Human being has the will power to travel through an exhausting journey, win a tough battle, and heal a deep wound. Strength from hope keeps us going until the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight and striving until the storm is over. Hurdle in her poetry collection includes themes of personal experiences in nature, difficult relationship, cancer treatment, marriage, parenthood, remembrance, … remembrance, reflection and inspiration. She reveals the honest self-talk and reflects a heart filled with optimism, faith and trust. She loves music, photography and watercolor painting and includes photos and paintings to complement the poems.
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The author of this collection of poetry and short snippets takes us on a journey through life—her life—as seen through the music of words and photographs. She shares experiences through marriage, parenthood, the loss of loved ones, even cancer treatments. Heartfelt and often spiritual, the book resonates with strength, love, and faith. There are multiple poems and snippets that touched me, but a few that really stood out are Cocoon-Butterfly, A Tribute to My Dad, and Gratitude for Being. Each reader will no doubt find poems that speak to their heart. Although this collection is a reflection of the author’s life, the beauty and spirit of the work brings something for everyone.
Songs of Heartstrings: Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude is the first book of poems I’ve read by Miriam Hurdle. This collection was published in 2018 after the poet found hope through the many lessons she’d experienced in the previous years of her life. Nature inspired her, pushed her to conquer all the obstacles thrown in her path. Though not a frequent reader in this genre, I do review these works a few times each year, as I studied poetry in college and find myself interested in reading it on occasion. I am glad I chose this one and encourage others to give the author a chance too.
The collection is organized in a few manners: by type of poem and by category. In fact, to me, some were mini stories and not necessarily a poem. That said, the author clearly shows us that poetry comes in all forms. It’s not just about rhyming or repetition. Nature is the first focus, aptly titled Songs of Nature. I feel like Ms. Hurdle wrote her poems while sitting in nature, witnessing the great beauty of animals, insects, weather, trees, and other naturalistic parts of our world. Frequent photographs, some the author took herself, accompany the sections, showing us the inspiration of what led to the poem.
Rooted with some religious beliefs, the author connects with God to openly ask for help and thank the Creator for all that she’s been given. There is raw pain and innate fear in the words, but there is also hope and promise. At just the right moments, Ms. Hurdles takes a swift turn to share something more light and funny, almost poking a bit of amusement at something that tickles her in nature. It fits, almost matching the surprises in store for all of us throughout the day.
One of my favorites, A Tiny Spider, is simple but deep:
A tiny spider labors
every night to
spin his web in
perfect symmetry.
What an innate architect is he!
patiently watches for
his prey to volunteer.
Meal for the night and
reward for the
labor and wait.
Before dawn, down
his trap and hides away.
When the night is nigh
he starts his day.
Spins his web
again, again.
Again!
Covering other basic human emotions and complex dreams, we experience dissonance, physical healing, marriage, parenthood, tribute, reflection, challenge, and inspiration. I personally enjoyed the conversations with her parents, learning about how she connected with them from two continents so far apart. Kudos to the author for a wonderful opportunity to express herself and wade through the pain and sacrifice we encounter in life, only to find the ray of light through words and expressions. 4.5 stars for the full collection.
In some ways, Hurdle’s collection of poems reminded me of a memoir. The book is divided into “Songs” (sections) that cover different aspects of her life’s journey. Among them, the author touches on her love of nature; her reflections on relationships, marriage, parenting, cancer treatment; and her remembrances of the people who were meaningful in her past. The poetry is complemented by Hurdle’s photos and artwork. This gentle book provides an afternoon of peacefulness as all of the poems reflect the author’s innermost heart. One of my favorites is a villanelle entitled “I Sat in my Garden.” I recommend this collection for readers who enjoy a glimpse into a poet’s life through her words.
4.5 stars.
What a lovely collection of poetry, photography and paintings. I really enjoyed this poetry collection. Songs of Heartstrings tells the story of the author’s life and the many difficulties she has overcome. It is heartfelt and personal. Miriam Hurdle’s poetry touches upon human frailties: struggling through cancer, learning to love again, rejoicing in the gifts of parenthood, music, exalting in the joy of nature, friendship and the sadness that returns with loss.
There is much that I related to, especially the poems of nature and the sea. Both of which mean a lot to me. It’s clear that Miriam Hurdle takes a great deal of comfort from religion and she shares her faith in her poetry.
The reader is enriched from reading Songs of Heartstrings with a sense of shared reminiscences and a deeper connection. Miriam Hurdle’s poetry is simply that, truthful, personal and real.
My recommendation: Highly recommended.
This is an intimate portrayal of first love, betrayal, a health crisis, and second chances all couched in beautiful, inspiring words from the heart.
A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITES
Dawn
Bright sun
Fresh air
Soft breeze
Sweet rose
Close my eyes
Feel the warmth
Breathe the mist
Sense the brush
Smell the scent
Close my eyes
Think on Thee
HURDLE, MIRIAM. SONGS OF HEARTSTRINGS: POEMS OF GRATITUDE AND BEATITUDE
From Healing
The healing of the wound didn’t come from
the source of the anguish, but came from letting go of
the act and the actor.
HURDLE, MIRIAM. SONGS OF HEARTSTRINGS: POEMS OF GRATITUDE AND BEATITUDE
This book, with its theme of survival, will strike a cord with all readers.
“Songs of Heartstrings – Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude” is a most enjoyable book of poetry. Told in the first person, Miriam Hurdle takes you along on her many journeys, in the ups and downs, of life. I particularly enjoyed the photos, placed before many of the poems. It brought me closer to what Miriam was relaying in her words.
My favorite poem is “Life’s Currents”. Here, the author reminds us we are never alone, no matter the hardships we might face in our time here on Earth. There is no doubt Miriam has a strong faith and relies on it for many of life’s obstacles.
The book is broken up into eight different sections, making it a very pleasant read. Miriam uses different styles of poetry, so you’re never just reading. She easily gets and keeps your attention throughout. If you are looking for a poetry book filled with inspiration, and thought provoking passages, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this to any and every one, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Songs of Heartstrings – Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude”.
Songs of Heartstrings by Miriam Hurdle is a lovely collection of freestyle poetry written from the heart.
The book is divided into nine sections of songs that cover much of what the author has gone through in life, from getting married and giving birth, to losing a parent and surviving cancer. Reading this book felt very intimate at times because it seemed the author’s heart and soul went into writing it. At the start of each section the author shares quotes which I liked. I also enjoyed the photographs and drawings that she shared with some of the poems.
I had many favorite poems but “Mom and Dad” is at the top of my list. I loved it because it reminded me so much of my own parents.
A wonderful poetry book by Miriam Hurdle.
Songs of Heartstrings is a unique collection of poetry, photography and paintings depicting the author’s journey through the highs and lows of life.
She has divided her poetry into Songs of Nature, Dissonance, Physical Healing, Marriage, Parenthood, Tribute, Reflection, Challenge and Inspiration.
The challenges of a difficult relationship, chemotherapy, the loss of her parents and the death of her husband’s dear friend Randy, are captured beautifully in her heartfelt words.
I smiled as she recounted meeting her husband for the first time, and discovering their shared passion for exercise and keeping fit.
Although the birth of their daughter Mercy was difficult, she has obviously brought great joy to her parents.
I look forward to reading more of Miriam’s poetry.
Miriam Hurdle’s collection of poetry is a song about life. She writes from her heart, uses images we all understand, and positions photographs throughout. This is a book to savor, to read one section at a sitting, to return to a particular poem over and over again, to simply enjoy. The book drew me to Miriam’s blog, which is as lovely as the book. If you like poetry, this one will warm your heart. Highly recommend.
Miriam Hurdle’s Songs of Heartstrings (2018) is a beautiful collection of poetry, inspired by music and nature, focused on thankfulness. She masterfully blends the two, at times, in the same poem, other times, simply under the same theme. Which works oh so well. I’m a fan of both music and nature (I’m a retired violinist and an armchair naturalist). There’s a resilience and honesty to both, a desire to tell the truth in their very essence. Miriam touches all corners of these worlds, from the grand outdoor sweep to the work of the tiny hummingbirds. Each poem in the collection (or most? I confess–I didn’t count, just noticed lots) includes not only Hurdle’s gorgeous words but a picture to inspire those more attuned to the visual, often taken by Miriam herself.
And as I lost myself in the feelings of her poems, I realized she was often sharing personal stories that shaped her life.
“The lessons I learned from nature give me hope and provide strength for the tired feet.”
xx
“Nature has a great capacity for healing and surviving devastating destruction.”
“When the night is nigh he starts his day. Spins his web again, again. Again!”
Miriam organizes her poetry into categories like Songs of Nature, Songs of Dissonance, Songs of Physical Healing, Songs of Marriage, and more. Each category includes a multitude of poems. For example, under Songs of Challenge, the poems include Heart’s Desire, Roses, Mortal, Dancing, Stories, and Autumn. Here’s one of my favorites:
“Serendipity It was serendipity we met. Summer had not started yet, it was the final week of school. I went to this group of people who met at a home. We chatted, we snacked. You asked what I did for fun, I smiled, didn’t answer the question, then flexed the arms to show my muscles; under your shirt were bigger muscles. You looked at me with a smile, you worked out also for quite a while. The whole night, I didn’t see other guys’ faces, you occupied my entire mind’s spaces.”
I read this one to husband. His response: “This is life changing verse.”
So grab a copy and read it slowly every time you need recentering.
This is a collection of poems, photographs, and drawings that tell stories from Ms. Hurdle’s life. They include sitting in nature, giving birth, death, illness, and loss. Faith and being a survivor are strong themes throughout “Songs of Heartstring.” My favorite part was when the poetry connected to nature, but all the poems were heartfelt and lyrical. The tribute to the author’s parents was touching, along with the loss of a friend. The glimpse into dealing with cancer was inspiring. Although this was a quick read, it’s full of depth and can be enjoyed more than once. This is a book that poetry lovers will enjoy.