Love is the second book in the series of my poems written as a young girl, Memories from another Lifetime. It was published on 28 January 2023 and is dedicated to all who have loved deeply.
Not long after I published the first book in the series in November 2022, Memories from another Lifetime: Pain, I started working on my second book. This time the process went much faster, and I had a clearer sense of which poems to include.
Ever since I can remember, love has been an important part of my life – romantic love, unrequited love, spiritual love. So, it was only natural that the second book of poems should be about love.
Love explores the theme of love from the first, innocent brush with love, through the complications of love, ending finally with the reunion of the two lovers.
My understanding of love has, of course, evolved over the last four decades of my life, yet these poems written as a young girl still resonate with me, as I hope they will resonate with you, dear Reader.
Lay Me Down to Sleep, Oh Love
Here is an extract from one of the poems in my book, Lay Me Down to Sleep, Oh Love. I wrote this in 1983 at the age of 16 years:
The body has long
Imprisoned the spirit
So give me this freedom
Oh Love.
The river of futile tears
Will dry –
We will part in dignity
You and I
So let me go this once
My Love –
Lay me down to sleep.
What did readers have to say about my first book, Pain?
Publishing a book of poems as an unknown author is not an easy task, and I am very happy and grateful for the wonderful reviews I received by genuine admirers of my poetry. Here are three of them, published on Amazon.
“Poetry at its very best” – Steve Brown
This is poetry at its very best, not just verse to read through and move onto the next one.
Each poem is a story rich in emotion and deserves to be reflected on once read.
Astonishing that a young lady in her teens could be so talented and deeply affected with feelings normally reserved for one much older.
This work will live long in memory.
“Articulating Pain with Dignity” – Ranga Rajah
Expressing Pain in verses is done by many poets, but, articulating it in a dignified manner is where many falter.
While reading those poems one gets the feeling that the language, vocabulary used for expressing the sufferings and pain is coming from a place of maturity, someone wiser, and older than a 13-year-old.
Because this poet was bestowed with the gift of maturity at a tender age, we, her readers are getting a chance to enjoy and relate to her poems.
“Dark and very moving” – Susan M. Levin Aagesen
I felt the sadness in this poetry, as if I were there. It was beautifully written and you can feel the writer was haunted by these memories.
Thank you!
If you enjoy my poetry, please do leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads – this is more important for authors than most readers realise. Your review will help other readers find good books to read. Thanks in advance!
Vanita Shukla Hork, January 2023