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An Occasional Damage of Roses
James Victor Anderson
Reviewed by: Ephantus M, Hollywood Book Reviews
“The one who dwells in the Self is real, and the one who dwells in the paradigm of the world is false. The one who is real needs no ego, but the false one must build and defend an ego.” – James Victor Anderson
Brimming with literary sharpness and affecting prose, An Occasional Damage of Roses is a poetic composition by adept author, James Victor Anderson. The collection explores human life, and how we all seek to figure out the connection between those approaches and thoughts which the world has conformed us to, and the disclosure of inner responsiveness that is self-fulfilling and introspective. The vignettes are based upon Taoism, a Chinese religious tradition emphasizing personal transformation and integration with the unseen forces of the Universe.
Across, most entries have a conventional style of writing applying line breaks, alliteration and poetic meters along phrases and verse lines aptly creating an audible pulse that gives the piece of writing a lulling, lyrical, or emotive effect. Throughout, the poet’s incessant voice ensures a singular polyphonic that is bound to reach into the innermost of every reader’s soul. Some entries are short such as Night Shore and Open Doors while others are long such as Remembering Girls with Braids and Puddle Wizards. Still, each word in every jewel box, short or otherwise, serves its purpose – along with the titles which identify them.
Anderson’s rasping examination of nature and the prosaic day-to-day concerns, and meshing this with the themes he chooses to discuss, displays the ingenuity of an accomplished minstrel. For example, stirring words such as, “But if one falling snowflake had imprinted in its crystal maze a message that all things have happened at this moment that you caught on your tongue, could you also have the presence of a simpleton before a trout that leaps the sun bright ripples washing through your moment fading now?” astound the heart and mind with the elegant imagery used along the poetic lines.
Poetry is about what is said and that which is left unsaid along the lines. Seldom are the two aspects skillfully entwined. An Occasional Damage of Roses forty-two evocative ballets fit the bill on this and much more. They are unequivocally a sumptuous viand for poetry lovers.
