Title: Scattered Changes: Step Ladder Changes
Author: Ollie R Marshall
Publisher: Ewings Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-1956373950
Pages: 128
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
There are many different ways in which we, as a people, deal with trauma in our lives. Whether that trauma is something personal and reflective of an event in our own personal experiences, or that trauma comes from a world event which rocks the foundations of our society as a whole, trauma comes in many different forms, and many people search out ways to cope or deal with that trauma. For some, that coping mechanism comes from the written word, and in particular poetry.
In author Ollie R. Marshall’s Scattered Changes: Step Ladder Changes, the author explores the poetic style of storytelling in order to cope with events in the world and our society and highlight how when something happens on a large enough scale, we are all impacted by that moment. From natural disasters to racial injustice and violence being seen at an exponential rate in various parts of the world (most notably the United States), the author and poet gives voice to these tragedies and explores how these events connect us all.
The author did an incredible job of writing in a way which conveyed the powerful emotions these events and injustices have brought out in our society, while also conveying an injustice few of us will ever be truly able to comprehend. The author found that perfect balance in their poetry which allows readers to both see the poet’s intended meaning while also leaving enough room for interpretation for a reader to gain their own emotional connection and inference about the poems’ narrative and meaning.
This is absolutely the perfect read for those who enjoy poetry, especially for those who enjoy poetry which touches upon social issues and the impact of particular moments in our history or culture upon our society as a whole. As a fan of poetry, I was immediately moved and felt my emotions brought to the surface as the author brought me into these memorable and heartfelt moments of tragedy or heartbreak.
Moving, engaging, and thought-provoking, author Ollie R. Marshall’s Scattered Changes: Step Ladder Changes is a must-read book of poetry. A subtle yet powerful exploration of society, how we deal with the impact of large-scale trauma both personally and psychologically as a people, and the emotions these moments can bring with them, this collection is truly heartfelt and is not to be missed by poetry readers everywhere. I highly recommend you grab your own copy of this read today!
