book reviews
Reviews of the best poetry books, collections and anthologies; discover poems and up-and-coming poets across all cultures, genres and themes.
“Kindling the Cosmos”
--- They say the stars were once cold— silent observers adrift in a dark, empty void. But one day, a curious child, too bold for her own safety, climbed to the rim of the heavens carrying a match and a heart full of wonder. She gave each star a tale— not facts, but feelings— because even the cosmos longs to feel alive. She spoke of sunflowers so tall they whispered their dreams to the moon, and of birds who gave up flight in exchange for the wisdom of stillness. She soothed the black holes with lullabies, telling them they weren’t monsters, just weary beings needing comfort. And slowly, the universe changed. The stars began to glow with warmth, comets spun joyfully— like children free from chores and rules. The constellations reshaped, not to guide travelers, but to spell her name— because even eternity holds on to acts of gentle grace.
By Nasir Khanabout a year ago in Poets
Beneath the Willow Tree
The first time Noah saw the girl beneath the willow tree, she was sketching the sky like it might disappear any second. It was the middle of July, and the park was hot and green, full of kids screaming and sprinklers spinning in suburban rhythm. But under the oldest willow, a girl sat alone with a pencil, a notebook, and a thousand-yard stare that looked right through time.
By Shakil Sorkarabout a year ago in Poets
The Clockmaker’s Gift
In the heart of a fog-drenched town nestled between the mountains and the sea, stood a little clock shop that defied the passing of time. It was not a place most people noticed, even if they walked by it every day. The wood-paneled sign simply read: Avery's Timepieces, and in the dust-speckled window sat a curious array of ticking machines—some no larger than a coin, others towering like soldiers frozen in brass.
By Shakil Sorkarabout a year ago in Poets
