Silk Elements “A Poet’s Origin” Reviews

The word “element” is and was originally used to refer to one of the four fundamental states of matter, solid, liquid, gas and plasma. Beginning with the Babylonians well through to the days of the Greek philosopher Empedocles, several ancient philosophers also used the term “element” to refer to a set of archetypal classical elements to explain patterns in nature as in Earth, Water, Air and Fire. It was Aristotle who in about 350 B.C. conceived of the idea of a “fifth” factor which he called quintessence which formed the heavens.

In Silk Elements, all of these philosophical expressions are used to refer to a state of being, where there is a soft exhibition area that explains the patterns in and of A Poets’ origin through poetry. Rather than the chemical elements of modern science inside A Poet’s Origin you will find Silk Elements as the following “Perception/air, Tears/water, Existence/earth Seductive/fire and Personification/quintessence.”

Silk Elements “A Poet’s Origin”
Copyright © 2010 by Gayle Howell (Nubian Poet Silk)®
All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-4675-5443-5 – Available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Poets-Origin-Gayle-Howell/dp/146755443X/

8 thoughts on “Silk Elements “A Poet’s Origin” Reviews”

  1. Captivated Lover of Poetry

    The book unwraps with a small poem “Who am I” with a piece of art attached offering an extensive visual. Then it moves to the prose “Celestial” a mystical prose that I truly enjoyed. She notes that her inspiration came from “Nikki Giovanni’s Ego tripping”; it was not similar in words, but familiar in its spiritual consequence. It reminded me, however, of “Resolution and Independence” by William Wordsworth. At the end of the book, she has several quotes included which I thought gave another glimpse into this writer. My favorite one is Absolution: “A person reaching its lowest point shall eventually shed the weight that bounds them. And, as we learn to exonerate and to vindicate the reason to forgive, we then begin to understand the term “Absolution”.

    Contained within these pages are poems about awareness and spiritualism, heartache and pain, and for those readers who are willing to be enticed there are some lovely underlying desires contain within. I have an extremely vivid mind; hence, I became aroused, by the prose “Summers Knight; it has an artfully alluring story. I loved the following pungent line “as I began to wipe the sweat from the nape of my back, my mind, body and soul begins to feel the desire.” The poem “Perfect Rain” has another line etched in my mind “I can still taste the perfect flavor that only you contain”. I thought it was sinfully delicious. The book contains several one-paragraph poems. I was captivated by one, her humorous diminutive poem “The Sum” I analyzed this stanza, and noted the obvious regarding a scorned woman, and laughed. The book contains an exceptionally serious prose as well titled “Open Ended Letter”. I felt like crying, after reading it! Now I understand why the previous reviewer did not want to reveal its bottom line and neither will I. Brilliantly executed!

    Her Sonnet “Inside Me” “Love is not made to be measured” reminds me of Elizabeth Browning’ Sonnet 10 “Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed”. In both pieces, the word love is indicative to its profound meaning. Her poem
    “Resistance” reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Alone”. Fear is a prison of the mind and both of these poems are expressive in the fear of life. I find it fascinating when I can attribute the same meaning from two different poems written in two different styles and eras. There are several other poems throughout this book I can attribute a comparison.

    The poem “Capital of Mind” also fits with earlier contemporary poetry writings. She has a flare for connecting with her audience, and a diverse writing style of which I surprisingly enjoyed. Her poems and prose made me think and wonder. I like to take my time and savor poetry books with a hot cup of tea during the evening, but I must admit this one kept me so captivated, I read the entire book in two days. Good Poetry should have a story line, but not necessarily. We can read the same piece more than once, and each time we read it, we may feel something slightly different. It is also exciting to read them out loud, in this way one can gauge the weight of it. I will read this book of poetry again; Poems can be a learning experience as well as inspiring. I was moved!

    There are no fixed stanza forms in free verse, but certain formal properties and interest do recur with some regularity. Poetry is an art, and in an ideal world, interpretation should be part of the enjoyment poetry offers, but it is not. Regrettably though and too often it overshadows the other 5 essential pleasures of its foundation; such as sound, meter, rhyme, metaphor, and its creative journey. For a self published book, it is well thought-out and put together.

    I loved her introduction page that included its own diagram of Silk Elements. The art used through-out was just enough, not overbearing. The Jacket is more conducive for a novel than a poetry book but, since it reflects what is written within the pages I will say well done. It was a truly colorful and stimulating book I would love to read more in-depth poetry by her.

    There is one complaint I have to put forward about Silk Elements: it is a print issue. In the table of content, one of the chapters is listed as “Tears” but, on the actual chapter and the introduction page it is noted as “Heartache”.

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  2. ” SILK ELEMENTS ” is a beautifully written book of poetry, one which awakens the senses and gives flight to self esteem…Artist Kevin Curtis Barr

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  3. All in all, I enjoyed the poems in this book very much. It is impossible to pick a favorite, because I loved them all. I really enjoy reading poems about different human experiences. Silk Elements is filled with various human emotions. Perfect title “Silk Elements” as this was a very smooth ride.

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  4. I’ve enjoyed the poems from this author LadySilk and can also say that I’ve been enlightened by her on many different levels and know that she will continue to enlighten me in the near future. Which by the way I look forward to. I could sit here and go on and on about this fascinating lady and her work and brilliant mind but as you read her work you will come to that conclusion yourself. I thank you LadySilk may you continue to inspire others like you’ve inspired me I wanted to say may god bless you but that would be an understatement because I know he’s done that already. One Love

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  5. Silk Elements is a look into the life of one’s soul told by very in-depth person (Lady Silk). This book gives you some insite on sex, lies, deception and truth. “Real Love” was defined in a sort of “sadistic” way In a variety of Sonnets read. I was captivated by so many of her pieces…they were all favorites of mine. Reminds me of personal endeavors in my own life. Would love to see this evolve into a short story as told by Silk or a movie. If you haven’t read “SILK ELEMENTS” you are really missing out.

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  6. I don’t think I ever share with you my thoughts on Silk Elements”? Congratulations on a great piece of work! I was just reading “Un-born” WOW! great work Gayle Fo’ Real! Also, I wanted to ask you “What is the name of the piece on page 33? I really like “The sum of a bitch will cost you more than the quote of a whore! That’s tight! One of the things about me, is that I don’t share attention with other things with I’m reading a writer’s work that I respect. I have read “Silk Elements on other days, but this evening I just wanted to share some feelings with you. If it’s okay with you, I might read a few at one of my readings? Talk soon One Love!

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