I’m thrilled to announce that my first collection I lost summer somewhere has just been published and is available at Amazon and through Kelsay Books.
Here are some of the great things my fellow poets have said about it.
“Melancholy, exuberance, nostalgia, fulfillment, contentment, longing – Sarah Russell hits all the spots, and there isn’t one poem where a woman won’t be able to identify in some way. She’s singing all our songs, putting into magical words things we felt so often but never knew how to tell. Deep sadness matched by laughter, gentleness, love and a sense of adventure. It was a privilege being there with her, living what she remembers, identifying with every line.”
Rose Mary Boehm, author of Tangents, From the Ruhr to Somewhere Near Dresden,and Peru Blues
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“Sarah Russell brings us into her world, a world of “dream-filled summer nights,” where “leaves are October butterflies.” Russell’s poems sing the important moments of life. It’s a song that stays in your mind, drawing you back to the poems again and again.”
Nina Bennett, author of Mix Tape and The House of Yearning
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“Sarah Russell’s poems don’t have to crawl under your skin – they’ve always been there. If you haven’t known a suicide, or gone through divorce or cancer, you’ve known the fear. If you’ve never had a love you’d marry twice if you had three lives, you’ve felt the longing. Russell may have lost summer somewhere, but she has found what makes us human.”
Alarie Tennille, author of Waking on the Moon and Running Counterclockwise
I like these lines about unawareness: “Mid-life careens through moments,
not even aware of its breath.”
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Thanks, Frank. I have slowed my life now in retirement, and when I look at the frenzy of my children in mid-life I wonder how I managed to live in that blur.
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I recognize myself not even aware of my breath… love the contrast between the two stanzas
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Thanks, Bjorn. I think sometimes one’s “productive” years must be productive for something or someone other than oneself.
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This works so well. That first stanza holds such truth, and then you open it out and remind us that while we live our lives, there’s a whole world out there of emotions that we aren’t even aware of. Sometimes these small shards of poems trigger so many thoughts and feelings.
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Thanks so much, Sarah. I must admit, I wrote the poem awhile ago, and the ending wrote itself. I wondered why it was there, but when I saw the painting it suddenly fell into place. So thank you for the ekphrastic prompt!
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I guess looking at an image stimulates a different bit of our brain, enables us to make new connections, things tumble into place.
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Beautiful words to remind us to remain in the here and now. I love the first stanza.
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Thank you, Astrid.
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Your words are so beautiful Sarah – they took my breath away.
Thank you.
Anna :o]
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Thanks so much, Anna!
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I love this. The first 2 lines describe life….as it is.
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Thank you, Vivian.
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😊
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One of my favorites this time. Lovely!
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Thanks a lot, Beckie.
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Reminds me of the precious gift of time, and how it can be different at different stages of our lives ~ The dove mourning describes the photo very well ~
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Thanks, Grace!
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The brevity of your poem mirrors the theme.
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Thank you, Lynn. I hadn’t seen that. Love it when readers see more than I have!
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