The Nature of Us All
Light-hearted, universal, and nostalgic, Anne Madden's second book of poetry invites readers to connect to the commonalities of life we all share.
Join the author on a journey both contemplative and celebratory. Visit old sports heroes, quirky aunts and uncles, and even toys we once cherished. Struggle with whether or not to call that lover you're trying to break up with or that old boyfriend from years ago, and confront loss-from the changed logo on the bag of English Muffins to the death of a husband.
The book opens with: 'The Last Memory I Have'; scenes from the author's past when the cares of the day were finding a laundromat near the beach, fixing old cars, and bailing friends out of jail.
In 'People', you'll meet diverse characters who teach us how to seize life; from the famous artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, to a feisty 100 year old hospital roommate.
'Silly Stuff' is an exploration of varied topics; from the demise of the penny to a dead fly in the windowsill: "I recently read in the paper that scientists studied the brain of the fly. I have to admit I'd not considered there was that much to those guys."
In 'Amuse-bouches', and 'One-timers', the reader will share the delight Madden finds in words and rhyme. Enjoy her examinations of life's ironies: "Even the laws have flaws. Even the hags have swag," or of all things triangular: "Mayan temple, Hershey's kiss, Pharaoh's tomb, Mt. Everest".
To balance these whimsical chapters, 'My Bold Heart' is a poignant collection that goes deep into trauma, grief, and coping, with titles like: How To Hug a Stuffed Animal, and Dog in Iraq.
The author shares her family-life ups and downs in the chapters: 'Travertine Way' and 'Insomnia'; bounding between advice on dating and musings in the middle of a sleepless night to dealing with an adolescent through teenager-speak haiku.
Madden's book ends with her 40-poem nature opus. Many verses were written at her childhood home in Pennsylvania while on medical sabbatical from work; once when she was fighting disease (cancer), and once when she was the disease she was fighting (anxiety and burn-out). Others, written from her new home in Boise, reflect the healing power she drew from the foothills, coyotes and sagebrush of southwest Idaho.
Just as the deer, squirrels and night sky are found in both locations, so too are the sentiments of the poems found in the author and the reader. We ask the same questions and seek the same answers and that is the nature of us all.
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