Book Review: Ariel’s Song by Dawn Pisturino

Ariel’s Song by Dawn Pisturino is a beautiful and evocative collection of sixty-five poems – a collection that she lovingly dedicates to her daughter whose name is Ariel. The poems were written over a period of three decades touching on topics of love, family, children, death, nature, and the unique. Some rhyme and others are free in their styles from traditional sonnets that invited me to contemplate, to twisted limericks that made me laugh. I had many favorites, but I’m sharing snippets from a few, otherwise, this review would turn into a novel.

Many poems brought a sense of nostalgia. “November” evoked memories of when the season changed into golds, yellows, and reds, the air brought a chill, and my parents were still with us, enjoying family weekends at our cabin – everyone was young, and the future looked brighter than ever.

When November came,
We sat around the kitchen table after dark,
Telling chilling tales
Of ghosts and other phantoms of the night,
While wooden logs crackled and burned
On the old stone hearth,
And a cold wind wrapped its spectral arms
Around the ancient wooden cottage…

Dawn writes of her late father in “Rapping” which stirred emotions of my mother-in-law who departed from our world over thirty years ago. Our daughter was born the same year that Diane passed, and one evening from downstairs, we heard footsteps on the carpeted staircase when our little girl was sound asleep in her crib. No one else was in the house with us. So, was it Diane stealing a glance at her first precious grandchild? We imagined it was, and so we believed.

As a nature lover with a grateful heart for each new day “When the Morning Comes” hit home and really should be hung on refrigerators:

When the morning comes,
Sun will shine with a different light,
Earth will glow in a brand-new way,
Moon will dance to a gayer tune,
Clouds of pain will float away.
Broken hearts will beat again,
Empty eyes will see new life,
Throats will open up and sing,
Hands will break the chains of strife…

“I Hate Snakes” made me laugh out loud, but I can relate so well to the sentiments. Dawn’s vivid imagery summoned me along to explore with her in ‘the jungle’ and her frightening experience with snakes reminded me of my first encounter with a spider, which eventually turned into arachnophobia, causing a never-ending turbulent relationship with the creepy-crawlies.   

I HATE SNAKES

I pushed open the creaky door to look inside
And froze in shock at what I saw:
Slithering, crawling, scaly snakes
Formed a moving carpet on the floor,
Entwining in an intimate embrace,
Lying together in a clump of shimmering bodies,
Moving slowly and surely in the rotten shadows.
We beat a hasty retreat
And never visited our ‘jungle’ again.
And that’s why, even today,
I HATE SNAKES!

Dawn’s collection of lovely, witty, and occasionally dark poetry, offers a verse and a sense of familiarity for everyone. Highly recommended for all poetry enthusiasts!

Dawn’s website: http://www.dawnpisturino.org

And social media links:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dawn.pisturino
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Dawn-Pisturino-author/61557762414334
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/dawnpisturino
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dawnpisturino/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-pisturino-a15498123/
Medium: http://www.medium.com/@dawnpisturino
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dawnpisturino/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WriterArizona
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/user/Rare_Scare/
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/arizonawriter

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend ahead! ❤️

My latest collection of poetrytouching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life
that would make a great for any holiday! Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚

Blues and Greens and Poetry!

Last Friday, I took myself for a leisurely drive on the country roads to one of our favorite, charming towns, Pt. Reyes Station – about a 45-minute drive. At this time of year, the hills are velvety green, the sky a vivid bright blue, and the clouds looked soft and cottony – a gorgeous day! Upon arrival early enough for ample parking, I found a spot close to Toby’s Coffee Cart that called out to me when I got out of my car! I had to get a chai tea latte, and then I sat at a cute orange table and enjoyed the sweet and spicy drink. While I watched people pass by, listening to the sounds – chatter, laughter, dogs barking, and birds singing – a poem was brewing. Are you surprised? 🙂

Shopping was inevitable – I found a white beaded bracelet signifying tranquility and a new book. I don’t need more books! But I can’t walk by a book store and not peruse its treasures, let alone, find a treasure that I have to read! Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui caught my eye because I’ve always loved swimming, and growing up, we had a pool in our backyard. Diving to touch the drain, pretending to be a mermaid, swimming laps, and playing Marco Polo with family and friends are some of the great memories!

At the end of my Pt. Reyes visit, taking photos was on the agenda. How could it not be? I hope you enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fun poem!

 Blues and Greens just for Me

A day for me and me alone
With my thoughts we will roam
Lovely country roads we’ll drive
Lined with yellow blooms to thrive
Rolling hills in emerald bright
Velvet touch, a stunning sight
Shops to wander, trinkets entice
Sipping chai, a relaxing sigh
Flora and fauna all around
Camera in hand, photos abound
Memories made for me alone
A day for me to freely roam

Just like sunrises and sunsets, there is no such thing as ‘too many sky photos!’
Old barns captivate me!
An inviting Zen garden.
I’ve never mastered selfies!

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Thank you for stopping by, and know that I appreciate you! ❤️

My latest collection of poetrytouching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life
that would make a great for any holiday! Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚

An amazing review of Ever So Gently by Dawn Pisturino!

It’s time for another happy dance! I’m thrilled to read Dawn’s beautiful review of my book this morning. Below is a little peek…

Poetry Book Review: “Ever So Gently”

BY DAWN PISTURINO ON APRIL 28, 2024

Ever So Gently by Lauren Scott (2023). Available on Amazon.com at https://a.co/d/6VKTDPu.

Lauren Scott’s latest poetry collection reflects the inner life of the poet as she seeks to bring serenity and harmony into her world.

In “Messages from the Sea,” her verses paint a vivid portrait of nature, using keen observations and sensitive emotional reactions:

“listen intently
inhale, exhale, feel the calm
your soul will thank you”

Her signature poem, “Ever So Gently,” reminds us to leave our negative thoughts behind and enjoy the positive things around us:

“Remember, the breeze carries
burdens down rivers
and across oceans,
majestic trees sway with joy,
sheltering from shadows,
and the light shines even if only
a slight glimmer slips through”

Please visit Dawn’s post to read her full review, and if you haven’t met Dawn yet, spend some time at her site to immerse yourself in her evocative and lovely poetry.

Thanks again, Dawn! I’m delighted with your wonderful review! But most importantly, I’m grateful that you enjoyed my poetry and found poems that touched you. ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful week ahead! ❤️

My latest collection of poetrytouching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life
that would make a great for any holiday! Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚

The Comforting Gifts of Nature

teardrops slowly fall
petals catch their emotions
nature’s consoling

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo: Abutilon from our yard.


Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful day! ❤️

My latest collection of poetry, touching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚

In Honor of Earth Day…

and this sunny, Monday morning, I’m sharing a poem from my book, Ever So Gently. If you’ve already read it, I hope you don’t mind a repeat. 🙂 This poem was inspired from one of our lake trips in the Sierra Mountains…

The First Morning

Our eyes open to chirps
from high in the fir trees,
and we hear the rustle
of a skittering squirrel.
The evening before,
every creature
became silent
as darkness sank
into the evening.
But this morning,
with sunlight
caressing the lake,
we walk the few steps
to calm water,
nestle into our chairs
and slowly sip our coffee.
We listen.
Peace.
Cottony clouds drift by.
We want to move into
them, feel their softness
enfold us.
They shift with the grace
of a swan.
Ripples shimmer above sand.
Art in clear water.
And this is when we watch morning happen…

Loon Lake, Sierra Mountains

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My latest collection of poetry. 
If you don’t have your copy yet,
simply click on the image. Thank you!
 💚

April showers arrive in March!

We’ve had a lot of rain this winter, but then it felt like spring had arrived last week with several sunny and warmer days. It was wonderful! But now showers are due to return this afternoon through tomorrow, and then again, later next week. Well, it does no good to argue with Mother Nature, so we’ll roll with the rain!
But I was in the mood for spring, so I’m bringing it on!

One of my poems from my book, Ever So Gently, makes me wish we were back at the lake (hence, my blog header), keeping company with nature and enjoying those magnificent sunrises and sunsets…

The Sun Knows

Evening advances.
The shore wears nothing
but a few rocks
scattered on its sand.
In their quiet space,
a father and son hold fishing lines
hoping their luck will lift.
A lone sailboat glides by
pausing for the unfolding.
With hair the color of an egret,
an older man leans against a stump.

Clouds understand why we wait.
A fine yellow highlighter
has delicately outlined
their smooth edges.
Occasionally, trout jump
out of the still water,
only a few ripples
show their excitement.

Then suddenly the sky explodes
in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows –
brighter with every second.
It’s as though a painter swished
her brush back and forth
on the immense backdrop,
to the left, to the right,
repeating with the grace
of an orchestra leader.
Can the sun slipping behind
downy clouds
be more spectacular?

Happy Friday! Happy Spring! And if rain is heading your way,
revel in its melody and do some dancing!
❤️ 🎶

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

A collection of poems that speaks of nature’s healing touch,
how love shapes our lives, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image to purchase your copyThank you! 💚

Ever So Gently receives more love from Michelle Ayon Navajas!

Hi All,

For those of you who have asked, I’m feeling better since that post a couple of weeks ago. But I’m still working through two health conditions that began last year – a double whammy. Changes are constant, but when those changes are permanent and challenging, it takes time to figure out how to live them. As with anything, time will tell and help me decide what do to next. But I’m thankful to feel a little better with no brain fog. Anyway, enough of that, and now on with my exciting news!

I was surprised to find this beautiful review of my book from Michelle Ayon Navajas on this Monday morning. And I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my week. Her wonderful words truly touched me, so, I had to share her full review:

“The sky is the limit” they say, but I think not even the sky has the power to limit the endless possibilities of how our minds work.

I was struggling with Reena’s prompt this week. Not for anything else but simply because I wanted it to be a motivational piece,  and maybe I suck at writing motivational pieces so I had to put this prompt aside and went to write my long overdue review of Lauren Scott’s book “Ever So Gently”.

I was down with the last pages of the book, when an epiphany happened. This book is about the quote prompt of Reena; “I think if you are curious, you create opportunities, and then if you open the doors, you create possibilities.” – Mario Testino

“Ever So Gently” is a collection of soul-soothing journey pieces of poetry packed up with calming scenes of early morning communion with nature. It is with our interaction with nature that we discover the endless possibilities about life and living it to the fullest. “The sky is the limit” they say, but I think even the sky would be jealous at how beautiful Lauren wrote her collection.

‘In Good Company’ begins:
“We stroll among redwood trees,
our steps slow down, we are in good company.”

I could almost feel the magical power in my hands through Lauren’s lyrical prose, and we know that when one believes in magic (magic happens).

“Clouds understand why we wait.” This is one of my adored lines from the book. Clouds may have a “not so good reputation” for bringing in heavy rains or for signaling the coming of a storm (could be both literal and metaphorical), but in her book, Lauren had me stopped and pondered. Clouds, after all aren’t that bad. It can be a sign of something good or better. It can be a friend who gives us a signal or warning that a rain is coming, we must be ready. So, clouds do give us the chance to prepare and be ready for the challenges we may encounter as the rain pours.

‘First Breath’, is my favorite. It is about a mother’s love, the reason being my favorite is obvious. I am  mother and anything that speaks highly of a mother’s love is grately admired by me.

“With every new miracle of life
answers aren’t scripted in the stars,
but I knew since your very
first breath
my life would become yours.”

Every child is a blessing and Lauren said it so beautifully in this poem. It also brought me to tears and reminded me of my own journey as a mother to four beautiful daughters.

Lauren’s book is not only about creating and opening doors of possibilities but also of celebrating wonderful memories.

Her communion with nature brings forth wisdom of mother earth that unfolds through her stunning imagery like: “hear the rustle of a skittering squirrel,” “petals of velvet invite raindrops to bask in their peach enchantment,” and “breeze carries burdens down rivers.”

This book will surely uplift your spirit, and make you fall in love with love, create more memories with your loved ones, and appreciate nature even more. If you are not the type who loves to taka quiet walk in the morning or early in the evening, this book will make you wanna grab your walking or running and go for a short easy- breezy walk. As for me who used to run in around my neighborhood, it made me miss those moments. I said “used to” because I no longer do it as often as I do it before pandemic.

Here are some of Lauren’s memorable imagery:

“The sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth…”

“And water hasnt caressed the hills
The earth, parched like Chile’s Atacama.”

“Silk-thread drizzles dusted rooftops and parched hills.”

Lauren wrote in various poetic styles and forms from free versse to syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma – this collection will not bore you. She made these forms looked so easy to write.

Lauren emphasizes how mysterious life is. She also made me ponder deeper into the essence of my own existence while reflecting upon my journey in life, and that at the end of it all no matter how difficult life is, we must not forget to love and live life ever so gently.

This book is best read with a hot chocolate or a coffee as you curl up and savor each poem.

Visit Lauren’s blog to read more of her brilliant poetry:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again, Michelle! Outside, darkness still befalls the neighborhood, but you have brought an early sunrise. 🥰

Photo by u0158aj Vaishnaw on Pexels.com


If you haven’t met Michelle yet, please visit her blog to read her evocative poetry. And thank you for stopping by! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

A collection of poems that speaks of nature’s healing touch,
how love shapes our lives, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image to purchase your copyThank you! 💚

As This Moment Journeys Into the Next

I realized this moment would come
I knew the time would arrive,
those hands on the clock
they’re always on the move –
when I had dreamed
of so much more

for this special minute,
I have no poem…

even as I reflect while observing
the hanging petunia,
appealing in purple,
swinging gently in the breeze

or as I listen to my lab
snoring softly, lying inches away,

no poem has settled beside me…

even as I watch the geranium reach
in its rich wine-red wardrobe
for the infinite wild blue
and the lemon-yellow daffodil
looking dapper
in its shamrock finery,
no poem has greeted me
with a tender embrace.

I fear that as this moment journeys
into the next, and the sun bids farewell,
allowing the moon to play her part,
and those dedicated hands
continue to circle and mystify,
my pen will lie dry as a desert riverbed,
my paper bare as a wall without photos.

Still, I will remain empty handed
without poetry to enrich my soul,

but tomorrow when the sun ascends
and the sky unfolds to new possibilities,
it will be then when I shall try again.

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

A collection of poems that speaks of nature’s healing touch,
how love shapes our lives, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image to purchase your copyThank you! 💚