*The author provided me with a copy of the book in return for an unbiased review which follows*

My Recommendation:

This collection of poems is one man’s written philosophical journey through life. The book is divided into three sections – Love/Romance, Philosophical, and Inspirational. I could not help wondering if this was the way the author’s own life meandered on a path to wisdom and understanding. Each poem contained a story that seemed to capture a life moment and hold it in suspension as if waiting for us to read and share in the experience for the first time.

Life lessons abound in this collection of prose filled with poetic visions and worldly advice. One of my favorite poems was called, “Pride can be a Sword.” The words extol a virtue of forgiveness and confidence in your own life path. Most meaningful to me were these words, “…The lives touched now have purpose – face your fears…”

This is just one example of how David Ellis’ words reach out and grab you. His writing is down to earth and sometimes raw, exposing some welcome philosophical meanderings of my own.

Another favorite was called, “Modern Ragnarok.” For whatever reason this poem spoke and awakened something in the deep dark recesses of my mind. David Ellis writes:

“…Only the strongest tales survive

Built from foundations of flesh and bone

Azure oceans froth and writhe

Crashing wildly into the unknown

Bestowing a name to our pain

Ancient myths and prophecies

Retreating off this terrain

Fighting against past mistakes…”

Poetry and prose have a way of speaking to your heart and this is certainly the case with this collection. Sound and inflection are used to show a change in mood and to bring emphasis to meaning. It is the sound of the words, the alliteration, that always draws me in.

Of particular interest to me was the author’s love of acrostic poetry. This is where the first, last or other letters in a stanza spell out a particular word or phrase. David Ellis has created his own form which he lovingly calls his, “Acrostalyptica style,” which is evident in many of his works.

They say writing poetry frees your mind, and as a poet, you possess the creative ability to share your world reflections in a different light. This is what David Ellis’ style does. It leads the reader along as if telling a tale when in reality it is asking you to embrace your own experiences right along beside him.

The poetry of David Ellis is filled with empathy and compassion, wisdom and experience, all conspiring with your own emotions to bring you an insight you never had before. However, I also drew comfort, knowing David Ellis’ words shared in the joy and despair of life that we all experience. At times, I wondered if he read my mind.

I read these poems in a series of weeks, a few each night. The words are written to ponder and enjoy. Take your time and wander through life with David Ellis. I enjoyed the ride!

My Rating

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 4
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 4.5 out of 5 stars ( )