Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Haiku Reflections - by Geraldine Helen Hartman



Geraldine Hartman presents in this little book (78 pages), published in 2012 by CreateSpace, an assortment of her thoughts on nature through the seasons.

Some of the haikus in this collection have appeared previously on Geraldine’s blog, My Poetic Path, where she has paired them with her beautiful photography. In fact, I was wondering, before starting to read them in the book, how they would fare without the enhancement of images.

It turns out they are doing very well. Even better, I would say, since the readers can create their own images.

Because Geraldine does not simply write about the four seasons, she somehow, miraculously, but in fact very skillfully, captures them in her words.

Spring sings of renewed life in crunchy bulbs, summer lounges lavishly by the lake, autumn throws carpets of crisp colours underneath our feet, winter is a quiet beast, safer to be observed from within the warmth of familiar things, yet hinting at the promise of another spring.

In her verse, Geraldine weaves an enchanted array of colours, smells, sounds, textures, temperatures, and feelings. The imagery is simple, yet always surprising in the best of ways. A robin is a feathered talisman, felines are furry kisses… Even the occasional sadness or nostalgia, unavoidable, are soothed by the awareness of the permanence of nature, of our place in it.

This is a collection of delicate beauty, to which one can return time and again, a pleasure to the soul, one that refreshes, inspires, and ultimately gives hope.

I liked it so much that I wrote for it my first review on Amazon! Very highly recommended.



10 comments:

laughingwolf said...

will look more closely, thx for the info :)

the walking man said...

I do love the direct but subtle form of well written haiku. *sigh* I get that bull in a china shop feeling when i try to be that subtle. Yes I will have to look into this! Thank you kiddo for bringing this to my attention.

strugglingwriter said...

This sounds delightful!

SzélsőFa said...

one can really feel cozy with kind and delicate poems like those you decribe in your review.

Charles Gramlich said...

Cool. I'll check it out. I just put up my review of "plum blossoms" on Goodreads.

Geraldine said...

what a nice surprise as I browsed through my google reader today and saw this post. thanks so much Vesper! your kind and thoughtful words made my day.

Geraldine said...

PS: Shared with my WordPress readers too:

http://mypoeticpath.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/haiku-reflections-featured-at-chick-with-a-quill/

thanks again Vesper!

Brian Miller said...

very cool...i have enjoyed geraldine's haiku at her place...and i appreciate your warm words for her collection as well...

Anonymous said...

Just stopping in to see what's new and to wish you a wonderful week Vesper!

Hugs,G

Vesper said...

Everybody, thanks for reading this review and checking out Geraldine’s poetry.
Geraldine, it was my pleasure writing this, especially since it is entirely true.