Into the Wind by Charles Schlee

Copyright 2021, Cyberwit

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (April 20, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 76 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8182537088
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8182537088
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.84 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.19 x 8.5 inches

Review by LB Sedlacek

This collection offers up a variety of poems by Schlee.  Poems are written in free verse with some light rhyming or forms tossed in and they cover all sorts of subjects such as nature, mass, cloth and a sparrow and even darkness.  Schlee has the gift of taking so many unrelated things or themes and while skillfully weaving them together into what might be a beautiful tapestry of poems, thoughts and verses.

For instance in his poem “the tree” he writes about the actual tree itself.  But it morphs into poetry about more being there than is seen and also a stand off of sorts of who/what will win in the end alluding to waiting for a branch (or the tree itself) to fall.

From the poem “the name”:

“unsure of what
my name might be
yet knowing i was more
than just an accident of birth
and circumstance
i looked
within the depths of me”

Schlee’s images are surprising and easily display the poet’s inner talk so that what he is trying to say in these poems is abundantly clear.  He doesn’t take any chances with his lines.  He invites the reader in so that everyone can enjoy his poems.

He uses his voice well.  He is truly able to stir up emotions and pull from deep within with his words.  He draws the reader into his struggles, meanderings and thoughts blending all into a poem.

He writes with strength.  He most definitely has a poet’s soul.

The poems in this collection are full of grace, presence, and nourishment.  Schlee writes with boldness yet takes the reader on a journey full of wonder.

Dive in and wander into these poems.  They are written with the language of senses from a heart full of poetry.

~LB Sedlacek also reviewed “Life’s Ballet” by Charles Schlee.  She is the author of several books of poetry including “Swim,” “Night Swim,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” and “Words and Bones.”  Her most recent short stories collections include “Motor Addiction & The Renovator” and “The Jackalope Committee & Other Short Stories.”