“Marching with a Broken Shadow” by Dyson Russell is a moving and powerful collection of poems that span timeless themes of life and death, and things in between. This anthology contains poems we can all relate to at one time or another, about the life cycle of birth and dying. Sometimes poetry can speak for us when we don’t know what to say but feel the emotions inside. This poet puts those emotions, thoughts, and experiences into words. If you’ve ever been hurt or confused by events that were happening in your life, these poems can help you relate and help you feel that you are not alone. Besides the deep feelings we all share, the poems also talk about the highs of dreaming and happiness.

What I like about this collection of poems is that we are following one person’s journey, a main character if you will, and go with him. As we go, we are also taking our own journey, for in these poems we may also recognize ourselves. This balance of light and dark, happiness and sadness, and things that lie somewhere in the middle, is what appeals to me most. So, in this regard, the poems are comprehensive. Some of the poems are observational, others are lyrical, and still others are finely detailed.

Poetry can be a cathartic experience, so you will most likely leave this book feeling more in touch with your life and emotions. You will enjoy the themed approach, as it gives you the opportunity to thoroughly explore the poet’s words on a single subject. In this way, you can get a real sense of the style and mood the poet is trying to convey.

As a whole, these poems tell a story of sorts. They are aesthetic and pleasing, with vivid language like “tears,” “memory,” “prayers,” and “wings” and they have a lot of truth and beauty. These poems will make you think and feel–educate and entertain the soul if you will. My personal favorite is “Chasing the Hills,” which excellently describes the beauty and innocence of a newborn. For a collection of poetry that informs and soothes, embark on your own life journey with “Marching with a Broken Shadow” by Dyson Russell.