Poetry
Shards of My Soul
Mark W. Turner
2008
Small Dogma Publishing
136 pages
There is beauty here.
Poet Mark W. Turner has injected his latest effort, Shards of My Soul, with large doses of beautiful and powerful images that stimulate thought and self exploration. This collection integrates themes of nature and the human condition using elegant descriptions that inspire vivid, compelling images.
"My Precious Lover" is a love poem that expresses an emotionally and physically consuming passion. The poem showcases Turner's innate ability to describe the human condition: "So true is our love, I cannot deny/Together as one, souls blend you and I... (12)." The author scores with depictions of simple, basic humanity.
In the title piece, "Shards of My Soul," the poet explores deeply rooted turmoil stemming from the artistic experience: "I Just Keep Losing My Nerve/Over Petty Quibbling/Ranting Supposed To Uplift/Verbal Waftings... (11)."
In his nature pieces, such as "A Canticle of Summer," Turner draws pictures that evoke feelings, sights and sounds relating to the world and its animal inhabitants. The reoccurring nature-influenced verses place the reader in the middle of the jungle, on a beach, in a field, and in a cave that houses a temple. Many of the poems share stories of journeys to exotic places.
Turner, who is also the author of Across the Universe, employs the use of several styles including the sonnet and the sestina. The poet excels in the use of haiku. There are several in the collection and they are all power packed and enlightening.
Shards of My Soul is a collection of poetry that focuses on the beauty of nature and humanity. It speaks to the core components of all life.
Melissa Levine
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Independent Professional Book Reviewers
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