The warmth and light every discomforted soul needs.
Sometimes We Can Fall Asleep Below Stars And Already Be Home is a heartwarming collection of extraordinary poems that draws from ordinary moments. Whether eating, sleeping, breathing, learning, feeling, or dying, we all share in these human experiences, yet David Joseph has a unique way of perceiving these commonalities, capturing his soulful viewpoint in his work. In Steps, the author contemplates the life cycle of a nascent flight of stairs. From the hands that built them to the feet that will travel upon them, and the enormity they might observe over the years, these steps are granted a dignified persona. A Child Asks Questions resonates with awe-struck parents everywhere as it anchors a beautiful outdoor scene with existential questions posed by a curious youngster beginning to ponder the world around them. The book’s tone remains tranquil and balanced with themes that range from everyday occurrences and familiar family responsibilities to the steady presence of common flora and fauna.
In an era marked by a growing obsession with technology and possessions, Joseph’s themes are thoroughly grounding. The calming collection, filled with love and life, draws inspiration from and parallels with the natural world. Social media doesn’t evoke childhood memories in the same organic way the author’s description of the smell of damp soil under a rock might. And there’s no spark of nostalgia from short videos of people dancing in sync as compared to the imagery of running between a row of willow trees while unburdened by worries. A particularly clever line uses antithesis to contrast the value of that which must be retained versus that which can be obtained. The arrangement and order of poignant lines, often deceptively complex and endlessly rich in meaning, can take readers by surprise. Sunrise speaks of essential activities that might occur each day but then concludes with a deeply romantic sentiment. “All this before / my day even begins / when you wake.” To read Sometimes We Can Fall Asleep Below Stars And Already Be Home feels like sipping a soothing mug of tea, able to cut through winter’s icy veil. Even when dampness chills to the bone, David Joseph’s peaceful poems are the warmth and light every discomforted soul needs.
