It’s a common thing. As we go through life, we discover that people and things are frequently not what they seem to be, and what we understand to be the truth of our own experience often turns out to be something quite different instead. Life is as full of illusions as it is of genuine experiences.False friends abound. Trials hurt, but then deliver unexpected strength and blessings. People put … blessings. People put up smokescreens to hide their true intentions or feelings; and only sometimes do we ever discover why. The world seems hateful until someone delivers light and love in a surprising way.
The poems in this new collection explore some of the illusions and deceptions people experience in their lives, the clarity and wisdom gained from hindsight, and the lessons we can learn from them.
“Smoke and shadows yield to glimpses of light—
Only then we begin to see:
When we learn to perceive things as they are,
We can have peace with whatever will be.”
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This collection of poems hold a dark vibe that is both beautiful, evocative and in place even a little uncomfortable. This book takes you on a journey through sadness, loneliness, loss, and darkness but within all of this, you also find new hope, a sense of revival, survival, and rebirth. I felt these poems are full of strong feelings and echo the truth of life in a way that makes them a very worthwhile read. One of my favourites was The Past Is Dead: It Is Now Buried, but there’s a bit for everyone in this book and I would recommend it whether you already love poetry or just fancy dipping your toe in for the first time.
This touching and enlightening collection of poetry by Author/Poet Joanne Van Leerdam, explores some of the illusions and deceptions that people experience in their lives while demonstrating the clarity and wisdom gained from hindsight.
I must admit that I’ve read all of Van Leerdam’s poetry collections to date, and I am a tremendous fan of her work, but thus far, “Smoke And Shadows” stands as my all-time favorite. “Mirror, Mirror”, “Masquerade”, “Poison Chalice”, and “In A Meadow Bounded By Ancient Trees” evoke memories of childhood fairytales that talk of overcoming one’s baser nature to become something more than they are. Complete with lessons and morals, this dramatic set of poems represent the triumph of good over evil and life over death.
As always, Van Leerdam’s poignant reflections of real-life instances are peppered throughout her collection, the most touching and heart-wrenching of which is a poem written for a fellow countryman titled “The Past Is Dead: It Is Now Buried”—A poem written on commission by a Garvoc farmer recounting the St. Patrick’s Day bushfires in south-western Victoria, Australia in March 2018.
Van Leerdam’s uncanny ability to see life bare, in all its glory and complexity, drives her talent forward to new heights in “Smoke And Shadows”, and I highly recommend this poetry collection for ages 12 and up.
Under No Illusion
As the poet discloses to her readers, this collection explores various illusions and deceptions people experience in their lives. Cutting through the “Smoke and Shadows,” many of Joanne Van Leerdam’s poems reveal personal truths about herself. One poem I can particularly relate to is “Sunset Rendezvous” because I find the nuances of the sea restorative.
Without dropping names, she exposes those in the shadows who hide behind their true intentions. In that regard, “Rigmarole” and “Final Notice,” in addition to others, come to mind.
Others poems are inspirational and empowering, whether embodying the genres of Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Magical Realism, or Allegory. Citing one of my favorites, “In a Meadow Bounded by Ancient Trees” – Adana, the lone warrior-maiden, heir to a throne, vanquishes a minion of a darker power and his army simply by wielding her sword. An empowered young woman, she defeats evil by the courage of her convictions and by harboring a sense of justice.
A few poems poignantly reflect upon occurrences resultant of the St. Patrick’s Day bushfires in southwestern Victoria, Australia on March 17, 2018.
I highly recommend this poetry collection where the poet is under no illusion in exposing truths and conveying her emotions. She achieves this literary feat like Shakespeare—using exquisite language to tell her story in each poem, thereby tugging at your heartstrings.
Loved it.
The darkness, the tragedy, and the poetic stories that drive deep into the heart of despair and wretchedness. This is a poetry collection that does what all poetry should do, make you think, feel, and overcome. A quick read and highly recommended.
No matter what life throws at you, whether it’s fire, flood, or relationship troubles, these poems show the beauty in it all. I appreciate the insights of trouble and how it transforms the person experiencing it into something better and stronger than they would have been without the adversity. These poems are beautiful!
As always, Joanne Van Leerdam’s poetry delivers an honest, sometime playful, sometimes morose, always insightful look at life. With names like Rigmarole, Adrift, Pandora, Curious Dreamer, Out of Joint and Fairy Lights, you can quickly gage the imagination and creativity laced into the poems, but there is also a piercing quality that has you seeing yourself in the lines, even when you don’t want to. Van Leerdam’s writing is inspirational – her words make you want to persevere, to be a better person, to keep looking up. Reading her work gives you a wonderful feeling of being understood and appreciated. Highly recommended.
An exceptional collection of poetry. In her vulnerability, the poet deeply connects with the reader, sharing near-universal experiences. A book of poetry to reread over and over.