Taj Mahal Review of Satin Verses
Dr. Nilanshu Kumar Agarwal in Taj Mahal Review, wrote:
Waldrip writes in his Preface: “…for purposes of some of my poetry I go along with the metaphoric theory that God worked “six days” putting the laws of the universe in place, then went on vacation, where He is today.” This acute and vigorous remark can be illustrated from several poems in Satin Verses, which is divided into five Sections. The first section POTPOURI starts with an essay on poetry itself about the role of rhyme in verse. The next poem, “POETRYDOTCOM” is a complaint sent to Poetry.com for their length restrictions in poetry contests. The poet believes that a long entry could be the best. Several poems like “Tiny Tyrant”, “Child Care” and “Sparkling Amy” are jewels of lyrical intensity:
Sparkling Amy, come on now,
Sure you have got to smile somehow,
Give it up, give it up sweetly,
Sparkle, sparkle completely.
The section of love poems reveals vigor, vivacity and emotional sublimity. The poet declares in “To My Valentine”:
February the fourteenth, nineteen ninety three,
What a beautiful day for you and me!
Spent this day together eleven times before,
We’ll spend it together many times more.
The fourth section ‘Population Explosion’ shows the depth of the poet’s thought. The poems are a curious mixture of conversation and song. The regenerative DNA microscopic vessels are “half-folk”. The poet becomes colloquial:
Segregate half-folk, for everyone’s good,
‘Til you’re totally ready for parenthood.
The final section ‘Essays’ explores “the historic and pre-historic struggle “between rationalism and dogma.” Waldrip decides to “live my life on this earth\ Without concern for an eternity berth.“ In “September 11, 2001”, the poet analyzes the role of God in such a calamity. Is God completely neutral? The poet asks:
Was it the members of one religion only
Who perished in the calamity lonely?
Satin Verses is a subtle interpretation of the special movements of Waldrip’s mind. Perhaps more than any of his contemporaries, Waldrip is inspired by what is happening. Satin Verses makes it evident that Waldrip is amystic, a moralist, and a psychologist. The book is remarkable for clarity, elegance, aptness and gentle persuasiveness.
(CYBERWIT’S INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Devoted to Arts, Literature, Poetry and Culture, December, 2002)
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http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
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Genre: Poetry
Author: . Leland Waldrip
Line/Publisher Rappahannock Books
ISBN: 1 892105 07 1
Interesting read Recommended 4.5 stars
The Review
Table of Contents for Satin Verses includes 15 poems comprising Potpourri 1, 7 poems found in Political/Social Comment, 3 Love Poem’s, 7 works inclusive to Population Explosion, and 13 Essays.
Tiny Tyrant captures the essence of the lovely, tiny and lethal birds who surround my humming bird feeder. Sparkling Amy: the author’s poem for his six month old daughter is a treasure sure to touch the emotion of every parent. The author brought a smile to this reviewer’s lips with The (nasty) Boys of Summer anyone who has encountered the biters found in summer grasses will identify. To My Valentine is a lovely work filled with good suggestions for keeping marriage together. The Red Oak Thief allows the writer to vent his frustration when life hands him a sour moment, Antecedant Chemistry appealed to the genealogist in myself.
Writer Waldrip furthers his writing prowess with this 92 page book of verse. Waldrip’s versatility is well showcased in this little volume. I believe my favorite of the works is Tiny Tyrant, Waldrip must have been hiding in my yard and watching the little feathered beasties as they battle for the feeders.
Waldrip says in his preface that ‘writing poetry is a fun way to take a break from writing novels.’ Satin Verses is a very credible effort for filling that break from novel writing.
Satin Verses is a perfect little book for a quiet afternoon. Happy to recommend
Reviewed by: molly martin
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead