New Release! “In the Shadow of Rainbows” by Selma Martin @SelmaWrites #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #poetry #poetrycommunity #debut

I’m pleased to welcome a fellow poet, Selma Martin, here today to share her beautiful debut collection with us. I’ve included my review.
The cover photograph is by a dear friend, https://kathrynleroy.com/
Here’s Selma’s insight into one of her poems:
In writing, I attempt to add value to the finished work that comes straight from the place from where poems arise. Most come when I sit alone with my thoughts; I prefer quiet, like the kind one finds out in nature. Others come after reading something that lingers or makes me give a double take. In the case of this poem, it came about after reading a lovely book titled The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The book is set in Germany and is based on the time of that terrible war.
The Heil to her Pa expression is supposed to mark that awful time in history for the reader—that is all. In this poem, I hoped to showcase this young ‘adopted’ girl’s exuberance for learning to read and reaching the end of her very first book.
Her Pa had everything to do with her first win! In Zusak’s novel, the girl’s adopted Ma had a penchant for using mean and dirty words and called her husband pigheaded. But the girl knew better. Her Pa was nothing of the sort.
I’m so happy this poem came about, and now I have one poem of my own that reminds me of the novel. If you ever get a chance, please read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was swooned by it. xoxo
Page 82 —In The Shadow of Rainbows
Hopeful one morn
would bring them much closer
She, barely eight
and he forty-three
Dawn after dawn
they braved nightly slumber
Tasting ‘n writing,
chewing words, hungry.
The dim of the lamp
paled with new morning light
Sent them upstairs
to bowls of warm porridge
Then holding hands
to streets wet with sunlight
She to midge class went,
he to seek courage.
Until one dawn
at the turn of the lights
They reached the end
—one book defeated!
She grinned ear to ear,
and soared like a kite
Heil to her Pa,
who Ma called pigheaded.
Blurb:

In this dazzling debut poetry collection of over 60 carefully selected poems, author Selma Martin points the way to the beauty in the everyday, the shadow of the rainbow, and the silver lining at the edge of every cloud.

Favouring lyrical forms, and revelling in rhymes and musical language, the individual poems in this collection harmonise together in symphonic splendour to form an enlightening and delightful whole.

My Review

“In The Shadow of Rainbows,” is Ms. Martin’s debut poetry book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There is a nice blend of nature with the emotional side of poems. The words flowed through the pages with vivid images and insights. I enjoyed them all but here are a few lines and poems that
caught my eye: “nurtured under the illimitable/distant sun, fulfilling stories/among the starlight…”—Give Back, “Light illuminates/all who wander/in darkness and delusion…”—Let Go. “When death comes/I want to be led into eternity/curious, full of joy…”—When Death Comes, “The green outside is winking at me/it arose merely moments ago,/like a well-rested
child rising from sleep,…”—Nature’s Tender Doings, and  “I almost died of
exuberance/snorkeling around the unspoiled/coral reef/ when, in the dull hum of silence…”—I Almost Died. A wonderful collection to savor more than once that I can easily recommend for poetry lovers.

What others are saying: 

“Be ready for Selma’s poetry to play with your thoughts, and to discover your heart hiding in the shadows!” — Lynn Wielenga, madhatterpoetry.com

“In The Shadow of Rainbows is a delightful and profoundly thoughtful collection of poems. Selma Martin’s inner light radiates from every sparkling page.” — Cheryl Batavia, Author, Life in Inspiring Places

“Beautiful, simply beautiful.”—DAP @ My2ndHeartBeat

“Selma Martin’s debut poetry collection transmutes misery into mesmerizing beauty. Not only is each poem masterful in form, it is lined with spiritual truth much like a golden-lined cloud shimmering in the brilliance of a rainbow after a storm.”— Barbara Harris Leonhard, editor, MasticadoresUSA

“I encourage you to enjoy In the Shadow of Rainbows as it weaves its lyrical prose and skillful imagery and invites you to search for your one poem within its pages time and time again.”— Layla Todd, Nin Chronicles

“A wonderful debut collection of Soul-felt poetry.”— Harmony Kent, Goodreads

“If you enjoy surrounding yourself with powerful imagery, glimpses of life and nature, and slices of everyday life, then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this collection of poetry. It’s wonderful!” — Yvette M Calleiro

UNIVERSAL AMAZON PURCHASE LINK

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Selma Martin is a retired English teacher with 20 years of teaching children ESL. She believes in people’s goodness and in finding balance in simple living. She lives in Japan with her husband. In 2017, after retiring from her ESL position, Selma enrolled in her first short story writing competition with The Write Practice (TWP), an welcoming online community of writers. She practiced earnestly there and had the honor of mingling with seasoned Writers and newcomers like herself.

In 2018, Selma participated in a TWP networking course whose final lesson was to publish a story on Amazon. After many failed attempts, she completed the course and self-published her short story, “Wanted: Husband/Handyman,” in 2019.
Later, collaborating with peers from that course, she published “Wanted:
Husband/Handyman” in Once Upon A Story: A Short Fiction Anthology.
Selma has published articles and poems on Medium since 2017; she has the story from that first competition published in Short Fiction Break, 2017, and poetry in  The Poetorium At Starlight, 2022, MasticadoresUSA, and Spillwords. After her first NaPoWriMo 2021, Selma writes poetry on her website, selmamartin.com, and struggled with her introversion to garner the courage to publish this—her first collection of poems.
Connect with Selma:

67 thoughts on “New Release! “In the Shadow of Rainbows” by Selma Martin @SelmaWrites #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #poetry #poetrycommunity #debut”

  1. Pingback: How To Give Back When You’ve Been On The Receiving End – Selma

  2. You’ve made my heart expand, Denise. Thanks most sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I bless you and wish you miracles. xoxo Lots… xoxo

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Selma 🙂 Honored to be a part of your beautiful words. I wish the same for you. Xo

      Reply

    2. Vera. It’s a great honor to have you read about my debut poetry collection. I appreciate Denise for giving me this boost. Thanks for reading. And commenting. I bless you.

      Reply

    1. I agree it is impossible to pick a favorite when they are all good l
      I could only share some beautiful lines. Thank you for dropping by, Kathryn 🙂

      Reply

    2. I think you’re a bit biased my friend. 😂 But I appreciate your presence and participation in this lovely endeavor.
      “Not a cloud in the sky got the sun in my eyes.” And it’s not a dream!
      Thanks for being here, partner. Xoxo

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Colleen 🙂 I agree she did bring that much needed light in her beautiful words. Xo

      Reply

    1. It is a beautiful collection, Jacqui. Thanks for dropping by to support, Selma. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Yvette 🙂 It is a fabulous collection! Thanks for offering your support.

      Reply

  9. Denise, thank you so much for introducing us to Selma. I’m such a fan of poetry. I always say it was my first love when I fell in love with reading and writing. And Selma, you’ve shared a beautiful poem with us. Between the excerpt, the cover, and the blurb, this is going to be a must read!

    Reply

    2. Mar. I’m so happy Denise is introducing me to her lovely audience. And even glad you like poetry — the one I share is special (they all are) I tried to capture the essence of the characters in that lovely novel.
      I’m so happy this short intro has piqued your curiosity about In The Shadow of Rainbows. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Xoxo
      I wish you miracles.

      Reply

  10. I love the poem you’ve shared here, especially this line:
    Then holding hands
    to streets wet with sunlight
    So much feeling in a few short words!
    Congrats!

    Reply

    1. You really feel those words and see the image so clearly, Jacquie. I love when writing does that! xo

      Reply

    2. It’s getting some good buzz 🐝 indeed. This community is magical. And I’m just so happy for every bit of support given to me. It’s making me a more giving human. Thanks, Liz. I bless you. XoXo

      Reply

    2. Cheryl. Thanks so much for commenting here. I so appreciate knowing you also liked those sections. Bless you dear one. And thanks again. 😉

      Reply

  15. I was captivated by the inspiration of Selma’s poem. And what a beautiful poem it was. Huge congrats to Selma on her book, and thanks for hosting, Denise. Hugs to you both. <3

    Reply

    2. Diana. You are sweet. Thanks so much. The Book Thief squeezed me in all the right places. The poem is a testament I am happy to keep. Thanks for commenting. I bless you.
      Stay in the shade this summer. (Too hot)

      Reply

  17. A huge congratulations to Selma and her debut poetry collection. I love the poem you chose to feature here. Thank you for highlighting some wonderful poems in your review. Thank you also for hosting Selma.

    Reply

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