Book Review:  Fits of Tranquility, Robert Lampros

I’m glad you found me here, on this hill. 

Plants need more than air and water 

to live, and sunsets don’t work half as well 

without beautiful eyes to watch them.

– "Verdure," From Fits of Tranquility, Robert Lampros

     Here I am again folks, reviewing another self-published book of poetry.  It’s been very interesting to me that as a person who doesn’t really get poetry (see my last post here) that two self-published poets have requested that I review their books.  I’ll consider this a karmic, remedial lesson in the poetic arts.

     My lack of poetry appreciation aside, there was a part of me that definitely connected with Lampros’s work.  The undertones are spiritual and religious, but not heavy-handed.  There was a lovely piece about family that hit the nail on the head for me, and one describing the night that I found enchanting:

When moving is enough, 

or sitting, hearing the bugs 

in all the trees, watching 

the birds swoop down, 

as the horizon light… 

You wonder, vaguely, 

what morning will bring, yet know 

it will be fine, and besides, 

tomorrow’s another world.

- "Beautiful Night," from Fits of Tranquility, Robert Lampros

     I was reminded of warm summer nights like the ones here in northern Virginia, and back home in my native state of Iowa, which I have been thinking on much of late.  Overall there is a great sense of connection with human nature and the human condition which I found refreshing, and a little surprising.  Part of why I get so frustrated with poetry is because it seems to be floating in the ether, waiting for you to assign it some sort of meaning rather than enlighten or inform me.  Perhaps that’s not the point… but that’s me.

A delightful read. 5/5 stars. Find it on Amazon.