Barbara Alfaro

In this book, Barbara presents to us a collection of poems, many of which invoke memories of childhood, growing up, love, and life and death. The poems will resonate with anyone who has lived long enough to experience love and loss. She writes in the poem “Before Dark” that she is holding on to heaven because, if she lets go, there is nothing but memory and pain. This is a recurrent theme among several of her poems, ranging from the stunning “Fur Coat”, to the riveting triad of “Mourning Dove”, the eponymous “Catbird”, and “Beware of Old Photographs” which are presented one after the other.

But not all poems are about love, loss, and deep feelings. There are poems about fish (Sea Fire), trees (Tree Life), paintings (Kept), jewels (Jewels on Her Hat), and even ghosts (Ghost Girl). Barbara’s verse is effective at conveying the wonder of things both simple and complex. She paints with words on the canvas of your mind conjuring up multiple images. “Sinless as a jellyfish”, “holograms of horror and holiness”, “my poet bones snapping in remembrance”; her descriptions linger in your mind long after you put the book away for the night.

Some of the poems have been published before in her book First Kiss, among which “A Child’s Poem” is still one of my favorites. Unlike First Kiss, Catbird does not have an introduction, which is a pity, as I would have liked to read what Barbara had to say regarding the book as a whole. However, this does not detract from the enjoyment of the poems, each of which speaks for itself. The book cover art by Michele Bulatovic featuring a bird surrounded by paint splotches of rainbow colors is really beautiful.

Because this is the most up to date of Barbara’s books of poems, it’s an excellent introduction to her poems both new and dating back several years, and it should please both her long-time fans and new readers alike.… (lisätietoja)

This book of poems might have never made it. It could have been thwarted by a disbelieving second grade teacher who accused the author, then a little girl, of plagiarizing a poem she wrote for an assignment. Or it could have been stifled by an education that strongly discouraged any desire for recognition. But thankfully for us, Barbara found her way. "First Kiss" is her first e-book of poems some of which were available previously in her print book "Singing Magic."

This e-book is a collection of 24 poems that cover a diverse number of topics, and the author weaves them all dexterously into a pleasing multicolored tapestry. There are poems about family and friends, and about the hardships and rewards of love and growing up (including that "First Kiss"). There are poems inspired by photographs, and beds, and sculptures, and others that just celebrate everyday life in all its glory.

Many of the poems are surprisingly simple but yet very effective in delivering their meaning such as "Carnival Music" and "Spinning." Other poems including "K-Street," "Castle Cats," or "Jewels on Her Hat" resemble snapshots of frozen time. But the ones I enjoyed the most were poems like "Oddly American", "Afterlife" or "Before Dark". They have layers within layers, and as you peel the layers metaphors spin out and soar in every direction. My personal favorite is "A Child's Poem," which is in part about that incident with the second grade teacher, but it goes much deeper. You finish reading this poem and the last words resonate like an echo inside your head.

The book is well written and formatted. The cover art by Michele Bulatovic is superb. The table of contents allows for easy navigation among the poems, and the links all work. Barbara in the introduction quotes President John Adams telling his son that he will never be alone with a poet (book of poems) in his pocket. If that is so, make sure you include Barbara's "First Kiss" in yours!… (lisätietoja)

I can only compare reading Barbara's Mirror talk to appreciating a pointillist painting. When you begin to read it up close, the author lays down the colored dots of her life leaping from past to present and back. Sometimes you wonder what she is up to, but as you keep reading, and you step back, the dots form patterns, and patterns of patterns, until finally you get to the end and are able to see the whole; and it all makes sense. Anyone can live a life and write about it, but poets like Barbara have the best skill to examine said life, and place the right dots side by side to conjure up a gestalt that they can present to others in a way that is beautiful, meaningful, and entertaining.

But this book is not one of the many self-serving memoirs you read out there. In this one Barbara deals honestly with the rough edges of family life, her religious upbringing, her faith, her life choices, and she does not shy away from expressing her opinions. She is curious about her journey and her destination, about who she was, who she is, and who she wants to be.

There were many things that I particularly enjoyed. Chapters like "Make Mine Cognac" or "The Snowball Incident" were very funny, whereas other chapters like "The Goddard Experience" really soared. The metaphor of the three balloons was amazing and Thalia's request to Zeus was hilarious. Barbara also includes in this book a few fine poems of which "A Child's Poem" is truly riveting.

All in all it was an enjoyable and thought-inspiring read, the sort of experience that enriches your life. I recommend that you buy her book and read it before facing that mirror on your wall.… (lisätietoja)