Kevin Bates shares his mother’s love for him and her passion for cooking and in Sweet Emotions, he shares his love of poetry and cooking. This book includes poems, recipes, as well as his pencil drawings. The poems journey through life’s pain and sorrow and the triumphs won through Jesus Christ. Kevin shares his love of God as he cries with those who are hurt. Concerning sexual abuse, he says, “I see the pain inside of your heart.” This shows that he understands how pain is not heard by the ears but by the heart. He also touches on spousal abuse. The bottom line is that Jesus has the ability to change us. Reading these poems will touch you for the better. Let the words flow over you and draw you to compassion.
Sweet Emotions is a book full of various emotions interspersed with good food. Kevin Bates shares with the reader the good and bad of relationships. He understands the pain and the emotional scarring it causes. If you have ever endured pain, and who hasn’t, you will identify with the poems. Many of the pencil drawings have the feeling of suppressed rage and anger. Rising above the pain is the joy of family. Family can help center us and ease our pain. Listen with your heart, and you will hear a message with hope for the future. The difference between growing bitter from the pain and becoming better because of the pain is the Lord Jesus Christ. I spent over forty years as a pastoral counselor and have learned that no matter what causes the pain, there is solace.
Inspired by his mother's love of cooking and her delicious meals, Sweet Emotions is a moving poetry collection by Kevin Bates. The poems in this book are divided into six sections, each named after a different meal. "Brighter Tomorrow" urges us to let go of our pride and embrace the future with hope and faith for a better tomorrow. "A Picnic of Love" recounts the journey of two lovers who profess their love for each other on an unforgettable trip. "Action" sheds light on the systematic discrimination faced by members of the black community from government institutions in the United States. "Like Ali" is about refusing to back down and facing your nemesis head-on. "Cry for You" is a moving poem where the narrator empathizes with an abuse victim and calls for justice against their abuser.
Touching upon a wide range of topics, Sweet Emotions is a poignant poetry collection that evokes powerful feelings in your soul. Kevin Bates' striking verses tackle some underlying issues of society while preaching the message of love, faith, hope, and courage. Amid the mesmerizing poems, Bates shares appetizing recipes from his mother's cooking that are bound to satisfy the appetites of food lovers everywhere. Each poem has the signature of Bates' poetic flair while being distinct in its own right. Bates uses rhyming and free-verse poetry styles to create something unique and authentic that you're bound to love. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and if you love poetry, you will too.
