"from the water's edge & other poems" is Belizean-American poet Jason S. Price's fifth book of poetry and it is a personal achievement because the poems render the heart bare. These poems are a collage, a multiple of voices and issues. For example, the poem "I Dream Through Slaves" is a faith rooted poem that comes from a legacy of pain: "Of slaves, I am its legacy - I dream through / Slaves because no matter how you oxidize / The green" haunts still; while the poem "Do Not Let Time" deals with time as purpose: "spend it, use it, work it in stride"; and the poem "A Space In My Skin" addresses the theme of longing, of missing. These themes and each of these poems, along with the others, speak a fundamental truth, a truth from experience, from observation, and most certainly, a truth from the heart. They are creative works of art that individually demands attention to style and rhythm; however, each poem is a reach, an insight and with a thoughtfulness that makes them not only works of art, but lessons of art. Lessons that speak to our lives, our common good, and with hopes for a more peaceful future. one tiny gracemay these few lines set you free -for a moment, a time or a periodfrom the lies your intuition feels -may these open lines let you seeyou are much more than just that -a pain, some hurts, that curse -may these tearful lines let you knowthere's a path that leads to freedom;there's a love that includes yourself -how meager, small, insignificanceyou may read between these lines -may this poem be the tiny grace you seek to gain your salvation -
"leaves of love" is Belizean-American poet Jason S. Price's third book of poetry and it is an astonishing accomplishment, not only for its poetic reach, but because the poet is bold enough to explore the theme of love in an honest and contagious manner. These one hundred poems move beyond love's varied splendor and are a prophetic call of action to return to the religion of love. From the collection's first poem "let love": "let love.../be the alphabet that constructs/the blockbuster narrative of your life " to the last poem "Let's Love": "Let's Love one another/is not only the great/and most important commandment/it is the forgotten currency of all current religions", "leaves of love" is full of wit, insights, recommendations, and actions on love. It is a collection of poetic gems that shine their light sublimely, becoming a permanent print on the reader's consciousness. "leaves of love" is an innovative and exciting artistic contribution to the conversation of love.
