Poetry Book Reviews

Bridging ideas of science, spirituality, depression, friendship, violence, love for humanity, and much more, Short Poems, Long Tales by Rashid Osmani is a wide-ranging collection of poetry.

Osmani’s poetry addresses some of the biggest questions and most unifying elements of life, examining these topics with almost clinical attention. There is curiosity and uncertainty as well – a humility that makes the verses pleasant, comforting, and authoritative, all at the same time. The modern, free-verse approach allows Osmani to let his thoughts stream without obstacle, and while most of the pieces are quite short, a great deal of intention is packed […]

Experimenting with form, content, and emotion, Museum Exhibit by Tom Brown is a surprising, probing collection that runs the gamut from classical odes to modern free verse.

Some of these delicately penned poems resemble snapshot musings of cultures and older times from around the world, flowing smoothly between the Middle East examined in “Pashmina,” to the simple homage of “Philadelphia Highboy,” and the sound of “Virginia’s Violin” in the echoing beauty of the Shenandoah Valley.

Nature, emotion, and philosophy also blend freely in these pieces, as in the poet’s natural worship in “Wildflowers,” with their “exquisite fine art perfuming in […]

A visceral and heartfelt work of lyrical poetry, Cloud Thoughts by Daniel Strong explores the trials and tribulation of everyday love, loss and living, for an intimate, confessional collection.

Without the typical adornments of romantic poetry, these pieces, with titles ripped from the heart of the verses, are more reminiscent of song lyrics, or stream-of-consciousness recollections. From the endless longing of unrequited love to whimsical musings on drunken nights out, these poems range widely in both subject matter and seriousness. That sort of flexibility works well in these primarily narrative pieces, giving readers a multi-dimensional view of the poet’s heart […]