She begins by taking us on a metaphorical journey.
“ through harsh winters of childhood living in separate caves “
“ lovely lilies in pools of tears grow flowers “
“ I did not know my heart would always swell
at the song of the birds or the fell of footsteps
in a shadowed wood.”
“ comes summer the weight of it
rush oh blue and red and gold rush races
through me crisp and clear the colors of reason
the clear season of age, knowing and now
the hush of solitude the quiet chill winter”
Such descriptive verses which allow us to see through her eyes to walk with her through her life and feel the emotions that she lived through. And experience the poetic gift that few are born with and one that cannot be learned for it must be felt. And felt through the heart from which they are written and conveyed to their reader.
–Alan L. Boles, poet, resides in Ocala, Florida. He fell in love with poetry in 1968 at the age of fifteen. He manages a A Poet’s Haven, and The Matter In Prose both on Facebook as well as assists in a number of poetry groups.
In Caves, Canyons and Valleys, poet Alice Lucia leaves a legacy not only worth reading, but also worth keeping. Alice is a careful poet who surprises at every turn.
She is fun to read. She never feels sorry for herself, and that’s so much to her credit. She shares her life and I’m a part of it and better for it. When I first read Caves, I vowed to take in a few poems a day until finished. Good poetry can be digested that way . . . I finished the last half the following night. Good poetry can do that, too.
Caves, Canyons and Valleys is a double pleasure, in that, not only do the poems surprise at every turn, the book as a whole takes on the structure as one poem, lingering in rhythm and waves. It is one of the few books of poetry where the middle engages as well as the beginning and the end. This is a testament to Alice’s daughter, Lori Lucia’s compositional skills. A remarkable job. Caves, Canyons and Valleys could’ve easily been offered as a mosaic. Instead, the confessional – I’m reminded of Snodgrass and Olds – has all the power of a Life and Times narrative in verse. By the end we know Alice; by the end we feel better about life.
Caves, Canyons and Valleys is a powerful tribute to life.
–Robert Hoffman, poet and creator of the 15 Poem Series
Cynthia –
I have been reading your mom’s book of poems…. At first I felt like I did in high school…”I am no good at poetry…just don’t get it…” then I kept reading and now I am like, “Wow.” She really expressed herself in those poems. And I am intrigued about what it all means….