The Swallow and the Fly

By Lisa Shultz

Gently but firmly, The Swallow & the Fly illustrates how life is meant to be cherished. Lisa Shultz writes to heal as she paints hope-filled scenes and describes courageous moments. In the poem "A Little," Shultz stands tall as she observes how "The world seems to be / Falling apart," only to declare that she's "determined / To keep it together" for herself and for others. In the eighty plus poems that swoop like swallows down these pages, she captures truth as if it rides on the back of a fly. Shultz urges readers to "Forge a pathway" as she faces the loss of a loved one and times "to let go" and "Let others think / What they may." Time and place, summer and the planets-along with a few tulips-provide occasions to celebrate. Shultz praises her companions-a blue heron, goldfish, apple slices. Not unlike William Carlos Williams, who stressed the importance of "a red wheel / barrow," Shultz notes how a bonsai manages "To lean so gracefully," adding harmony to the world through its conformity "To the strictest / Aesthetic standards." Just so, such poems will reward readers of The Swallow & the Fly. Margaret Koger, author of What These Hands Remember and If Seasons Were Kingdoms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1665793996
• ISBN13: 9781665793995
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"