Circle of Life: Inspirational Poetry for Mothers and Other Carers

by Orna Ross

An illustrated gift-book of poems about motherhood and caregiving.

Circle of Life is the fourth book in the 12 Poems to Inspire series, a range of gift-books for festivals like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, as well as milestones we all experience, including loss and new beginnings. Circle of Life celebrates Mother’s Day—and caregiving all year round.

These twelve poems celebrate the incredible privilege and emotional rollercoaster of caring for others, while encouraging us to rejoice in our gifts we receive from protecting those in our care. 

In accessible, sometimes conversational, language the poet draws from her own experience of motherhood, marriage and friendship, and the wisdom of philosophies that explain how we have all been mothered into being. And how we continue to be nurtured by Mother Earth and the creative spirit that animates all.

The poems in this collection are written to be reread often. Reflecting on their wisdom, the reader finds comfort in the tender but powerful nature of inspirational poetry, which itself offers the nurturing care that these poems celebrate.

Split into three sections: Beginnings, Leavings, and Returnings, each poem is spectacularly illustrated by pictures the poet co-created with the AI artist app, Dream.

All of this adds depth and resonance to this short book, making it a gift full of value and meaning, for oneself or another. 

A thoughtful gift for mothers on Mother’s Day—or anytime for any caregiver.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2022

About the author

Orna Ross is an award-winning historical novelist, poet, and founder-director of the global non-profit for self-publishing writers, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

An international bestseller, she enjoys book sales in 120+ countries worldwide and her awards include the Goethe Historical Fiction Grand Prize Award for fiction, Gold Literary Titan award for poetry, the Romantic Novelists Association's Indie Champion Award, The Writers' Digest's Top Websites for Writers, and The Bookseller's Top 100 people in publishing.

In what she describes as “the best move of my writing life”, Orna took her book rights back from her publishers in 2011. The experience has made her a passionate advocate for the commercial and creative empowerment of authors through self-publishing and selective rights licensing.

Reviews

[The Book Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of twelve poems for Mothers and Carers. You could easily read through these poems in a few minutes, however, I urge you not to and take your time over each individual poem. Think about what it says, think about the memories it evokes, or how it may allow you to look at some aspect of your life and what is around us from a different perspective.

I absolutely loved this collection of poems and found them very thought provoking and often very moving, especially "Lost and Found" which isn't an easy poem to read.

An added bonus to the poems are the illustrations which are beautiful and intriguing in their own right, as well as enhancing the poems.

The collection really does get you thinking about motherhood and caring and all that it entails and would make a lovely gift.

[Emma Minazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a mother but I have cared for my parents when life hasn't treated them well with health. I know the powerful emotions that come with love and support and this book shows those well.

I love the illustrations in this book and they add more meaning to the poems. They are beautifully written and flow well into each other.

"Source of Strength" is a good one for descriptions and meaning.

"Lost and Found" was an emotional poem, Generose has a story and it has now been told with emotion and thoughts.

Would recommend this book of poems and will look into more by Orna in future!