JUST THINKING OUT LOUD

Sottile explores themes of nature, love, loss, and mortality in this collection of poems.

This wide-ranging compendium of poems, written from 1973 to 2024, takes in a broad swath of subject matter. The opening poem, “I See in Between,” features a sorrowful speaker who witnesses human suffering and seemingly documents it in art: “They make me sit on earth / All my life long / To pour my tears out / Tell it in song.” The book also contains multiple meditations on childhood that manifest themselves in poems like “Soaring Child,” which considers how painful childhood memories follow people like clouds. The mournful “Who Will Tell the Children? (Just a Picture Show)” reflects on the impact of animal extinction on future generations. Nature—and its similarities to humans—also seems to be a particular pet theme for the author. “Forgotten Sailor” compares roses to people, noting that though they grow together, they are each unique. A lone (but not lonely) speaker appreciates a calming view in “This Old Window.” “Moon Scape” finds the speaker greeting the moon as an “old friend.” The highs and lows of love are another focal point of the book, and romantic obsession is at the center of “Melody of Love,” which rhapsodizes, “If I could be your Sky / and you be my Clouds / I could be the Melody / That you sing aloud.” The speaker vows that his love will endure into old age in “In Memory of My Heart,” stating, “You’re my lover my best friend / Right till the very end.”

Sottile contemplates everyday moments and shares both joy and sorrow in this upbeat poetry collection. The book’s celebratory nature poems are a highlight, expressing awe in lines like “Almighty Lord it’s a dream come true! / Your earth is turning / There’s always anew.” Seasons are captured with beautiful detail, including “Spring’s Sleepy Eyes,” which describes “Constellations turning / Days grow warmer still / Sun fights winters darkness / Melting off the chill.” Figurative language is another strength the author exploits to the hilt; the ups and downs of life are represented as green fields and rocky roads in “Fields So Green (Rocky Road).” The author’s faith-based inclusions are subtle and effective, as in “Lonely Flower,” where God is compared to a bird who spreads seeds so no flower feels alone. Though the book’s ABAB rhyme scheme is basic, it’s effective and holds interest throughout. (“Time is a mirror with two sides to view / The past or the future. The old or the new.”) At times, however, the poet seems to contort the language to fit this rhyme structure in lines like “My heart will feel as if broken and these words will be awoken / These words are my promise, my token for our future ahead has been spoken.” The book also lacks consistent formatting and proper punctuation, imparting a less-than-professional vibe despite the sophistication of the verse itself.

An eclectic poetry collection full of lofty spiritual insight but lacking some key presentational detail.