Exploring themes of balance between fulfillment and disappointment, the poems reflect on the gifts and losses of life. The author thoughtfully examines how joy persists despite challenges, emphasizing the simplicity of hope and the importance of embracing it. Through introspective verses, the collection encourages readers to breathe deeply and choose hope as a guiding force.
Exploring the profound bond between mothers and daughters, this collection delves into themes of loss and memory, stemming from the poet's experiences with her mother's illness and passing. Potos crafts vivid imagery that captures moments of connection, such as sharing breakfast or embracing the essence of loved ones in beautiful settings like Italy. The poems serve as both a tribute and a healing prayer, intertwining light and shadow to honor relationships and the enduring presence of those we've lost. Each piece resonates with emotional depth and universal significance.
The works of revered women writers, particularly the Bronte sisters, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath, have been such a lens for Andrea Potos. Her poems in this collection pursue the trail of creative genius in their lives. Potos is on intimate terms with her subjects, while journeys to their homes offer relics of their history, true marvels for a pilgrim. These vibrant, impressionistic poems are haunted by lives long past whose voices still ring clear and strong. 2013 Oustanding Achievement Award in Poetry from Wisconsin Library Association.