Poetry Style

In this series we look at some of our leading classic authors across two genres: the short story and the poem. In this modern world there is an insatiable need to categorise and pigeon-hole everyone and everything. But ideas, these grains and saplings of the brain, need to roam, to explore and find their perfect literary use vehicle. Our authors are masters of many literary forms, perhaps known for one but themselves favouring another.

The Unwinding is a pillow book, in the ancient tradition of Sei Shonagan. Designed to be a portal, a talisman, it invites listeners to enter its world, through word and image. In this exquisite, haunting audio version, Jackie Morris' dreamlike stories are narrated by Bethany Porter with a specially commissioned musical back track performed by The Bookshop Band, including two exclusive new songs: "The Binding" and "At the Edge Is Hope". It is an audiobook to relax and unwind to.

The Pilgrim’s Progress, a religious allegory by John Bunyan, was published in two parts in 1678 and 1684. The work is a symbolic vision of the good man’s pilgrimage through life. The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most famous Christian allegories of all time.

Manas ka hans is a brilliant attempt to bring forth the life of Goswami Tulsidas. The novel is an attempt to address the complications of religion through Tulsidas while portraying him as a person who was afflicted with all the virtues and vices known to human beings. How Tulsidas finds Shri Ram is a question that the author answers in a fashion that can only be termed brilliant, for lack of better word. The best thing about the work is that it doesn't attempt to glorify any God or deity but simply tries to go into the mind of the devotee - Tulsidas, in this case.

Orphaned as a child, Fatimah Asghar grapples with coming of age and navigating questions of sexuality and race without the guidance of a mother or father. These poems at once bear anguish, joy, vulnerability, and compassion, while also exploring the many facets of violence: how it persists within us, how it is inherited across generations, and how it manifests itself in our relationships. In experimental forms and language both lyrical and raw, Asghar seamlessly braids together marginalized people’s histories with her own understanding of identity, place, and belonging.

Deaf Republic opens in an occupied country in a time of political unrest. When soldiers breaking up a protest kill a deaf boy, Petya, the gunshot becomes the last thing the citizens hear—they all have gone deaf, and their dissent becomes coordinated by sign language. The story follows the private lives of townspeople encircled by public violence.

As poet Jessica Urlichs emerged from the beautiful chaos of new motherhood and watched her children grow, she felt her breathing slow and a more intimate appreciation for life develop—as a mother, wife, daughter, and friend. In They Bloom Because of You, Jess lays bare the surprising triumphs, sorrows, evolving love, empathy, and slightly subdued chaos that occurs as our children bloom and become alongside us.

The future of Noah and the remnant of faith are uncertain at best. Atlan has fallen under the evil influence of Zorin, but the Gardner of Eden has other designs. He commissions Zorin's brother, Rhone, to take back Atlan.

T.D. Jakes is an internationally beloved pastor and a best-selling author. In Cover Girls, he delivers the story of four women who, though from very different backgrounds, are all struggling with their faith. Michelle wants control, Tonya wants to be able to trust, and Mrs. Judson wants to let down her guard. Through Miz Ida's wisdom, and each other's support, these women discover that friendship may be the answer to their prayers.

Del baúl que Fernando Pessoa legó a la posteridad —de donde salen los papeles manuscritos o mecanografiados, firmados por diferentes personajes, que conforman buena parte de su obra— surgió un misterioso cuaderno de tapas negras atribuido al Barón de Teive, que comenzaba con una decidida afirmación de voluntad suicida y que iba encabezado con el subtítulo "la imposibilidad de hacer arte superior".

War poet Robin Horsfall became a soldier in 1972. He served from the age of 15 up to the age of 32 with the Parachute Regiment, the SAS, the Sultans of Oman’s Armed Forces, the Army of Sri Lanka and was a Major in "Frelimo" the Army of Mozambique. He studied Karate for most of his adult life achieving the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt until 2011 when a neck fracture changed his life.

Poetry and prose by Heidi Rose Robbins. Heidi is a poet, astrologer, and podcast host of The Radiance Project. Each of Robbins' poems beckons us to feel more, express authentically, and freely follow our fiery hearts.

In Poetic Desperation: As Deep Cries Unto Deep, Rachel Ann Dittmer invites you into her personal journey of longing, faith, and the deep cries of a soul seeking connection with God. Spanning 25 years, this collection of poems reflects the raw and unpolished moments of her life—from the pain of feeling lost and stuck to the joy of gratitude.

Poet and podcaster Jarod K. Anderson (creator of The CryptoNaturalist podcast and author of Field Guide to the Haunted Forest) celebrates the natural world with warmth and humor. The poetry and prose in this collection are love letters to impermanence, to our kinship with nature, to our strange ability to conjure meaning. Vivid and approachable, the work gathered here invites listeners to rediscover commonplace wonders and find new beauty in topics ranging from moss to mortality.

Dispute over land and kingdom may lie at the heart of this story of war between cousins - the Pandavas and the Kouravas - but the Mahabharata is about conflicts of dharma. These conflicts are immense and various, singular and commonplace. Throughout the epic, characters face them with no clear indications of what is right and what is wrong; there are no absolute answers. Thus every possible human emotion features in the Mahabharata, the reason the epic continues to hold sway over our imagination.

Drawing inspiration from the art of Kintsugi, the Japanese technique of mending broken pottery with gold, Carol beautifully weaves together the shattered fragments of her heart, transforming them into a life worth living. Divided into three sections, "Shattered", "In Pieces", and "Making Broken Beautiful", this book of poems chronicles the full spectrum of the grieving experience. With raw honesty, Carol illuminates the pain and loneliness that accompany loss, the disorienting struggle to adapt to a changed world, and the gentle steps towards self-discovery.

Are you living as though the best years of your life are a time in your past? Or do you start each day feeling your life is full of possibility–that there are still great challenges, joys, and life victories ahead of you? Your honest answer to this question is the most important decision you will ever make.

Destined from birth to become a legend, Achilles grew up training to be a warrior to fulfill his prophecy. When the time comes, however, he begins to doubt the heroism of his bloodshed. With war raging all around him, will Achilles find a reason to join the battle?

The Odyssey by Homer in the Samuel Butler translation, narrated by Michael Bronks. Follow Odysseus through treacherous seas, encounters with gods like Athena and Poseidon, and mythical creatures such as the Cyclops and Sirens. Experience the epic journey of Greek mythology, heroism, and adventure that defines The Odyssey in its full, timeless form.

"Bear Stare Poetry," is a second volume collection of poetry written by Jackson. The works span themes of Love, loss, nature, and depression. Jackson Attempts to capture life though his eyes, experiences and literary plots. He hopes who ever picks this up finds some meaning or take away from this book.