Poetic Nights by Dwight Francis

This isn’t exactly a review. I couldn’t do a review on a book of poems because prose and poetry are two very different things. I couldn’t very well review a whole book when each poem written in it is unique and completely different in many ways. This is a book of poems that I received from my awesome guidance counselor at my school. He is the author of this book, and it was great seeing a different side to Mr. Francis through his writing because I feel that is what poetry is all about, right? It’s about writing what you feel, the innermost part of your heart and bearing it out for others to see and experience with you. I really felt that here, as I read about his family and friends and life and goals.

I wrote down some of the poems that I enjoyed instead of an overall review. I hope you enjoy them! “Live long, live free, live happy for me.”

My Quest for Greatness

I traveled the world for all to see,

a shining beauty destined to succeed.

I am full of delight soaring above and beyond,

The skies is the limit, so please prepare my flight.

The road was rocy—full of rain and thunder,

But I had no fear, because this tiger is a hunter.

Meet me at the river, that’s where I lay,

From this turbulent journey, to God I pray.

You can rest assured I will not stray . . .

Forward into battle, a continuous movement

That involves no play.

So day-by-day I will fulfill my quest,

Striving for greatness to be the very best.

Blue Skies

As blue as the sky

I am vivacious and warm.

Fulling my heart with compassion,

Students embrace me with affection.

Loving and always nurturing, my sensitivity

Ignites a fire in their eyes, and that’s why

My love will always shine bright . . .

As bright as the blue skies.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Summary

Restless souls and empty hearts.

Brooklyn can’t sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

Number of Pages: 412

Review

First thing that I want to point out to you all is that this entire story is in the form of poetry. If there is one thing that bothers me is that when you read about how great a book is online, and you get it only to find that the book you ordered is in a completely different form than what you thought! Like getting for instance—I don’t know—a comic book (yes that has actually happened to me, you can imagine my disappointment). So when I read online about this really touching story of two grieving teenagers, and get it only to find that it isn’t a novel, but a bunch of poems, I thought of the comic book incident and got mad. But after my first initial feeling of annoyance, I figured I should give this book a try. I was impressed. This was the first poetry story that I read, and I liked it so much that it is most likely that it will not be the last. So I am giving you this information up front so that no one gets surprised. But I also want you to consider doing something new and maybe choose this story to read. Nico and Brooklyn are both grieving, both confused, and both being haunted, but by different spirits. Brooklyn is being full out haunted with nightmares, and sleepless nights by her friend, Gabe. Nico on the other hand isn’t being haunted so much, more like getting messages from his brother pushing him a bit to help the girlfriend he left behind, Brooklyn.

I loved the way poems keep everything honest, straight to the point. But if you are going to write a story completely created from poems, then it has to be done right. Chasing Brooklyn was done right. If the first poetry book I read was poorly created I can guarantee that I would be extremely hesitant to read another one. This book was sweet, sad, hopeful, and so many more emotions that connect the dots of these two people and their steps of letting go and finding love and comfort in one another. From 1-10? I am proud to give this book an 8.

9/11 Tribute

No words could possibly describe or express what happened to America nine years ago on this day. Even so, writers and poets have done their best to express everyone's devastating loss for the people that were killed, and the loved ones they left behind. I wish to honor everyone's sacrifices on this day with some lovely poetry that I hope will give you a sense of peace, understanding, and will help us to remember. These are written by all kinds of people, but in the end we are all the same in our grief.

The Day The Towers Fell

A sad day for America
 As rejoicing rang from hell,
 Awakening a mighty giant
 On the day the towers fell.

Our hearts were saddened
 As we watched this vicious act unfold,


As innocence met a fiery death
 And seeds of war were sowed.

Shouts rang out from the middle east
 That Allah has done his good


But no god joys in faultless deaths
 through certain cowards could.

America just sort of glides along,
 But don't step on her toes ...
For her belief in right and justice
Will stomp out freedom's foes.

~ Author Unknown ~

Well you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America


You hit the Pentagon, 
Again you missed America


You used helpless American bodies to take out other American bodies,


but like a poor marksman, you still missed America

Why? Because of somethings you guys will never understand


America isn't about a building or two,

not about financial centers

not about military centers


America isn't about a place,

American isn't about a bunch of bodies


America is about an IDEA.

An idea that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to,

live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness

(no guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try)!

-Anonymous-

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,


We became one color.


As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building


We became one class.


As we lit candles of waiting and hope


We became one generation.


As the firefighters and police officers fought
their way into the inferno


We became one gender.


as we fell to our knees in prayer for strength


We became one faith.

As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,


We spoke one language.


As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,


We became one body.


As we mourned together the great loss


We became one family.


As we cried tears of grief and loss


We became one soul


As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes


We became one people.

- Unknown Author

NEVER FORGET