Carol Allis describes her book of poetry as “poems for and about ordinary people and the things that mean most to us.”
On the back of her book it says, “She wants to help bring back the loving link that used to exist between ordinary people and their poets.”
Not all poetry can be understood, right? And sometimes I read it and wonder if I’m not very smart. Then I remember that poetry is art and it’s not always meant to be understood. Or, it’s meant to be understood however you need to understand it, and that’s pretty magical.
The thing about Carol Allis’ poetry is that it’s not over-simplified, and yet it resonates deeply because it truly is for the ordinary person. Like me, a mother in Minnesota with three children who can see herself in the midst of the words about the daily grind and the simple moments of life. I may not always know who Carol is describing, but I know exactly what she’s seeing and feeling because of observing an ordinary person in a ordinary moment, like grocery shopping or waiting for a bus on a sidewalk.
This is my favorite, you know. Seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. That’s what Carol does. A story forms in her soul in just a few shared moments with a stranger or the average silly night with a group of friends. Then she takes what her heart said and brings it to the page in poetry and I’m seriously in love with it.
Please don’t miss this book.
prepared
“The books piled on the coffee table
In the little basket by the chair
And in the bookcases downstairs
Just for unread books
Are promises
Insurance
For the days when I cannot afford to buy anymore
Or am no longer able to go out
Or the libraries, God forbid, suddenly close
Because we cannot afford both war and books
Or when The Revolution comes
And our computers, Palm Pilots
Blackberries, e-books
And the whole shebang go dead
Then I will have my manual Underwood typewriter
And my old-fashioned books
That need no electricity
And I will sit by candlelight, as folks used to
And be content”
See? What a great Christmas gift, friends. You could even add your ordinary and extraordinary poem as a part of the gift! So PIN this post, huh? Or bookmark it or something. Let’s give Carol loads of much-deserved attention.
Thank you, friends!
You can find the book through Carol’s site.
{ 3 comments }
That is a great poem; very apocalyptic. It definitely resonates with me. It makes me wish I still had my old Smith Corona typewriter. I plan to check out the book. Thanks :)
Robin recently posted..Yesterday’s Dreams – by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
oh!! heather! thank you for telling me about this book. As an ordinary person who finds herself writing poetry too, I so love finding poetry that doesn’t well, downright befuddle. I cannot wait to get this. that first piece is awesome, and sure i will find myself in her words, and my world written down in ink. yay!
tara pohlkotte recently posted..The Peace of Quiet Activism
This book sounds positively wonderful, and I can’t wait to read the poems. Thank you for pointing me to it. xox
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