, when we meet at the equator line, together we make a world.”
“What is it in our occupation that brings beauty to the world. Are we carpenters that build houses and create stories or teachers that educate the future.”
“The work of self is never truly finished. You are a masterpiece in progress.”
“My love doesn’t exist at the shore. Meet me down amidst the depths and tides or don’t bother at all.”
“The clouds will recede and the sun will rise again.”
“A person’s heart is not a raincoat you slip on only when it storms.”
“Family isn’t just a surname or existence but an anchor here in the world no matter how far you drift.”
“You must recognise clearly when the war that you are bleeding for has already been fought and lost.”
“When a relationship works, it is effortless and fluid, a meticulously choreographed pirouette between two partnered souls in perfect balance."
“Our hands are libraries of all those they have touched and overtime we realise that some people are hostels and others are homes.”
“We dress in disguise and create the enchanting performance. You are not the magician you are the magic. Set down the smoke and mirrors and the mask of distrust and see how the audience reacts and applauds.”
“Your soul is your garden; you determine what grows there.”
“One minute you are the wind in the sails the next you are a shipwreck in a storm.”
“I am doing my finest.”
“Turn to yourself as you would your own daughter or son; when your inner child cries out in need of guidance, turn to the mother and father within.”
“While doubt is a villain, failure is a friend.”
“Your pain doesn’t have to be your prison. It can be a key to a doorway and you decide where it leads.”
“In love, we become fragments of one form. We are bound together, as constellations are.”
“I plant roots so deeply in the people I love that I always lose a piece of myself when they go.”
“Let it out in silver tears, sing it from the rooftops. You are only punishing yourself hiding behind a performance for an audience who has already left the room."

[Nicholas Tamouridis Poet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beau is so incredibly intelligent in the way that he keeps things simple, elegant and meaningful, so much so, that you feel it in your soul and your bones! He reminds us how we’re all connected together as one with his explorations of the human experience! And this is truly beautiful. Thanks Beau!

Out of 128 masterpieces, below is my TOP 20 list in chronological order within the book! This took me ages to decide because the entire book is a treasure!

Ask me for my TOP 3 favourites, and let’s see if we share the same taste!

• I Have Sown Flowers Deep Into The Earth of Your Memory
• Devil And God
• The Seafaring Soul
• A Needle And Thread
• The Symphony Of The Earth
• The Architect
• Transcendent Delight
• The Fog Of Sorrow
• Beneath A Passing Star
• The Great Work
• The First Laws of The Universe
• Lilith
• Draw The Curtains
• The Unwritten Now
• The Slow Dance
• The Magic Trick
• A Villain And A Friend
• Wild Growing Things
• A World Between Worlds
• Verses Of Birdsong

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bloom is still his best collection IMHO.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing now. I really liked this one

[Monica Lieving · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of modern poetry and this selection had so much… depth. Of course I was met with a lot of poems dedicated to love and heartbreak, but also just as many dedicated to the journey of life itself and our own unique struggles that make up the search of one’s purpose and meaning in life. Some books of poetry are dedicated solely to love, and I appreciated this one brought the devastation and beauty of love together with the journey through life and the pursuit of our own individual dreams. A few of my favorite ones below.

TRUE FULFILLMENT

True fulfillment
is never found where you expect it to be.
When you most desire wealth, you always feel poor.
When you most desire physical perfection, you never feel enough.
When you most desire the love of another, you only repel it.
And when you most desire success, you always seem one last step from where you feel you should be.
True fulfillment begins with celebrating and showing gratitude for what you already have.
I am wealthy because I have life.
I am beautiful because I am human.
I am loved because I show love for myself.
True fulfillment begins with the perspective that all you desire lives within you
and the understanding that the pursuits of your heart
are not work but play.

DEPTHS AND TIDES

My love
does not come to those who linger safely by the shore.
Meet me down amidst the depths and tides or don't bother at all.

THE ASCENT

Perhaps you are not yet where you feel you should be, but from one dreamer to another, a careful word of advice: you could reach every last one of your goals and still find yourself miserable at the finish line. The true essence of life exists in the between. It is in the striving that your excellence is exposed to the world. It is in the setbacks that the strength of your spirit is learned. In the unfinished dream lies the full and burning heart of life. It is only a spell of the mind, an artful deception, that you might find fulfilment in fortune, fame, perfection, or power.
Life is lived here, in the distance you have still left to travel. This is where the true magic happens.

HOSTELS AND HOMES

By all means,
go out into the world and explore with your heart.
Fall in and out of love
until your hands are libraries of all those they have touched.
Before long, we all learn,
right down to our bones, that some people are hostels, and others are homes.

AN AUDIENCE OF ONE

In times of heartache, there is no power in pretending
you no longer care.
All healing must begin with recognition of the wound;
let it out in silver tears,
sing it from the rooftops if you have to.
You are only
punishing yourself
hiding behind a performance for an audience who has already left the room.

THE TRUE VALUE

The true value
of life
is not measured
by what we leave behind but how fiercely
we love
and are loved in return while we're here.

WHITE FLAG

Fight hard and fiercely for the one who you love, but after a point,
for the good and peace of your own heart, you must learn to concede defeat and withdraw, to recognize clearly
when the war you are bleeding for has already been fought and lost.