Friday, November 21, 2008

The Sighing of the Winter Trees by Laura Grossman (with author guest post)

The Sighing of the Winter Trees is a collection of numerous poems by Laura Grossman. In the book's 144 pages, Grossman covers a variety of themes, the most popular being love and romance, flowers, chocolate, seasons, weather, and water.

The poems are very short, some only a few lines long, and the book is a good choice for readers interested in concise images and simple interpretations. I like the title of the book, and the one poem that stands out to me is the one in which it is featured:

Warmth, Laughter and Cheer

If I were to be
Alone
I would notice the sighing
Of the winter trees
Against the sky and the warm
Glow from the fireplace (page 5)


While The Sighing of the Winter Trees is not my cup of tea, given that I like longer poems with more depth and narration, I like that the book reaches out to people who normally think poetry is too complex.


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About Laura Grossman

Laura graduated from Lehman College with a degree in English literature and won several awards from poetry contests. She has attended poetry readings and has enjoyed positive feedback on her work.

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As part of the Pump Up Your Book Promotion tour for The Sighing of the Winter Trees, I'd like to welcome Laura Grossman to Diary of an Eccentric with a guest post that gives you a glimpse into the emotions with which she infuses her poetry.

My Winter Memory
By Laura Grossman

If I were to be alone I would notice the icy sky outside and the warm glow of the fire on the fireplace. It was winter recess, and I had gone to a ski resort with my beau, who was downstairs waiting for me. I knew that he and I may be getting engaged because we had been going together for a year. I bathed and put his favorite perfume on, dark red lipstick. I wore a dark warm red puffy blouse.

I walked down the stairs as if from heaven and sat with Matt my beau. We stared into each other's eyes. Warm delight overcame me. There we were after dreaming of this moment for a long, long time. Then finally it happened. He held my hand. "Yes, Matt?" I asked, looking at his warm eyes and the warm glow on the fireplace. "Will you?" "Will I what?" I asked Matt. "Will you marry me?" "Yes, Matt." We embraced each other. He put on a crystal engagement ring.

I took the drink of cherry and bubbled over the diamond engagement ring.

Matt and I had fun skiing, and afterwards we drank hot cocoa and loved beside the fireplace. He held me saying, "I love you and I can’t let you go." And I felt the same way about him and his beautiful engagement ring. Matt's heavenly eyes, his long beautiful nose and mouth, his beautiful dark hair enticed me. We were in love. But we were going to different colleges. Would our love survive?

When winter recess ended, I went back home. Matt and I promised to call each other every week. On the plane trip back home I looked out the window and thought of Matt. He was so precious like the stars above. The plane soared in the night. I was in love with Matt, and I thought of him constantly on the plane trip home. I dreamt of Matt. In the beautiful night time sky I arrived home. My parents picked me up at the airport. My Dad greeted me with a kiss. It was late at night, and my Dad and Mom were glad to see me, greeting me with a smile. I had Matt's engagement ring. We were all so happy.

Thanks, Laura, for sharing this special memory with me and my readers!


Disclosure:  I received a free copy of The Sighing of the Winter Trees from the author for review purposes.

7 comments:

Serena said...

I wonder did her relationship last...she doesn't say!

Jeannie said...

I love poetry and these short, stanza-like poems works with my busy schedule. Nice book!

Anonymous said...

I'm one of those who have trouble with poetry. Maybe I should try this book out. I did enjoy her winter memory.

Lenore Appelhans said...

I'm not a big poetry reader at all, but that is a beautiful poem.

Ladytink_534 said...

I tend to lean more toward older poetry like Frost and Yeats but I do like poetry with fantasy elements like by Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman.

William R Potter said...

Sounds like a nice collection!


William

Anna said...

Serena: You're right, but I'm assuming it turned out just fine or she wouldn't be writing about it as a fond memory.

Jeannie: They definitely are short and easy to read!

Nicole: Let me know what you think if you get a chance to read it.

Lenore: I don't read poetry as much as I used to. This really was the one poem that talked to me.

Ladytink: I enjoy Frost and the older poets myself. Dickinson is my personal fave.

William: It's a good collection for people normally scared off by poetry. I wish it had more substance, though.