Heart Songs by

Dennis Maulsby

ISBN: 978-81-8253-976-1

Copyright 2022, Cyberwit

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

There’s much packed into this new book of poems by Maulsby.  It’s like a poetic dream to read, since he uses different styles, themes etc in the book. 

Yes, it will remind you of music.  He even uses his openings as Foresong and Postsong. 

The poems are a mixture of free verse and some a bit more formal.  The poems are lively.  The prose enhances the readers experience with the book.

There’s grit to it, but also a bit of dazzle.  No wonder many of the poems in this book are previously published.

It’s a neat read to experiences the progressions of thoughts within these verses as the book goes along.  Maulsby writes in a way equal to other accomplished poets that you may have studied or read or attended one of their readings.

The poems are engaging.  His visuals explode, flare and perhaps extinguish within each poem. 

Maulsby work is descriptive.  He is able to find the perfect balance not only of how to place the poems in his book but also within each individual poem.  There is skill not only in writing a single poem, but also in how a poet includes it within a chapbook or book collection such as this.

His lines are subtle when they need to be.  They also twist and/or move fast when they need to as well. 

From the poem “Stripped Down”:
Seekers,
constantly measuring each other.
Our checklist:
_hard muscles
_soft curves
_red lips
_healthy
_happy eyes
_sweet perfume
_fashion enhanced —
_instinctive, visceral, imperative . ..”

(*Please note the poet used a Box instead of a dash in this poem in his book)

Maulsby proves his poetic worth with this poem alone.  It really keeps a reader on their toes.

His overall collection was riveting.  He simply knows how to keep the pages turning.  It’s fresh, sharp and absorbing.