Title: There is all of Forever: In the Call of a Wolf, To a Silent Moon
Author: Thomas Paul Fondy
Publisher: Mill City Press
ISBN: 978-1-63129-506-5
Pages: 88
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Nicole Olson
Pacific Book Review
Thomas Paul Fondy’s collection of poems titled There is all of Forever: In the Call of a Wolf, To a Silent Moon so captures the tragic longing for those unjustly lost to war and corruption. His introduction describes scenes of lovers being separated for eternity at train stations where young men are sent off to war – he sets the scene perfectly and the sense of longing begins to grow with each poem in the collection. Though these poems are incredibly sad, they read easily and pull at the heart in the right ways. A beautiful collection of melancholy poems for any lover of poetry.
Fondy’s poems all vary in shape and form, though their subject matter does not stray far from what is described in his introduction. This does not make any of his poems dull to read, I found myself savoring each one and reflecting on the poet’s use of language and emotion in each one. The poems evoke a sense of heart break that is almost delicious, the sign of a true artist who understands the beauty of all human emotions.
What makes this collection unique is that every poem uses a different form. Though many of them are free verse, Fondy makes use of various rhythmic patterns, line lengths and other poetic devices to keep each poem fresh and interesting. “Lamps of Heaven,” was interesting to read due to the dissonance between the upbeat rhythm and the bittersweet subject matter. While the stars or lamps symbolize heaven’s souls, which can be happy or sad depending on what you make of heaven – the rhythm almost makes the poem sound like a song or a limerick.
There is all of Forever also contains nonfiction explanations and true accounts which helps keep the collection fresh and moving at a readable pace. Oftentimes the author includes a note about the poem he wrote or the date he wrote it – he includes a great deal of historical information making the collection an excellent resource for history buffs and those genuinely curious about the wars of the past. Fondy’s work describes war’s huge toll on American youth while also maintaining a sense of patriotism throughout the collection.
Each of Fondy’s works display his creativity. He expresses ideas in an interesting and entertaining manner. One of his longer poems in the collection, “Our Gifts to You, My Children,” begins with the speaker of the poem offering gifts to the future generation 200,000 years ago. With each gift the speaker enters a new era until finally reaching today’s generation. This collection is truly a warm invitation into America’s gruesome past.
Anyone who reads There is all of Forever: In the Call of a Wolf, To a Silent Moon will put it down feeling inspired, patriotic, and newly informed.
