Riddles and Remedies: Poems about life, love and loss by C. Swart

This poetry collection focuses on the power of language as connection whether through reading or speaking and also focuses on the beauty of night-time falling and feeling small in the world under the cover of the night sky and at peace as nature speaks. Some stand out poems to me were: Your Hands, how the one you love so deeply can affect you simply by touch. Poetry Falls, about how easily you can write and be a poet when it's in your nature and it flows from you as natural as breathing. A beautiful book and fantastic intriguing title alluding to how as a poet to others you can be seen as writing or speaking in riddles but the writing to you is therapy.

Life Disorder: poetry, prose and affirmations by Ginnie Bale

This poetry collection focuses, trigger warning, on sexual assault and the aftermath you face in continuing on in life after, one clever and simple note to be included is a definition of sorts about the difference between depression and sadness. Having no tears and feeling numb or being full ready to overflow at any second completely weighed down by deep sadness. Some stand out poems to me were: Bad Habits, how we can easily tear ourselves apart and not see the strength and beauty of ourselves that others do and bury our feelings and emotions behind smiles and conceal tears wuthin until we feel safe to release them. Safe Harbour, about being the place people come trusting to be heard and held in times of pain. First Aid Kit For Emotional Wounds, all about ways to help heal your own pain and little things to boost your mood and cope with everything you've faced it was a great lost form poem. The collection was fantastic, from the openness it discusses life after such an event and from the title really fitting the way life falls into and feels disordered after everything you've lived through, survived and learn to thrive again in healing.

The Shape Of Loss by Kate Taviner

This poetry collection focuses on the pain of losing someone you love what it leaves behind and the grief that stays. Some stand out poems to me were: The Ward, about loss and how losing someone you love can make your thoughts linger on the turning point moment seeing past and your now present for you alone now. Stepping, about daring to embrace the future and step into the unknown to find better, how brave, bold and daring to try is after loss. This collection is like someone talking to you saying I understand and I get what you're going through and how the shape of any loss of a life in your life also changes you from before and after now.

Ode To An Embryo by Dawn Apiarist

This poetry collection focuses on early pregnancy loss, the hopes for the tender life that was then so cruelly taken away before it had a chance to flourish and explores all the emotions you can feel as a would have been mum facing the heartbreak of losing the chance to have your baby. A stand out poem to me simply titled, Death, was a simple poem reflecting on how people can consider a death of an embryo no loss as it was so early, yet, the fact is that was a life taking shape no matter how early and this collection honours the tender early life that never hot the chabce to flourish.

Love Lies by SaDee Hodge

In SaDee's newest collection of poetry she writes about the deep feelings developing in safety from a truly loving equal connection and the impact of kids and dogs in helping bring joy and love and how when you finally feel settled life can become uprooted unexpectedly and when unwanted. Another deep feeling look into experiences of relationships, trust, PTSD trauma and love.

Forget Me Not: Poems on Loss by Charly White

This poetry collection focuses on grief and the effects of loss, touching on the subject of dementia and how it can feel to be around a loved one adapting to the situation you face now together, during after after loss too. It was such a relatable and devastating collection of poetry about a loved one being lost to dementia over time feeling like you're grieving all over again with every change that happens in the timeline after diagnosis towards the end, a reflective, sad but courageously written book.

Before We Do… On Purpose by T.Euke

This collection was all about the anticipation between two people and the emotions stirred between tension and opportunity building from things we observe in not just words but closeness of actions, scent, how we linger and when you finally make a move, the way it can leave you questioning and hoping after finally letting the tension break and actions lead to reactions, all on purpose choosing each other. I loved the flow of this poetic story of want, need and the way tension building and breaking between two people can lead to a becoming.

Embrace The Dark by SaDee Hodge

SaDee's newest collection of poetry is another powerful honest read and as always, some poems really hit me deeply: Helix Of Survival, was a poem about the danger a partner can make you feel by their hand and a few lines in particular resonated so hard with teenage me: 'survivors don't talk about the aftermath of escaping death' & 'survival takes its toll' both parts of that poem I feel deeply because teenage me experienced similar dangerous behaviour from another's actions. Stream Of Conscious Thoughts, was again so relatable about writing being an escape when facing bad times in life and to cope writing becomes your therapy. Revenge Not So Sweet, was a poem so understandable and relatable how you can feel nothing is truly yours anymore after such a relationship and how that can make you wish you could flip it and make them understand how you felt in the dangerous situation they made you face. Witching Hour Confessions, was a really great relatable poem again about late night thinking and how your overthinking and deepest thoughts can come spilling out in the comfort of darkness and being alone. The dedication to Eve, as well saying my reviews have been noticed was so touching and SaDee if you read this review too, thank you for writing your story and sharing it so others facing dangerous situations in relationships know they're not the only one's and that others out here understand too, never stop writing!

Poems For Ari by Shona More

This book of poetry was a tender collection in tribute to Ari, Shona's little boy, who sadly passed away after suffering with chronic kidney disease. Some stand out poems of this collection to me were: Suitcase, about returning home with item's only and not your beloved baby. Some Days, was a poem about the simple way grief changes day to day and the emotions that it brings day in day out you learn to adapt with. What If? Was a fantastic poem linking nature, hope and grief in searching for signs you can belive in to be from your loved one that has passed. This was a collection of some beautiful long poems which show the depth of a mother's love and even more touching wad the way every poem nearly of the collection ends, Love You Forever, as if reaching out with the words directly to her son, a beautiful loving touch.

Such Small Hands: Poetry on Grief, Love, and the Enduring Spirit by Tiffany Ann Dosal

This poetry collection is possibly the most relatable and heartbreaking one I've read about child loss and suicide so trigger warning for those topic's being discussed. Any death is a tragedy, but for a child or baby even more so when their life was shortened unexpectedly from what we believe they'll get which is decades of life not a handful of weeks, months or years and even more so when it's the result of suicide as a cause and because of bullying which is just completely devastating. The poems talk beautifully especially of how music threads us in life and after loss. The collection speaks of the weight of carrying grief daily through life making you feel like a ghost amongst the living and I think one poem we all can relate to and know is, Do Not Stand At My Grave & Weep and that was included in a quoted poem form as another relatable addition. Little Strawberry, Lovely Music and the line 'the cellist in black play,' all hit me hard as relatable poems as I was once a cellist in all black playing in aan orchestra letting the music speak as it can absolutely speak better than words at times, and the joy of sharing music and food bonds us in a way with each other a lot of the time we'd never get solo or with people who just don't get us Carousels In Heaven, was a melancholic yet beautifully wistful poem about the beauty and joy a carousel can bring and how such a beautiful thing you see in daily life and once saw together can leave a lingering hopeful tie you wish to still be a bind in life and beyond keeping you anchored and close to your passed loved one. Honestly, this collection is possibly one of the best about losing a child I have ever read for the depth and honesty with which it has been written and I truly hope that writing this has helped.

Lost In The Milky Way by Emmie Vale

This poetry collection is a bold and raw look into life post birth when it should be all joyous, instead depression and overthinking takes control and Emmi has really captured her experience and perspective of the situation she lived through and all she experienced with emotional detail. Some stand out poems to me were: An Omen, on the early pain of nothing going right and feeling nothing can or will. Missing Records, lack of evidence of anything you raise being concerned and worried about. She, Selfless, about the strength of a lone new mum and all they have to do caring for themselves as best they can and this nee little dependent one too. k.o, was a literal reflective poem, of how we say the opposite to stop worry so instead of everything being ok, it's not but we wish to raise no concern. I Count To One, I relate to so hard as an only child I realise growing up I was so lucky and my parents gave so much and I've seen others with siblings struggling more with timelessness from parents and pain of them splitting for reasons eventually too where as for one life can be more stable and the family unit stronger, one can mean a strong family unit for sure despite what anyone says, an only one is a precious one and the self awareness of putting them first over the worry of trying again and all you could worry about facing again shows depth of awareness to protect not hinder your family. Misplaced, about fighting judgement from others for your conclusion in building a family, again was a bold and secure message in knowing what you need to do over anyone else's judgement which shouldn't even come into such a decision where the reliance is on you not them. This was a deep emotional ride but I know so many people will feel it and sit with it relating to themselves within the poems too.

Till We Meet Again: For you, Mom by Delton Savio DSouza

I have to start this review with a quote from the book that we can all relate to: 'you have changed me permanently' I believe everyone we meet in life changes us, but no-one more so than a parent who's been right there from the start of our life shaping us and such a true line on love and grief, the love that remains in a new shape to adapt to cope with and make peace with. A stand out poem to me was: Time Has Become Unreliable, all about how the days and hours move the same but now feels untrustworthy for anything could suddenly happen and trying to achieve anything can feel hopeless when we all go eventually after being faced with such heavy grief and sudden loss. It flowed like poetic storytelling of real life learning to live with grief, the same but changed forever after the loss of such a beloved person in your life.

The Shore: A Journey Through the Blue - A Brief, Poetic Companion for the Lonely Walk Through Infertility, Loss and Grief by K.P. Grace

This poetry book reads as a memoir and a companion book to anyone also suffering and struggling through infertility, miscarriage and the loss of identity as a woman you can face when unable to achieve the baby you so desire and ache to have. From the way that nature and the sea, or the shore, can be a soothing experience in the depths of pain to feel cleansed and gain new perspective from a change of scenery and the beauty of the coastline and horizon the book was not only beautifully written flowing like we were walking the tide and journey side by side, but with beautiful watercolour style pictures annotating the journey too like we're exploring together and seeing the joint beauty we can easily miss from focusing only on the negatives served up to us. Beautifully written and illustrated.

When The Petals Fall, I Rise by Isobel Raine

A collection of poetry about embracing life after a break up despite how rough it feels at the start. The lies he told me was a beautiful few words, few lines but still packs a punch about not being or at least feeling like enough and each line of each poem is impactful even in being short verses.

Unhinged by Olena Rose

This poetry collection I really found myself relating to so many poems, Craving, for something real such a good poem of advice being shared. Swimming in fear too, about how easily we can let fear hold us back doing anything we want to as well as Letting Go, especially, is so relatable about losing sleep because of a person or situation you find yourself in trying to deal with. A great collection about love of self, others and growth to embrace situations not shy away from them.

Not Your Good Girl Anymore by Faith Hubble

Faith has become one of my favourite poets to have found so far, in this collection she touches on so many contradictory truths in love, life and faith and one particular poem, The Wife verse stood out the most for its blatant obviousness in the last two lines especially and My Body Was Never Mine, too again looking at how women can birth the next generation and still not be deemed equal to men in some views. As well as being 'good' by staying quiet in the community of faith and church under the eyes of whoever or whichever God or faith you choose to follow or believe and how it can feel misguiding or controlling instead of embracing of people for who they are firstly this poetry collection will be an eye-opener and get you thinking too about life situations.

Because I Love You by Despoina Kemeridou

A great short and sweet collection of poetry about being in love and all the flourishing feelings and joy it can bring in this collection my favourite poems that stood out were, Safe space and Your Warm Embrace. Really lovely poems especially capturing the power human connection can have from an initial connection to flourishing friendship or love.

Stardust & Shadows by Stella Violet Frances

Firstly trigger warning, there is mentions of abuse, loss and cancer in this book. The blank page is a great poem any of us can relate to the joy of a blank page to write and create, dream anything you want and Cats are such good friends too, animals are always there for us through the rough and tough to the joyous times we face. The end of the book also had a really touching note to remind us all to keep going in life despite any struggles we have one again we can all find a way to relate to I'm sure.

Warning I'm Out Of Estrogen by Faith Hubble

The poems in this collection are so clever and fun whilst being so painfully at times true about growing older as a girl for sure I have elder family members this collection has been relatable to fir them when I've shared the book eith them I love the I wake at 3am poem about sheep running off with sleep such a fun view of the situation and made me smile I can really relate and I live by some real sheep that are characters too a joyful yet realist view of life aging as a woman!

Let Me Be Wild Again by Isobel Raine

Isobel has written beautifully about life and her observations documented here are short and impactful in each verse. The mirror doesn't lie was a super relatable poem about change after a relationship along with I was never asking for too much, which can be such a true statement depending on the relationship situation. I completely relate to the message of just be you as well after all faking being someone else to please someone will never work out, relatable truthful poetry and observations.

Roses Will Bloom From Your Dreams by Mara Thelling

A short deep and descriptive collection, In The Morning and Time, as themes of poetry capturing the what can be mundane everyday, as a joyous thing to just simply be thankful for another day of waking and existing. Simple ideas but nonetheless important!

Unreachable by Jimena Alvarez

A beautiful collection of honest poetry about various life situations you may find yourself. Borrowed Tears was a beautiful opening poem for this collection another poem, Hunger, about desire to progress constantly either in a job etc is relentless and insatiable the language of the poems pouring emotion, living completely up to the book's title.

Imagination Of Her by Mohd Farhan

This collection of poetry focuses on the deep love you can feel so certainly for someone with some poems with more depth as poems no 65, 70 & 74, talk about loss and love afterwards and how the way you feel for someone remains and adapts through the years as time progresses on too.

You Are My Sun by Munkh Zaya

This collection of poetry is so fun and playful especially in the first of four sections, I love you, stating simple facts from the author to their love in messages to each other. It is really well thought out and set out in design to read, short and sweet too. I also want to add a note as a British English reader I love that the author has taken the care to translate it for us to also enjoy pure care and dedication and from me as a reader appreciation to get to read this collection!

Strictly On Love by Virat Nimesh

This literally is a beautiful collection of poetry as the title suggets about Love and the wondering, hoping and discovery that ensues. Poem 25, to me was the most touching and true it was all about rain and feeling it, moving you when in love and after losing love too. For me this was a really touching series of poems and shows care of the love nurtured and experienced shone through trying to adapt and move on after a relationship breakdown too.

To My Muse by Areesha

This was a beautiful collection Areesha has written for her muse, every poem spoke tender truth of a relationship, of experiencing a crush and love and also sadly the fall out and aftermath of feelings left behind. If Love Had A Face, about finding beauty in every day areas around us in nature and objects getting us thinking and appreciating beauty in every day life. From holding hands, sharing smiles, the poems make you think of the beauty in daily moments shared as well as, another particular poem, One Sided or limerent love poetry about loving someone who became a stranger again to you after sharing something between you. It was a quick collection to read but one of the most touching collections I've found and read yet.

That What Lingers by Tanyia Naidoo

Anyone who has felt the world against them at times, this collection of poetry feels like a friend saying I see the pain you're in I'm here, I get it. From death to feeling low or worthless trying to just carry on especially as bodies as homes or houses left to ruin trying their best to be fixed or copying others afraid to be yourself and stand out, there is something you can relate to in this collection.

Anatomy of Change: What It Costs to Become by M. M. Crusinberry

This new collection focuses on the cycle of renewal and change, how growth can be for better on reflection. After Winter, a great simple poem of seasonal change alike we go through times of change as humans too. It was a short collection to read easily in an evening and sit with.

Dear Self by Patience Tamarra

This was a lovely book about embracing yourself for all your flaws and feelings, positive or negative. Despite any situation, you can learn and live through it, forgive yourself and move forward and these short poems/verses will definitely help instil into your mind, things can get better and you can learn to embrace yourself better.

Carmina: not meant to explain by Janvi Shree

This book was great detailing all the thoughts and feelings of being deeply in like of someone, faking feelings to hide your true ones knowing they're unrequited and how you can be infatuated with someone and their potential you see in them. I love the title my mum is the only person I know to know Latin these days too which was a lovely touch and the verses were so deep despite being short a beautiful poetry collection.

May This Love Find me by Havilah Mae

A beautiful book rich with hope and anticipation of love. Hold My Hand and You Make Everything Better were two great poems about the joy of sharing love in evey day moments that I think many of us will really relate to. Each poem of the collection shows the beauty of love growing in everyday life moments over time together in various settings life presents us.