A portal beckons
Adventurous spirit calls
Fears forbid next step
Yet we drop down to explore
Will we return to share?
***
The secrets lay bare
Harrowing, endless steps loom
Fiery eyes threaten
Entrenched within crevices
Shady shackles pull us tighter.
***
Thanks to Sue Vincent for an inspiring Thursday #writephoto prompt Deeper
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I was drawn in by the analogy – ‘Life is like a bowl of cherries.’ It led me into various alleys even before I opened the book. I love short stories and Sally’s stories regale you with various experiences that are woven into the inescapable web of life. The book begins with ‘The Weekly Shopping’ – the most appropriate, humorous yet grim comment on how technology has crept into our lives. It would make you wonder: can we escape such a trap?
Cronin’s Crisp style of writing, her adroit crafting of characters and her inspirational tone gleams through out the book. Kindness of Elsie would melt your heart when you read ‘The Scratch Card’ and ‘The Date’ would make you dance despite your age. Jennifer’s positivity and planning is superb while The Nanny took my heart away! It is hard to pick up a favorite story, as all of them tingle some emotional cord. A perfect combination of sour and sweet, I savored this “bowl of cherries,” which has a sprinkle of some lovely poetry. Highly recommended.
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Finding a Balance by Lauren Scott captures myriad emotions that beseech us to accept whatever life offers and find a balance in tears and happiness. A combination of deep love and yearning, the poems in this collection exude realism, speak of sadness but also offer soothing thoughts. Scott knows that our only choice is to move forward. While we seek answers to our questions, comfort can be found in prayers and hope.
The poems are written in a simple and straight-forward style and are easy to understand. There is a craving to rewrite some unpleasant chapters of life, to open new doors, to brush aside dejections and embrace light. My favorite poem is ‘The Box,’ as “The walls stood bare waiting for memories to dress” evoke memories we cherish. Lovely!
Thank you.
Balroop Singh.
On the first day of the New Year, I stepped out to see the change. Same sky, cloudless. No traces of much needed rain. Same sounds of cars whizzing past. Muffled faces. And then I saw him in the corner – HOPE! All bundled up, still shivering! I looked at him with expectant eyes.
“Procrastinator! Are you illusionary?” I sneered at him.
He spoke to me:
“I know you love me
I know you hinge on me
When you tread on darker paths
I know I inspire you.”
“And you take pleasure in elusive tricks?”
“ I have my constraints
I float on the tide of time
I possess no magic wand
I hold a mirror to your ways.
“Sometimes I get caught
In the currents of cacophony
Discords and disharmonies
Pull me down, make me dormant.”
“And so you walk out?”
“I am always around
I whisper through the breeze
I glisten in your heart
I blend in your prayers.
“I absorb all words, perceptions and actions
My strings are stronger than faith
Those who hang on get rewarded
But your own role matters most.
© Balroop Singh
Thank you for reading. Looking forward to new changes in 2021 that usher in new hope.
If you like poetry, please check my latest book: Magical Whispers
Pick up your copy at Amazon.
As darkness dissipates
And the sun ushers in 2021,
Let the colors of hope sheath
All that we leave behind
And stride ahead with smiles.
© Balroop Singh
Many thanks to all my readers and author buddies for their lovely support. The sun of 2021 is shining brightly, reminding us that each year brings along new opportunities. Looking forward to better times ahead. – Balroop Singh.
Never have I read any fantasy series faster than D. Wallace Peach’s ‘Unraveling the Veil’ trilogy. Too much fantasy doesn’t humor a realist like me, who likes to blend both but subtle realism in these three books amazed me. Lords of Chaos is the third book in the series. I’ve enjoyed all three.
Lords of Chaos, as the name suggests, acquaints us with “the First of Chaos,” who unleashes unspeakable devastation and despair in the fantasy world created by D. Wallace Peach. The story unravels deeper deceptions, as nobody could figure out who had robbed whom of his body and who was a changeling. Even so-called leaders couldn’t be trusted. Elves, changelings and goblins – all have to pay a heavy price as their world falls apart. Jungles are burnt, chaos rampage through their lands and innocent people drown in floods. Truth, compassion and kindness are thrown to the winds.
This book is a subtle comment on the world of today, hinting at the cunningness and selfishness of the people who hold authority. It seems to suggest that those who ignore their blessings, those who conspire against their own people and don’t respect each other are bound to face dire consequences.
The highlight of this book is the exquisite description of war scenes, so rare in modern literature. I marvel at the poetic prose, in the midst of war:
“Colossal chunks of sculpted stone, the elegant art of master manipulators, smashed against the sheer walls and plunged into the silver river far below.”
“Braced within the trees, she screamed and shifted. The air rippled with heat. Leaf litter withered. Twigs smoldered and erupted into flames.”
This book remains unpredictable till the last page but the trilogy must be read in order, if you want to understand the values embedded within it. Highly recommended.
– Balroop Singh
Emotional Shadows 