Kirjahaku

Allen Lee Ireland's LONERS AND MOTHERS explores the complicated psychology of loners within a variety of contexts, their obsession with family, and their many means of escape from what they perceive as a dark and frightening world. Like the woods in Frost's famous poem, Ireland's verse is "lovely, dark, and deep." Yet, through it all, there is respect for existence and an abiding concern for the individual life."LONERS AND MOTHERS is a collection of poetry short enough to be read in a single sitting, but powerful enough to stay with the reader for far longer. Ireland has the gift, at his best, of capturing a brilliant image in a few words, and then imbuing that image with a deeper, more profound meaning and purpose. This is a graceful and thoughtful collection of poems, a bright example of what can be done with a few short lines and a gift for phrasing and imagery."--IndieReader"Ireland's collection proves him to be a poet's poet. His techique is carefully deployed without being flamboyantly displayed, proving him to be a craftsman of real subtlety. It's hard to read through without thinking of Robert Frost, but Ireland's tact prevails, and the influence is only a haunting echo. There are many treasures hidden throughout the book, and it will be a pleasure for astute readers to seek them out. This is a vibrant compilation that will appeal to poetry aficionados and amateurs alike."--Kirkus"In LONERS AND MOTHERS we are presented with quiet poems that work to illuminate the inner life cast in stark contrast to the outer world we all see. The title for this collection seems to this reader to be wistful and intriguing, setting up a kind of relation that the collection will explore. The poems here are not broken into sections, which makes for an immersive and continuous reading experience but misses a chance to strengthen the collection through thematic divisions. The first line of a poem is a chance to immediately set an arresting scene or pivotal image, to establish the overall dynamic of a poem. I noticed many poems here where this was handled with great dexterity, where the first line was compelling and immediately absorbed me in the world of the poem. A poem like 'The Woman in the Window' is a good example of what this collection does well. Objects and moment are invested with more than average power, going deeper than description." --Writer's Digest

Allen Ireland's second collection of poems is aptly titled, since, in serious and not-so-serious verse, it captures the darkness and light both in the natural world and in the human spirit. "Ireland employs traditional techniques which give a restrained, refined stateliness to his lines that recalls Robert Frost. A brooding, ironic mood characterizes many pieces.... At their best, these poems offer atmospheric images that gain effect from Ireland's mastery of technique."-Kirkus Reviews"This collection has a welcoming folkishness about it, sardonic phrasing, grit, gusto, and some really scary humor."-Fred Chappell"The imagery in so many of these poems is fantastic. This book is a wonderful addition to the world of poetry, and a unique glimpse into a unique voice." -Tyler Knott Gregson "Dark and Light Verse strikes a great balance between the darkness and light of its title, juxtaposing pain, loss and isolation with charming and often warm scenes in an evocative collection of succinct and powerful poems."--IndieReader

Landscapes Old and New is Allen Ireland's third book of poetry, combining new poems with poems from his previous collections, all centered on remembered natural places, illustrating with power and precision how exterior landscapes can mirror the landscapes of the soul. Through his characters, set against nature's backdrops, Ireland shows us that we are all products of the natural world, in a tug-of-war between community and isolation, despair and optimism, and life and death.