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Came the Lightening: Twenty Poems for George
'Here on the shore, twenty years later, my message in a bottle has reached dry land. Words about our life, his death but mostly love and our journey to the end.' – Olivia Harrison Olivia Harrison presents Came the Lightening , a book of twenty poems dedicated to George, marking the twentieth year since his passing. As a contributor to the book Concert for George , the revised edition of I Me Mine , and George Living in the Material World , Olivia is no stranger to writing beautiful words that have an ethereal connection to love. These poems are accompanied by a selection of photographs and mementos curated by Olivia, including pictures of herself and George. Came the Lightening sees Olivia reflect upon her life with George, examining the intimacy of the emotional bond in their relationship through a memorable series of poems. She delves into the phenomenon of losing a partner and the passage of time. In essence, this is a story of love. 'Olivia evokes the most fleeting gestures and instants, plucked from the flow of time and memory and felt through her choice of words and the overall rhythm… She might have done an oral history or a memoir. Instead, she composed a work of poetic autobiography.' – Martin Scorsese
- GenresPoetryNonfiction
104 pages, Hardcover
Published June 21, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 18, 2025
Came the Lightening: Twenty Poems for George is written by Olivia Harrison—one poem for each year after his passing—it's an intimate reflection of their relationship and emotional bond, and her life and the passage of time without him. The poems are spiritual, enlightening, evocative, and magical. There are photographs of both of them, a few personal notes from George, collected mementos, but mostly it's Olivia's heartfelt poetry dedicated to George...
I also watched Olivia Harrison and Martin Scorsese on George Harrison: Came the Lightening in which they discuss this book in front of an audience. Olivia read a selection of her poems and helped me understand the intended cadence of her poetry as I read this book.
Here on the shore, twenty years later, my message in a bottle
has reached dry land. Words about our life, his death but
mostly love and our journey to the end. ~ Olivia Harrison
This was my 'bedside book' to read and re-read each night for six weeks, one poem at a time...
4.5⭐
Full disclosure: George Harrison has been and always will be my favorite Beatle!
I also watched Olivia Harrison and Martin Scorsese on George Harrison: Came the Lightening in which they discuss this book in front of an audience. Olivia read a selection of her poems and helped me understand the intended cadence of her poetry as I read this book.
Here on the shore, twenty years later, my message in a bottle
has reached dry land. Words about our life, his death but
mostly love and our journey to the end. ~ Olivia Harrison
This was my 'bedside book' to read and re-read each night for six weeks, one poem at a time...
4.5⭐
Full disclosure: George Harrison has been and always will be my favorite Beatle!
July 15, 2022
“𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦;
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦.
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦,
𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.”
from “𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵”
Beatles fans will like this. So will poetry fans. Olivia Harrison composed 20 poems for her late husband, George Harrison, to mark his passing. One poem for every year he’s been gone. It’s an appreciation of their love for each other, for art and for nature. Harrison’s poetry contemplates their strong bond, as well as coping with loss and grief. She celebrates their partnership.
Printed on thick, quality paper and filled with photos, drawings and handwritten notes thoughtfully curated from their time together, the book makes a lovely gift or addition to your collection.
Thank you to Page One Media for sending me a finished copy.
from “Keepsakes:”
“I spread your notes around me
In a circle where I’m safe
Incantations for you to to join me
In our secret hiding place.
Your words like echoes conjure
In that deep and nasal voice
With its usual detachment
You say I have no choice
But to let them all disintegrate
Or be found by a curious mind
Who’ll write their own love story
About what we left behind.”
from “Tree Time: Ode to Friar Park:”
“All nature is a temple, formal, wild or bare
I’m at the feet of all creation, for the time that I am here,
Deciding what to plant, to pleasure not myself,
Perhaps I’ll be remembered for the beauty that I felt.”
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦.
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦,
𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.”
from “𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵”
Beatles fans will like this. So will poetry fans. Olivia Harrison composed 20 poems for her late husband, George Harrison, to mark his passing. One poem for every year he’s been gone. It’s an appreciation of their love for each other, for art and for nature. Harrison’s poetry contemplates their strong bond, as well as coping with loss and grief. She celebrates their partnership.
Printed on thick, quality paper and filled with photos, drawings and handwritten notes thoughtfully curated from their time together, the book makes a lovely gift or addition to your collection.
Thank you to Page One Media for sending me a finished copy.
from “Keepsakes:”
“I spread your notes around me
In a circle where I’m safe
Incantations for you to to join me
In our secret hiding place.
Your words like echoes conjure
In that deep and nasal voice
With its usual detachment
You say I have no choice
But to let them all disintegrate
Or be found by a curious mind
Who’ll write their own love story
About what we left behind.”
from “Tree Time: Ode to Friar Park:”
“All nature is a temple, formal, wild or bare
I’m at the feet of all creation, for the time that I am here,
Deciding what to plant, to pleasure not myself,
Perhaps I’ll be remembered for the beauty that I felt.”
April 7, 2024
It feels weird to review this, just as it feels strange to review a memoir. BUT this is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. The entire collection is stunning and I highly (highly!) recommend.
February 12, 2023
Reading this feels like watching those montages of nostalgic home videos of banal, everyday things that in context become magical. Absolutely beautiful
July 22, 2022
This collection of poems is simply stunning. Olivia Harrison’s words are supremely elegant and in many instances completely breathtaking. By the third poem there were already tears in my eyes, in part due to the subject matter of George’s life and death, but also just due to her talent. I am incredibly impressed after reading these poems; not only is this a lovely addition to the ever-growing compilation of beatles memorabilia, but a remarkable collection of poems in its own right. her ability to describe the intrusion of friar park (which was likely one of the most traumatizing moments of her life) with such beautiful and graceful words gave me chills. I am not being biased when I say this is truly one of the greatest books of poetry I have ever had the pleasure to read, and I know I will continue to return to it.
Although it’s impossible to choose a favorite, here are a few lines that greatly touched me from the title poem:
In the three and final days, the world just fell away,
Your essence in its glory wore the thinnest shroud of life,
So sheer it barely covered you, we were not meant to see
The glow of your transcendence, a being nearly free.
Although it’s impossible to choose a favorite, here are a few lines that greatly touched me from the title poem:
In the three and final days, the world just fell away,
Your essence in its glory wore the thinnest shroud of life,
So sheer it barely covered you, we were not meant to see
The glow of your transcendence, a being nearly free.
August 23, 2022
An absolutely breathtaking tribute to George. The love for him, and the anguish of losing him, are beautifully expressed in poetry and photographs and it's a wonderful book for any collector.
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
From Song For The Son:
"A young man was brave to witness your death, The three of us inhaled the same air one more breath."
"That I remember when a snowflake spins in the air, Brushes my cheek then melts in my hair."
From Heroic Couple:
"Brahma must once again have stirred the milky sea, Kali floated watchful above a marionette of me."
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
From Song For The Son:
"A young man was brave to witness your death, The three of us inhaled the same air one more breath."
"That I remember when a snowflake spins in the air, Brushes my cheek then melts in my hair."
From Heroic Couple:
"Brahma must once again have stirred the milky sea, Kali floated watchful above a marionette of me."
July 6, 2024
An intimate collection of poems from Beatle wife turned professional widow Olivia Harrison. I don’t like poetry, and my taste in it is therefore pretty pedestrian I’d guess, so I’m not fit to judge. Stylistically, these seem pretty primitive, but heartfelt. The photographs which accompany them are well chosen.
My main takeaway was a thought about the “professional widow” idea, especially the Beatle widow vs. the Beatle widower. Of course, men are expected to remarry, certainly if they are widowed young; they are considered helpless if they are alone. I just began ruminating on Olivia and Yoko, and wondered if they had dated or slept with anyone these past twenty or forty years, or if they were content to be alone, or weren’t content to be alone but no men could measure up to their late husbands, or they feared the public outcry if they were seen dating, or they did date discreetly and how it wasn’t anyone’s business. And meanwhile Paul just jumped right back in, TWICE.
My kid liking the Beatles has given me lots of entertaining new things to think about, and I appreciate it.
My main takeaway was a thought about the “professional widow” idea, especially the Beatle widow vs. the Beatle widower. Of course, men are expected to remarry, certainly if they are widowed young; they are considered helpless if they are alone. I just began ruminating on Olivia and Yoko, and wondered if they had dated or slept with anyone these past twenty or forty years, or if they were content to be alone, or weren’t content to be alone but no men could measure up to their late husbands, or they feared the public outcry if they were seen dating, or they did date discreetly and how it wasn’t anyone’s business. And meanwhile Paul just jumped right back in, TWICE.
My kid liking the Beatles has given me lots of entertaining new things to think about, and I appreciate it.
September 25, 2022
This was a beautiful book of poetry. I really loved her perspectives on widowhood, some of her experiences of being married to such an icon, good and bad. And at the end, you feel like you knew the man and the woman he loved for so many years, until the end (too soon) of his life.
My favourite poems were "Song for the Son," which tells of what it is like to be there, when one dies, and to see the man in the son who remains; and the title poem, describing the "three and final days," so similar to my own experience.
At the end, there is a beautiful hand-written musing from George, where he quotes Dylan and surmises that we shall possibly come back and do it all over again.
The final entry is from Olivia, who mentions the very real time of after a death, where the clocks impossibly just keep ticking and how years later, she is still upon the shores, remembering it all, but mostly the love.
My favourite poems were "Song for the Son," which tells of what it is like to be there, when one dies, and to see the man in the son who remains; and the title poem, describing the "three and final days," so similar to my own experience.
At the end, there is a beautiful hand-written musing from George, where he quotes Dylan and surmises that we shall possibly come back and do it all over again.
The final entry is from Olivia, who mentions the very real time of after a death, where the clocks impossibly just keep ticking and how years later, she is still upon the shores, remembering it all, but mostly the love.
February 15, 2023
George Harrison died November 29, 2001, and to mark the 20th year of his passing, his widow Olivia penned one poem for each year he’s been gone, and in doing so, created a love story of her marriage and a poetic autobiography. Olivia writes not only of their long love but also gives an intimate peek into their lives: their families, her uneasy introduction to John and Yoko at a party, their love for their son and for the abandoned estate whose gardens they slowly brought back to life, the vicious attack that would’ve killed George had he not had folded up notes for the garden in his tunic pocket, even their last day together—what they did, what they said.
The book itself is a work of art. Printed on heavy, textured creamy paper, it’s illustrated with everything from artsy photographs to Polaroids of their early life together to scribbles of songs and the outlines of their hands.
It’s exactly what a book like this should be.
The book itself is a work of art. Printed on heavy, textured creamy paper, it’s illustrated with everything from artsy photographs to Polaroids of their early life together to scribbles of songs and the outlines of their hands.
It’s exactly what a book like this should be.
December 1, 2022
one of the most tender reading experiences, the production is pure delight. a testament to the solace in words laid of paper.
i struggled to enjoy its omnipresence of slant rhymes. they felt distracting more than additive. regrettably, excepted. i wondered if the convention of poetry writing in this case was obstructive to accomplishing the ethos of poems, arriving at a liquid reality.
saved poem XIII, ‘astral/aloft,’ ‘spell/bell,’ fog/dog’ became links between the poem’s subject matters, the quotidian and the ether.
visually - format, cover, typography and the immersive snapshots all hit the mark.
at the end of reading, the stories wrote themselves more than the words.
i struggled to enjoy its omnipresence of slant rhymes. they felt distracting more than additive. regrettably, excepted. i wondered if the convention of poetry writing in this case was obstructive to accomplishing the ethos of poems, arriving at a liquid reality.
saved poem XIII, ‘astral/aloft,’ ‘spell/bell,’ fog/dog’ became links between the poem’s subject matters, the quotidian and the ether.
visually - format, cover, typography and the immersive snapshots all hit the mark.
at the end of reading, the stories wrote themselves more than the words.
December 2, 2023
A lovely looking book, with the very best of intentions. It’s horrible to say that someone’s heartfelt words in tribute to a husband and best friend they seemingly shared with the public are not very good. But, the weakest aspect of this book is the actual poems. Some almost comically bad. Beautiful presentation, intro, foreword from Scorsese, design is strong. All of it. But the hackneyed rhymes and old fashioned style - with no strong imagery - lets this down at the first hurdle. That’s cruel. I acknowledge that.
January 28, 2023
These 20 poems about the life Olivia lived with George are revealing, beautiful, honorific, and deep. I have loved George Harrison since the night in 1964 he was on the Ed Sullivan show. At first, I didn’t care for Olivia’s style, as I’m not always a fan of rhyming poetry. But as the poems progress, they take on a life of their own, and many brought tears to my eyes. Highly recommend for any George fans. You will learn so much!
December 6, 2023
This book is more of a memory for me. I attended the 92Y with Olivia and Martin Scorsese discussing this book and received a beautiful signed copy, which I filled with notes from their conversation :)
It became one of my favorite memories of my favorite Beatle, even if he wasn't in attendance. But all of his beloved friends and family were (including Dhani, looks just like him). And THAT was an experience. Beautiful poems, He was her soulmate for sure. I hope she continues writing more poems.
It became one of my favorite memories of my favorite Beatle, even if he wasn't in attendance. But all of his beloved friends and family were (including Dhani, looks just like him). And THAT was an experience. Beautiful poems, He was her soulmate for sure. I hope she continues writing more poems.
September 8, 2022
Most Beautiful book I’ve ever read. It’s has so much emotion, love detail. It’s like if George’s spirituality was a book. George and Olivia were true soul mates. This book captures that. And in the pictures added in, you see precious glimpses in their beautiful romance. Olivia is a skilled poet, worthy of fame and recognition. 🕊🕊🕊✝️✝️✝️♥️♥️♥️
September 29, 2022
A beautiful, intimate collection of gorgeous poetry and prose. You can feel George’s presence through Olivia’s words.
In these twenty expertly-crafted poems Olivia invokes heartache and sorrow, but also humor and joy, as she gives us an intimate glance into her love for George—a gift she so graciously bestows on us.
A fitting tribute.
George would love it.
Hare Krishna.
In these twenty expertly-crafted poems Olivia invokes heartache and sorrow, but also humor and joy, as she gives us an intimate glance into her love for George—a gift she so graciously bestows on us.
A fitting tribute.
George would love it.
Hare Krishna.
January 31, 2023
I'm not a poetry lover but I couldn't help but love this book. Honestly, this is the best book I've read in years. Olivia Harrison shares her deepest feelings. But these are more than love poems. She shares her experiences and some will be familiar to readers familiar with Beatle history. This is a very moving book.
August 27, 2022
This book is an immaculate piece of poetry that will tear at your heartstrings. It's honest, unpretentious and yet marvelous. Anyone can relate to the sentiments in here even if you're not a Beatles fan, what she wrote in here is universal.
January 8, 2025
This was a really sweet tribute to George Harrison and his life with his second wife, Olivia. There are 20 poems that mostly follow the theme of mourning the death of George. If you're a fan of George Harrison, this is definitely a must-read 💛
August 5, 2022
a beautiful way to remember george.
August 22, 2022
beautiful way of writing
August 26, 2022
Loved Olivia Harrison's poetry book!!! :D Amazing how she was able to tell her and her husband George's story through these poems. Also loved all the pictures included as well.
October 1, 2022
Too personal to judge. Thanks for sharing with the world dear Olivia
December 20, 2022
Medium good poems but really good ideas, images. What a gift to feel love that compels one to write.
January 11, 2023
A beautiful, heartfelt tribute. A bit hard to read if you’ve experienced loss and grief yourself—which is a compliment, I think.
March 5, 2023
This book was beautiful! A must have for any George Harrison fan.
March 17, 2023
Such a beautiful recollection of love and loss. Every aspect of this book had purpose and effect. The title poem in particular hits straight to your core.
August 3, 2023
a beautiful and intimate look at Olivia Harrison’s relationship with George and her grief after his passing.
August 9, 2024
I loved this potent unexpectedly emotional little book. The poems are sad and marvelous - full of life and death, sometimes tragically specific and other times movingly general. George Harrison scholars and fans will be fascinated by Olivia’s telling of Lennon’s murder, the attempt on George’s life and his eventual death but others will find much to love and learn here too.
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October 6, 2025tears in my eyes.... olivia is such a beautiful soul
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews