Poetry and prose are both meant to express a feeling. “Sticks And Stones” by Chelsea DeVries exudes an abundance of emotions, and she leaves nothing left to the imagination as she releases her feelings on the pages to provide readers with what they have before them. You can feel DeVries’ pain, misery, and confusion and her willpower and encouragement for others through the pages with poems like “Entertainer,” “Fight on Fighter,” and “Drowning in an Ocean of no Tomorrows.”
Reading “Sticks And Stones,” I realized that DeVries divulged a lot. But what I believe it boils down to, and the message behind and focal point of her poems and prose, is she’s experienced emotional and physical pain; she still has feelings for someone or multiple people, and in the midst of it all, she’s trying to find herself. As a reader, I like to see and feel what an author has written on the page, so having imagery is a big thing for me, and it was present throughout DeVries’ poems and prose.
I also appreciated her dedication page because it offered resources and words of wisdom. It was also nice that she provided the reader with the meanings behind each of her poems. This helped alleviate some of my questions because the answer was in the description. While I liked these things, there were some parts where I felt overwhelmed.
As I stated, DeVries unpacked a lot, and it was a bit much for me at times. “Happy Medium” and “Different Drum” are examples of two of her works where I felt befuddled after reading them. I give credit where credit is due, and DeVries did warn readers about what they were getting ready to read. All in all, “Sticks And Stones” will take the reader on a ride inside Chelsea DeVries’ mind, and you get to see the many facets of a woman on her journey who’s not afraid to bare her soul with the hope of helping someone else.
“Sticks And Stones” by Chelsea DeVries is available everywhere books are sold.
The Sound of Rain (Come Again) is a collection of poems written by Svateerth. These poems are quick reads that at times will have you laughing just by the title, and can also have you feeling a bit perplexed because of the meaning behind some of them.
This is what I appreciate about poetry, however. It is the freedom to express how you feel while making others think and feel something, and Svateerth does this. Some of the titles include Yet to Be, Here And Now, to the more quirky and funny, Farting. Readers can escape and relax for a brief moment by reading these poems. The Sound of Rain (Come Again) are simple poems written to make you relish the beauty and acknowledge the dark moments in life. Svateerth’s book, The Sound of Rain (Come Again), is available everywhere books are sold.
Born and raised in the Himalayan town of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim,one of Dr. Priya Dolma Tamang’s favorite quotes is from French philosopher and Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Dr. Tamang’s love for words provided her the opportunity to share her gift on an international scale. Ivory Gleam is a book of poetry and prose that addresses subjects including love, self and society, death, and life.
Morgan Lee Reviews had the chance to speak with Dr. Tamang about the inspiration behind Ivory Gleam and why she wants the children from her area to fight for their dreams.
Morgan Lee Reviews: Dr. Tamang, would you mind telling the readers about yourself?
Dr. Priya Dolma Tamang: I am, first and foremost, God’s child. I feel utterly blessed to occupy this worldly space with other creations of Divine. Biographically, I was born and bred in the tiny Himalayan town of Gangtok. My ethnic roots are tribal Nepalese. We follow Buddhism by virtue of birth. I am deeply invested in Hinduism as well.
Having graduated with a degree in medicine, I went on to serve as a Registered Medical Practitioner. It was much later in life that I rediscovered my love for words. The desire was dormant but existent. Art has also been quintessential in my growth as a person, aiding in spiritual advancement and alternative methods of healing. Despite English not being my first language and the likelihood of conversational setbacks, I have succeeded in delivering my ideas to a global audience.
MLR: Describe yourself in one word, and why?
PDT: Transparent. I am very open and honest about almost everything. At times, this may come across as crude or lack of sophistication, but I’d rather be spontaneous than pretentious. I am impulsive to a fault, and it will not be very difficult for anybody to read me. There are no agendas to my actions, no vendettas in my virtues.
MLR: What was your inspiration behind Ivory Gleam, and what was the thought process behind the titles for your poetry and prose?
PDT: My house is located at an astounding altitude. We are perpetually covered in clouds. There have been pensive moments when I’d stare into the vast expanse of shiny white clouds and rethink realities of life. Nature is a pure portal of connectivity to the source. My book, “Ivory Gleam,” was mostly written as episodic musings during such times of inner reflection. The clouds, ivory white in colour, were gleaming bright to play a pivotal role in my creative expression.
As far as the segments of the book go, there are three chapters of learning, longing, and loving, respectively. I wrote them at different phases of my life and in the same frame of mind as the titles justify. “Colloquial Delicacy” deals with insights on the various challenges that we face as social creatures. My opinions from encounters have been captured in crisp mindbenders. It is an assessment of generic human nature by an individual standard. “Soliloquy” talks of pain, hard-hitting and explosive. Betrayal and brokenness. The longing, the loss, and the melancholy. We conclude to complete a full circle with “Chivalry.” It is about love and the strength to love after all of the above. Romance is the highlight of the ending part.
MLR: Wow. What was the process like for you writing Ivory Gleam?
PDT: I wrote the isolated pieces over two years. Each piece was a result of some stimuli, be it inter or intrapersonal. They were not written for publication. They were mere pages of my journal; some posted on social media. I did not intend to have a book. However, with time and demand, my intentions evolved. I wanted something physical to hold for all the hours that were spent overthinking. I compiled those random rants into a manuscript and started publisher hunting. Leadstart Publishers, Mumbai, India, were the first to show interest. My work went through the mandatory phases of preliminary sample scrutiny, final manuscript approval, editing, proofreading, typesetting, cover design, ebook creation, printing, marketing, and distribution, in that order. I am glad that the book was taken up by the acquisition editor and could see the light of the day.
MLR: Congratulations! Are you planning on writing another book?
PDT: The title of my second book is “My Sonder Sky.” It is a dedication to someone close to my heart. This book is a continuation of my first, with better-framed poetry and prose. I reckon that my poetic skills have improved over the years. I have come a long way from “Ivory Gleam” and “My Sonder Sky” should be an appropriate closure.
MLR: Any advice for fellow authors, poets, and prose writers?
PDT: My only advice would be for you to stay true to your craft. Do not bend your natural tendencies to fit into somebody else’s small box. Your art should be a free-flowing conduit of love, light, compassion, and the power to heal. Every book is special. Every expression is a masterpiece if it comes straight from your heart. Your creation is your identity. It is not for anyone to identify you as superior or inferior. We are only different.
For a genre like poetry, it is important to discover a niche audience. Poetry is not everybody’s cup of tea. Each poem is a story in itself. The characters, the plot, and the climax are hidden between layers of metaphors. To decode this story from implied imagery, apt alliteration, rhyme schemes, and calculated meter, takes an active mind. There are open-ended interpretations to abstract literature. The readers should be ready to challenge themselves and see what they make of it. This speaks volumes of your psyche. What you take from any given written composition, is what your mind has elucidated. This is your personal revelation.
Those looking for an easy read or an interesting story to pass the night may not relish your concoction. This doesn’t mean that your work is below standard. It only means that they are not ready for what you have to offer, just yet.
MLR: What do you want people to take away from this interview?
PDT: Poetry is magical. Creativity is a gift. It does not matter to which corner of the world you belong, the language of souls is the language spoken by art. I want to encourage the readers to pursue their passion and allow that fire to feed them.
My presence as a writer and mild recognition on various fora ought to encourage children from my geographical area to fight for their dreams and develop enough confidence in representing their talent internationally.
Morgan Lee Reviews thanks Dr. Tamang for this interview. Ivory Gleam is available on Amazon and wherever else books are sold. If you haven’t, be sure to check out my previous interview with author Skylar Nightingale.
Poetry and prose enthusiasts this book is for you! Ivory Gleam written by Dr. Priya Dolma Tamang explores love, loss, death, birth, and self and society. There are three chapters: “Colloquial Delicacy of Learning,” “Soliloquy of Longing,” and “Chivalry of Loving.” Each chapter delves into the themes mentioned above. One of the pieces I found interesting was Rock Bottom. Dr. Tamang references faith and the importance of God’s plan over a person’s life in this piece, and I related to that because of my faith in God. “If Only” and “Victim” were others that interested me as well.
I also liked Dr. Tamang’s dedication in the book. She states,“An exclusive mention of heartfelt gratitude to my permanent pillars of strength and stability, my grandmother, my mother, and my father. I exist because you do, I survive because you trained, and I live because you love.”
As a poetry writer, I appreciated Dr. Tamang’s use of imagery and rhyme schemes. Ivory Gleam takes the reader on a journey, and in that journey I found myself wondering how she developed her titles as well as the inspiration behind this book. On the other hand, her word choice for some of the poetry and prose confused me a bit. Needless to say, this didn’t deter me from being able to finish reading the book.
Ivory Gleam isn’t meant to be read in one sitting. Readers should take their time to get the full meaning behind each piece because it is my belief that Dr. Tamang wrote this book for an audience who not only loves poetry, prose, or both, but she wrote it to challenge you, engage you, and ultimately make you feel something.
Dr. Tamang
Ivory Gleam is available wherever books are sold, and is Dr. Tamang’s first book. I was provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
I recently submitted another poem titled “For You” for the possible inclusion within Spill Words Press. I am happy to say that they have included it! This is the second poem featured on their site!
“For You”
I watched the light diminish from your eyes
I see how you no longer smile
Your days of happiness consist of when you were a child, of when you had your mother with you
How I wish I could make the pain go away
The heartache and how you feel unappreciated because your family’s actions speak louder than their words
I used to fall into that category with them, and in some ways maybe I still do
But I’ve realized as I’ve gotten older, the sacrifices you’ve made and how it hurts me deeply to no longer see that light within your eyes or that smile upon your face…
I wrote a poem a while back called “Inner Turmoil.” And, I decided to submit my poem for possible review and publication on a site called Spill Words. I am happy to announce that they accepted my poem and it is published on their site.
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to have my poem “Journey” be featured on David Snape and Friends blog. Here is the link to check it out: https://davidsnape.me/2016/04/16/journey/. If you would like to read more of my poetry, then head on over to: https://morganamos.wordpress.com/tag/poetry/, and to check out the original post of “Journey.”
Morgan Lee Reviews 