Book Reviews: Poetic Voices of Love, Egypt, Iowa Heritage, & South Africa Flora and Fauna

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Book Reviews, Poetry

First of all, a huge thanks to you who left encouraging words on my prior post. I appreciate you so much, and the insight I gained provided relief for any future thoughts as I move forward. 🙏🤗
And now as promised, I’m spotlighting 4 books that I recommend adding to your towering TBR! They’re all poetry collections but touch on different topics. Enjoy!

Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy by Joy Neal Kidney

I was introduced to Joy Neal Kidney’s family history by reading Leora’s Letters, which is a book that touches on love, family, faith, loss, and resilience. Beautiful and heartbreaking. Meadowlark Songs offers the same effect: a culmination of excellent research into the depth of the women in Joy’s lineage. Through elegant poetry, prose, and priceless photographs, I was presented a window into seven generations, including the author who became “The Memory Keeper.” Guided by faith, each woman inspired the next, celebrating victories while encouraging strength and tenacity through loss and hardships. Every generational memory is one of love, admiration, and honor.

This book covers stories of farm life, of “Women in long dresses,” of good times and unimaginable sufferings. The genealogy began in Virginia but landed in the west where the Motherline planted roots in Iowa, the 29th State – five of the women lived in Guthrie County. Kidney’s account of her Motherline is poignant and highly recommended. A lovely example of her poetic voice is:

I Inherited Iowa

from ancestors’ long-ago decisions
to settle here, a land of small towns,
gravel roads to hike,
meadowlark songs,
the chirre of redwing blackbirds,

lilacs in spring, wild roses,
lilies of the field, the call of pheasants,
a neighborhood barred owl,
a pork chop on a stick at the Iowa State Fair,

the Milky Way sprinkled across night skies,
bur oaks sheltering pioneer graves,
bountiful autumns,
the hush of snowy Januarys.

The American flag gained two stars
while I was in high school,
the Pledge of Allegiance added two words,
“under God.”

Though I’ve traveled the nation
and abroad, I’m blessed by the choice
of those long-ago pilgrims
of Iowa, Beautiful Land.

Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt by Dawn Pisturino

Ancient Voices by Dawn Pisturino is a beautiful, unique, and educational collection of poems and poetic tales expressing how “The Ancient Egyptians loved life and celebrated it with joy.” I researched along the way to appreciate the full essence of this informative compilation, hence, the educational element. And I appreciate the extensive research that was necessary for Dawn to create this book. Reading about other cultures and accumulating more knowledge is always satisfying. Her expertise of the Egyptian society is remarkable. I could spotlight many favorites, but I’ll share some lines from a couple that stood out:

Shu’s Breath

Shu’s light, airy breath curls around my feet,
Warming my toes,
Tickling my skin,
Breathing his life-giving force into my body.
I step boldly into the sunlight,
Feeling his gentle kiss against my face.
The sands stir softly as he walks beside me,
Shielding me from the wrath of Ra.
Sweat drips from my temples
And rolls down my cheeks,
A reminder of Tefnut’s tears
As she trails behind us – her brother’s twin –
Who shares his bed and bears his offspring:
Nut, who stretches her body across the heavens,
Catching the stars…

Ra’s Night Journey

The Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun as the origin of all life and illumination and the Nile River as the source of all fertility and abundance. Keen observers of nature, they focused their attention on the revolving cycles of life: the changing seasons, the rise and fall of the Nile River, and the blossoming of new life after death….

If you’re a poetry fan, an Egyptian aficionado, or simply love learning about other cultures, I highly recommend this amazing collection.

Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle

Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle takes the reader on a journey through Southern African Flora & Fauna. This book is a lovely and eye-opening collection of poetry, photos, artwork, and video clips. Robbie’s paintings are stunning and augment her many talents. She is fortunate to have a front row seat to the precious African wildlife. Her poems are not only entertaining, but there are many details for the reader to learn. I always take away something new when reading about her African adventures. The photos continue to be awe-inspiring, while others are beyond endearing, such as a mama lion and her cubs lying in the sand.

Robbie is steadfast in her advocacy for these animals whose future remains grim, which is one of the qualities I admire about her. It’s appalling to be reminded of human greed and no respect for living creatures. Then factor in climate change where natural habitats are being destroyed, which affects the ecosystem. The entire collection either touches the heart or stirs emotions with a vital message that needs to be reiterated. Highly recommended. And since I have an affection for elephants, any type of artwork or poetry about these magnificent animals appeals to me.

Elephant

Elephant, you rise out of the veld like a mountain
Spouting water and mud like a fountain
People think your nature is gentle and kind
But those who act inappropriately, trouble find

Your thoughtful eyes are brown, honey, or gray
In puddles and rivers, you love to wallow and play
Consuming vegetation in enormous amounts
Any opponent, including a lion, you’ll trounce

You are known for your impressive memory
And will do anything to protect your family
With your trunk so clever and sensitive
Saving your impressive species is imperative

An end to your days on this planet is approaching
Due to human encroachment and mindless poaching
It’s hard to understand the penchant for hunting tournaments
Even less, the human desire for ivory ornaments

I can only pray for some sort of intervention
That will give African wildlife much better protection
Otherwise, the animal kingdom that’s existed for centuries
Will continue only in the elderly’s faded memories…

Ink Stained Love by Ernest Federspiel

Ink Stained Love is the first book I have read by Ernest Federspiel, and now I know it won’t be the last. The poems in this beautiful collection speak of the many layers of love: loss, vulnerability, hope, and despair – all relatable human emotions. While engaging myself into Ernie’s poetic voice, I felt my heartbeat pulse with joy, but I also felt it shatter. His emotions evoked my own memories of past love that wasn’t meant to be, and of the love I share now with my husband of almost thirty-seven years. Reading through this collection was a moving experience, but to give you a peek into Ernie’s talent, I pulled some verses from poems that stood out:

Behind a Cloud

I know that when you see me
I am the star behind a cloud
And if you were my sunshine
My star could shine so proud

The warmth that you could give me
Would make a garden grow
In the middle of that garden
A rose that is my soul…

And yet, romantic love isn’t Ernie’s sole focus in his collection. He beautifully pens about his love for his mother, which I found to be endearing.

Dear Mom

I thank you for life lessons, and your kind and gentle heart
For always being there even when we were miles apart
I thank you for the forgiveness when I was caught doing wrong
I want to give you the love that I have neglected for so long…

Remember

Simple things are no longer simple, fear has now taken their place
But your love for me still brightens your beautiful face
You’ll find sweet lady that I will always be right here
To fight for you the battles of confusion and terror
You brought me into this life and helped me to see
Not everything is right or wrong, dementia scares the shit out of me!

This poetry collection will resonate in some way, so if you’re a poetry lover and appreciate verse that touches the heart, you’ll want to read this book.

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I hope you’re not leaving here empty handed. 😉
Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Reading! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.💜

76 thoughts on “Book Reviews: Poetic Voices of Love, Egypt, Iowa Heritage, & South Africa Flora and Fauna”

  7. Hi Lauren
    These reviews are wonderful .
    I have only read Ernie’s book so far, but the others of course need added to that mile high TBR list.
    Thanks so much for sharing !
    As we know, reviews do matter my friend and it is good to read them before making the choice to buy.
    Lots of love and big hugs to you 🥰❤️🥰

    Reply

    1. Thanks for reading, Maggie, and yes, reviews really help! I’m behind on sharing these, but better late than never. 🙂 I’m glad you found some new books to add to your TBR too. I think all of ours are towering! Lots of love and huge hugs to you! 💞🌻🥰

      Reply

      1. My plrasure Lauren .
        Towering indeed 🙄lol.
        Also, you cant skip through a book if you are going to review it.
        Still two here , which are not poetry.
        One hopefully I will manage to finish this week 🙏
        I hope you are not suffering too much with the tinnitus 🫂
        Take good care Lauren xoxo
        Much love to you dear friend 🥰❤️🥰

      2. You’re right, you can’t skip through if you’re going to review a book, Maggie. Just take your time. No one’s pressuring you but yourself. 🙂 I’m doing okay. Yesterday was the first day that I kind of forgot about it. It’s about getting used to it, learning to ignore it, and focusing on other things. One day at a time and life goes on. Thanks so much, and I wish you a fab week ahead! Love and loads of hugs! xoxoxoxoxoxo

      3. Lauren you just hit the nail on the head, thank you for that 🤗 it is a bad habit of mine 😄
        You have a good frame of mind my friend to put a positive spin on it
        Look after yourself.
        Thank you very much 💖
        I wish you the same.🤗
        Hugs and love back to you xoxox

  8. Thank you for sharing these reviews, Lauren. I have Joy’s book waiting on me and I absolutely LOVED Robbie’s Burning Butterflies. I haven’t read any of Ernest’s work, but your review has piqued my interest. Congrats to these authors!

    Reply

    1. You’re welcome, Jan, and thanks for reading! I’m glad you can add an endorsement for Robbie’s book and have Joy’s to read soon. I hope you enjoy Ernie’s if you end up reading it. Have a good weekend! xo

      Reply

  11. Lauren, excellent reviews.

    All these books sound wonderful, and your sample selections are terrific.

    I have only read one, Burning Butterflies. It was fantastic. These books are all in good company.

    xoxoHUGS🕊

    Reply

  13. Lauren – what a beautifully curated selection of books—you’ve offered such thoughtful reviews that invite the reader into each author’s world. Meadowlark Songs, Ancient Voices, and Burning Butterflies. These authors – Joy, Dawn and Robbie are brilliantly creative and speak to what is meaningful in our lives.

    Reply

  14. thank you for these reviews, Lauren. you’ve offered us much food for thought on this first day of summer with your words about these lovely words of poetry form such authors sure to touch our hearts.

    Reply

  15. You seriously have a way of making each book sound like a must-read. 😊 Robbie’s elephant poem gave me all the feels (and yes, her art is always amazing).
    Thanks for putting these together – my TBR pile just got way taller, but in the best way.
    Wishing you a chill weekend and lots of happy reading, Lauren ❤️🙌

    Reply

  16. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful and insightful reviews, Lauren! I read many postive reviews of the first three books and I have Robbie’s book on my Kindle. It’s good to know about the author of the fourth book.

    Reply
  19. D.L. Finn, Author's avatar D.L. Finn, Author

    Fantastic reviews, Lauren:) Ive read and loved Dawn and Robbie’s books and the other two caught my attention.

    Reply

  24. Pingback: 5-Star Reviews of “Ancient Voices” | Dawn Pisturino's Blog

  27. Oops my comment got cut off. This is what I meant to say: You wrote great reviews for what seems to great poetry books and the sample poems are wonderful. I’ve read two of them, Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt by Dawn Pisturino and Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle and I can certainly vouch for both of those books. They are wonderful books.

    Reply

  28. Pingback: Robbie’s Inspiration – Thank you and I’m travelling #thankyou #poetry #bookreviews #art – Robbie's inspiration

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