Title: Soul Flowers
Author: Cynthia Schumacher
Publisher: Peppertree Press
ISBN: 978-1-61493-913-6
Pages: 48
Genre: Poetry
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
In a collection of about three-dozen poems, author and poet Cynthia Schumacher has published a beautiful book which embellishes and celebrates many of the little things in life gained from her observations and experiences, compiled within the covers of the title, Soul Flowers.
Gently bringing a poet’s awareness to its readers, Soul Flowers instantly becomes a rhythmic word-song of inspiring and lovely thoughts. Retaining verses from the poet’s decades of writing her poetry, this collection is themed with many observations of nature, life lessons learned from experience, amusing prose, and in an honorable way a tribute to William Shakespeare.
Lessons from life is written in one of my favorite poems, “Alternative: Maturity,” where she begins with: “Have you ever discovered / you were wrong about something / a long time ago / and you can’t make it right / because anyone harmed at the time / is no longer around?” This opening sentence paused my reading, as I reflected on situations in my past which exactly fell into this category; then I eagerly read on to hear what wisdom she had to offer. An example of her observations of nature is captured in “Wake-up Call,” where she asks, “Have you ever noticed how sunrise comes? / Not with a flutter and rumble of drums / but ever so quietly, shedding the night, / she bathes all the treetops in platinum light / and grants to each grass blade a glittering crown.” And who cannot love her words about her cat in her title “Catapult” she says, “When I desire Griselda’s purr, / I stroke her lovely coat of fur. / She settles down upon my lap / to take a furry, purry nap.” To her mastery of this simply beautiful quality of poetry, I say, “Bravo.”
Soul Flowers is certainly best to own in the printed soft-cover format, as it allows the readers to open the book at any page, enjoy the wordsmithing, and can put it down only to return to it time-and-time again. The cover is a photograph of a bouquet of roses, with rose petals generously scattered within the background of the pages in a celebratory fashion reminiscent of walking down a path following a flower-girl at a wedding. Yes, readers become wedded to the insight, humility and love harkened by this amazing poet, Cynthia Schumacher.
Author Cynthia Schumacher’s poems are seeds of wisdom, nurturing a sense of peace and connection to the cycles of life. Soul Flowers is ideal for anyone seeking solace, inspiration, and the gentle reminder that like flowers, the soul has its own seasons of blooming and renewal
