Clouds: On the Wind

Poems for the Soul - A Meditation

Poetry - Inspirational
104 Pages
Reviewed on 07/05/2018
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Author Biography

Inspired by nature and the beauty around him the multi-award winning poet Gary W. Burns started writing poetry at a young age. Early on Gary was able to express his thoughts, ideas and emotions through the vivid imagery of his verse. His poetry has been published in various literary arts journals, anthologies and magazines. He is the author of 10 books of poetry. Through his poems Gary shares his reflections on the many facets of life and on the beauty of nature. The expressiveness of his poetry has been enriched by his wide reading in philosophy and psychology. He has traveled throughout the world and has lived in numerous countries, to include, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. He has also lived in Hawaii and several other states. Currently, Gary makes his home in Northern Virginia near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

‘Sometimes we get lost. And that’s okay. Life is a mystery. As we go our way.’ Clouds: On the Wind: Poems for the Soul – A Meditation by Gary W. Burns is a contemplative collection of poems that will have a calming and meditative effect on the reader. This rhythmic collection of poems is evocative and tackles diverse topics and emotions in an aesthetic way. The poet’s perceptions on life and living in a minimalist way make an impact on readers as they can feel the images growing in their minds. The visualizations of nature, love, harmony, calmness, contemplation, warmth, and other emotions stand out starkly in the poet’s delightful and tightly knitted poems.

This zen-like and tranquil collection will have a meditative effect on readers. The poet is expressive and conveys a lot in a few sentences. I liked the poems ‘Meditation I’, ‘Meditation II’ and ‘Meditation III’ – they capture the essence of meditation and the line ‘let now be your way’ sums up the concept of meditation beautifully. ‘Soul Serenade’ is exquisite and the poet serenades readers in those three lines. It is not always easy to get readers’ attention in short verses but the poems in this book manage to do that because there is so much depth and profundity in the poet’s words, even though they are succinct and crisp. It is a good collection that all poetry lovers will enjoy and the poems will help them reflect on and contemplate life and the emotions that come with it.

Kathryn Bennett

Clouds: On the Wind, Poems for the Soul - A Meditation by Gary W. Burns is a book of poetry that sets out to make the reader slow down. Poems that wish to inspire, calm and give you an overall sense of well being. In our lives today when we are running around with packed schedules and finding it increasingly hard to unplug, this book of poems wants to remind you to do just that; unplug. Take the time to meditate in your own way and find balance.

It has been a while since I have sat down and read a book of poems. I have read the occasional one-off, but not a full volume until I took up this collection by Gary W. Burns and what a treat this book has been. Each page of this collection has a poem on it with the mission to calm and inspire the reader, and I know every time I was reading a poem, I did feel calmer. Poems about being sad and the bad parts of life or the ups and downs of love are nice, but I find the idea of poetry setting out to make the reader feel whole and to have a boost in spirits so refreshing and very much needed!

Everything about these poems is designed to let the reader fall into the gentle cadence of them and just be. No rushing around, no hard thinking to decide what the author is trying to tell you; just enjoy the words on the page and allow yourself to simply be in the moment. This volume of poems is a keeper for me and will be on my bed stand for a poem to read when I need a moment to breathe.

Sarah Scheele

Clouds: On the Wind (Poems for the Soul – A Meditation) by Gary W. Burns is a collection of restful and uplifting poems on the emotions of finding harmony in and comfort from nature. The book is structured into four parts—Clouds Moonlit; Cloudy Day Doorway; Windswept; and Wind Songs—with a variety of brief poems that lay out situations people might experience while connecting those situations to the sky—stars, moon, day, night, clouds, breezes, and blowing leaves. Intersection between different people or between different moments in life is a cornerstone of the book’s identity, with many meditative thoughts devoted to understanding others.

These poems are about more than expression and good use of words, they’re about relaxing. Over and over, I was drawn by a gentle guidance into swirling autumn leaves, dances with the stars, infinite love, and sunset clouds. Gary W. Burns is extremely accomplished and excels in graceful, artistic verses that capture an idea instantly, and the hopeful, but honest tone of his poetry made me nod my head in agreement more than once. In “On the Wind” he expertly compares people’s different experiences to birds flying on the breeze, and uses a few well-chosen words to do it. Several other notable poems are “Quietly There You Be,” “Leaving,” “Blue Ridge Twilight,” “Smile,” and “Days with You.” But the strength of Clouds: On the Wind is the sheer beauty of the world it pulls you into and the happy spirit with which you leave it. The book deserves a lot of praise for its resonant elegance, its serenity, and its peaceful approach to life’s realities.