Unbelievably Pretty and I didn’t lose power during the winds and rain of Hurricane Ian as it passed through our neighborhood two days ago. I held my breath and feared the worst: I wouldn’t be able to finish the Sidney Poitier documentary on Apple TV+ or watch A Raisin in the Sun afterwards. I needn’t have fretted about the telly, though.
During a rain recess I walked to the mailbox and was pleasantly surprised to find a copy of Rooted and Winged, poems by Luanne Castle, stuck among the host of political asks for financial support which are routine with the mid-term elections looming. Luanne is a blogging friend who shares my interest in personal history mixed with current cats, a love of family, a truth seeker and teller. Hooray, I thought to myself as I put the book down on my chair and returned to Sidney on the still functioning Apple TV+. Regardless of wind and rain, I had a book to read by candlelight. No need for candlelight – my lamp bulbs performed their duties without interruption.
As the title suggests, this latest collection of poems by award winning poet Luanne Castle vividly portrays her recollections of the people and places that grounded her for life as well as the later forces which led her to observe nature with more than casual acquaintance, confront change in a world spinning out of control, and ultimately gave her wings to the voice she now uses to simultaneously sound alarm while offering comfort.
Here are excerpts from two poems I found unforgettable.
Why We Wait for Rain
We wait for hours watching the dark unfurling
toward us, unsure
if it will land here at all
whether it carries thunderstorm or haboob
It smells like rain
bittersweet cocktail of sandstone & blossoms
still damp and quickening in the air
over ten thousand years…
And then this wonderful fantasy When I’m in Charge
Someday you will realize it was me
and know what you’ve lost.
When the cancer cure is announced,
I will be the anonymous healer.
I will defeat A.I. before it takes over
our world, outwit the hackers,
the scammers and spammers…
We’re all safe in the future because
of what I’ve done, outlawing grief
and its wily predecessor love.
This book as well as her earlier work is available through Amazon and Luanne’s https://www.luannecastle.com/bookstore.
Even if you believe you’ve never liked poetry, I encourage you to have a go at this collection. I guarantee you’ll surprise yourself by the emotions the images evoke even as your mind takes flight.
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Stay safe, stay sane, and please stay tuned.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Sheila, thank you so much. I LOVE your description of the book! This especially: “sound alarm while offering comfort.” How beautiful!
Here’s what is probably the best link for the book and my blog and all: https://www.luannecastle.com/bookstore/ Everything is in one place there.
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You’re most welcome, Luanne! I will try to change update blog to show this link.
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Thanks for the link – much easier!
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Great review, right from the heart.
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It’s a wonderful review! Thanks for checking it out, Anneli!
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Congratulations to Luanne for the excellent review! I am greatly looking forward to reading the book.
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Sheila is a wonderful reviewer and really “got” the book!
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It’s always so gratifying when that happens!
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What a powerful and impactful poem!
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Wonderful review! I look forward to reading the book soon!
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Wonderful review! So well done! 🙂
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Thanks so very much!
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Great review! Congratulations, Luanne!
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This is a lovely review of Luanne’s new poetry collection, Sheila. I understand the feelings of turning to nature for comfort. Congratulations, Luanne!
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Thank you so much for your kind words on the review. Luanne rocks!
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I agree with you, Sheila!
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