Title: Footprints
Author: James Ten Eyck
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1977257604
Pages: 128
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

It is often a rare sight to see someone recognize the impact their presence has made on another life. Most people spend their lives seeing the glass that is life itself as half empty, where some monumental event has passed them by and their life has suddenly lost the meaning they have been searching for. Yet the secret to life can often be found in the smaller moments in time, where a role model has left a lasting impression or a spark of romance has altered the course of fate, and in that truth simplicity is the key to lasting memories.

A truth as simple as this is the foundation for author and poet James Ten Eyck’s Footprints, a collection of poems which delve into five decades worth of experiences and moments that defined the author’s life. From the bright moments in a life spent with the lovely Veronica and the more somber moments in her declining health, to the haunting realities of violence and prejudice in the world that exists even in this modern era, from the tragedy at Sandy Hook to the senseless violence in a Pittsburgh synagogue and more, the author takes a creative yet emotional look into both personal and societal moments that define a lifetime.

Ambitious yet multifaceted in its approach, this was one collection which really spoke from the heart in a straightforward yet timeless writing style. The way the author draws upon personal experiences to fuel a majority of his work is so engaging, as it allows readers to feel a connection to the author. The balance the author found in the subject matter of the poems, both in their individual memories and the historical nature of societal events playing out before them, created a harmonious overall tone to the themes explored in this collection.

Created to appeal to the everyday reader, fans of poetry and literary works in general will find themselves drawn into this collection instantly. The way the poems speak to the human condition and what it means to experience life on a daily basis helped elevate the themes of life’s fleeting moments, the passage of time, the impact of violence and so much more. In an awe inspiring way, the reader is given the chance to reflect upon their own lives as they delve into this collection, exploring the similar or emotionally similar experiences that have shaped and defined their own lives along the way, and to appreciate the lasting impression which always remain just beneath the surface; much like footprints that disappear on a sandy beach, but remain on the shoes of one’s own mind.