My New Friend…

New poem for new year?

“Forget it,” says my snooty muse – irate and imperious. “Go ahead with your fiction and the new friend you’ve found.”

“Why are you sulking?”

“NO! I feel stifled when you write descriptive paragraphs for your new friend.”

“Why can’t a poet write a novel?” I ask 

“You are no good at that! I know you are a person of few words. For years I’ve been your mentor and now you’ve abandoned me.”

“But this is a temporary phase. This story has been waiting to burst out. Let me finish it.”

“Really? I challenge you to finish it this year. I am sure you are going to get wedged in those dark corridors. Only I know how to pull you out.”

“Now that is poor encouragement, goldy.”

“I am familiar with your dismal progress. Each time I’ve to step in to show you the light that glows at the horizon.”

“I know I am incomplete without you. I promise to be with you each morning.”

“This is no truce. I’ll choose my own time. Right now I am in an adventurous mood.”

“You’ve come home after a month. Share your stories with me.” I try to ground her.

“Ha!”she rebuffs me and bounds out. “Don’t try to humor me. I know you too well.”

My new friend embraces me and we totter forward. Hope has been my dearest buddy.

© Balroop Singh

Thank you! I am looking for some beta readers for advice about my WIP. All kind of suggestions from accomplished fiction writers are welcome.

#HappyNewYear2023

Wishing all my blogger buddies, authors, poets and readers a wonderful 2023.

Basking in the golden glow of dawn. May each dawn be as amazing as this one. I’ll back soon.

Balroop Singh.

Moon Melodies #HappyHolidays

Image from Pixaby

Moon sat with me last night
Adding magical light to my Christmas tree 
Mesmerized by his ancient tales
I looked at him in delight.

He told me who popularized Christmas trees
Why people lit them with small candles once upon a time
How love for Santa Claus grew
Who added the tradition of generosity to Christmas. 

He spoke of the snow that glitters in his light
Of myths that were created to ward off darkness
Of fairies that carried light
Of small handbells that added charm to carols.

He knew the first fragrance of seasons
The sweet scent of spring
The songs of summer birds
The glory of the first rain.

He told me about the secrets of life
Of holding hands despite strife
Of faith that never dies
If we learn to celebrate all seasons with a smile.
© Balroop Singh. December, 2022

Wishing you all many smiles and Happy Holidays. See you in the new year now.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope 

#BookReviews #Poetry #Myths

Our fascination for myths never wanes and I wonder how did they start! Colleen’s new release answers some of the questions about myths and as usual, she sprinkles them with magic dust. I’ve never believed in magic, yet I look for it everywhere. It holds a cryptic mystery, it lights crevices within me…

So this book was as enthralling as Book 1 by her: Fairies, Myths & Magic – A Summer Collection

Fairies, Myths & Magic: Book 2 – A Winter Collection is enchanting…

If the fairies of A Summer Celebration were fascinating and magical, Colleen’s latest collection – Book 2: A Winter Celebration begins with the darker aspect of the myth of The Changeling. There was a time when faeries stole babies from their cradle and replaced them with a changeling – a faery baby. The story of Alyssa is captivating; told in the most convincing manner, this myth sounds scary. The tale of a witchy woman called Gryla is equally frightening as she descends from her cave in the mountains during the Christmas season and gathers up all the naughty kids for her to make into stew! But Tomte, the House Elf  made me smile and wish that he should visit me to tidy my home with the snapping of his fingers! This book sounds the best when myths are woven around such amazing characters and stories.

Colleen shares a diverse collection of  short stories and poetry, which has been inspired from myths of the dark days of winter. Some of the ancient myths and legends illustrate how the people of our world celebrated the sun’s victory over winter’s darkness. I could relate to the traditions of the Persian festival, which is celebrated with family get-togethers, lit candles and feasts.

Colleen’s poetry is perceptive and she creates magic with her words when she says: “where sand dunes build castles in the air.” ‘Jack’s Frost Fairies’ paint a vivid picture of winter “until all things glittered under the moonlight.” ‘Poetic Spell Craft’ is a brilliant combination of thoughts that spoke to me. There are many such gems in this book that have to be savored slowly.

Sorrowful Soul by Harmony Kent is the cry of a loving soul…

Some people walk away without giving a second thought to the sensitive souls they leave behind, some are snatched away by death – Harmony’s new collection of poignant poetry, immersed in emotional deluge of heartbreak, talks about both the situations though death is more of a symbol for the loss that the poet has experienced. Everyone in this world has to face loss in one form or another but only a few can write such brilliant poetry to reconcile with it. Written in blank verse, the poems appear to be simple but you have to delve deeper to understand the powerful imagery that highlights the profundity of raw emotions.

Tormented by “untouchable phantom,” – a lie called love, the poet captures the yearning, the pain, the misery with a glimmer of hope, which is dying with each passing day, as the images get darker, denial clouds the mind and guilt creeps up; self-blame eats into the entrails of the heart. How could it happen before we “sung our swan song” is the lament that is heartbreaking!

Each poem emerges from a scorched heart, each poem echoes the cry of a loving soul that craves for belongingness. Guilt and anger can’t provide any relief. Death and depression overpower:

“The raven’s croaking caw carries the stench
Of carrion on its vile breath.
As it makes its perch on my slumped shoulders
Blinds me with its scorched-black wings…” I haven’t read a better description of depression! Outstanding poetry!
Thanks for hopping on to ‘Night Train’ and taking a “leap of faith.” You have to read how one can “make a fresh start.”

Thank you. Happy reading!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope 

#BookReviews #Poetry #Shortstories

This week I would like to share some wonderful books of poetry and short stories. All three books are a quick read and I really enjoyed them.

Variety is the Spice of Life by Sally Cronin

True to its name, this book is packed with a variety of syllabic poetry, pulling at the strings of your heart with poems like ‘Face in the Mirror,’ accompanied by a beautiful picture of the poet and her mother – a reminder of her laughter and ‘The Waltz’ that captures the joy of two hearts. Cronin’s poems are short and meaningful, most of them capture vibrant colors of life. Even drought doesn’t escape her discerning eye. Robins, starlings, bees and butterflies come alive in her poems. If blossoms remind us of fleeting opportunities, bees convey a profound message of diligence and persistence.

Sally’s short stories have always been my favorite, as they bring out the best of human values. I loved ‘The Healer’ and ‘Home Help’ but the winners are the marmalade cat and robin of Miss Lloyd. Cronin’s love for furry friends shines through her stories. I highly recommend this lovely collection to readers of all genres.

Do What You Love by MJ Mallon

‘Do What You Love’ is a little memoir that captures beautiful moments of life, giving an insight into the author’s experiences, hopes and adventures. A delightful concoction of poetry, photography and flash fiction, imagination and reality merge here to share the stories of her life in a succinct manner.

With the symbol of hibiscus flower, Marje introduces herself as a giggling and carefree child whose mentor is Lachesis – the goddess of future. How creative! It is her innovative style of writing that would capture your heart, as all three “sisters of fate” – Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos remain close to her and offer her friendly advice at each step of life.

With a pang in her heart and tears of pride in her eyes, the empty nester also shares the story of her successful daughters and is reassured by Atropos that they have to take their own path. So relatable! It is fascinating to watch the poet conversing with “sisters of fate” and the moments we cherish come alive through her poems.  

The Christmas Bird by Robbie Cheadle

‘The Christmas Bird’ is a heart-warming story of love and compassion. Stella and her sisters are celebrating Christmas when they discover a bird’s nest that had been destroyed by their dogs. Stella gently picks up the surviving baby bird and hopes to save it despite her mom’s warning that it may die of shock. They prepare an old basket into a warm nest for the little bird, feed the bird lovingly and get attached to it. The bird seems to be a perfect Christmas gift for the girls.

This short story infuses a sense of respect toward our environment. The natural instinct of caring for all the species is highlighted in a subtle manner. Loving and letting go is also underlined, as the bird grows wings and learns to be free. Written in a simple language, it is a perfect story for children if the superfluous details of the beer making process are brushed aside.

Thank you. Happy reading!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope