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Paperback Book Details
  • 06/2020
  • 9781728363813
  • 66 pages
  • $10.99
Words To Breathe By
In the tumultuous world we live in, "Words To Breathe By" offers a respite, a sanctuary of solace where readers can find healing and peace. Crafted with profound emotion and fervor, this remarkable anthology delivers poetry for healing, serving as a soothing balm for anyone grappling with emotional or spiritual distress. Hansen's work encapsulates the essence of inspirational poetry, each verse resounding with wisdom and resilience. As readers delve into these pages, they are not merely observers but active participants on a journey toward finding peace. Whether battling the stress of modern living or wrestling with personal demons, this book offers the opportunity for healing and personal growth. From the grandeur of lofty mountains to the tranquility of a silent lake, Hansen?s passion for nature and its calming influence is palpable. The picturesque, vividly described landscapes inspire readers to appreciate nature and its healing properties. It's a poignant reminder of the serenity and clarity that can be found when we choose to escape into nature. This element of the book serves as poetry for mental health, a testament to the therapeutic potential of immersing oneself in the natural world. But nature isn't the only muse in this stunning collection. At its heart, "Words To Breathe By" is a love story. Hansen's poems about intense love towards his wife, Kristen, are raw and unfiltered, revealing the depths of his emotions. Readers are privy to their passionate, intimate bond as if standing witness to their shared moments. These verses serve as a testament to love's transformative power, its ability to heal and rejuvenate, and its capacity to provide comfort in times of strife. "Words To Breathe By" is more than a collection of poems; it's a lifeline, a beacon of hope for anyone navigating the complexities of life. As readers traverse through its pages, they are bound to emerge with a deeper appreciation for the world around them, a profound understanding of love, and most importantly, a better sense of self. This book invites readers to embark on a journey of healing, inspiration, and self-discovery. It's a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of words.
Reviews
Like his previous collections (Skies and Chasms and Moonlight in My Eyes), Hansen’s Words to Breathe By offers a heartening homage to nature, the Earth, and love itself, culminating in a set of ecstatic “Love Poems for Kristen.” Much of Hansen’s poetry is observational, as stars, sunsets, flowers, and landscapes evoke such euphoria in the narrator that, while reflecting on them, “nightmares turn to gold, and I am young again.” Though gratitude is a central focus, pain—emotional, existential, and psychological—also permeates the collection, though it is understated and implied. The subject matter of the poems (“Morning, in its abundant riches // greets me with the beauty of rain. // The pain I experience daily // does not dampen the joy of morning”) and the act of writing, which prolongs the poet’s encounters with nature, seem to offer healing.

“I try not to dwell on the darkness in life,” Hansen writes in “Glorious Gifts,” “but bask in the splendor of home.” The meaning of “home” here is expansive: home is Earth, the universe, the soil, a house, California’s coast, and the snowy memories of childhood. The recognition and appreciation of each, the poems suggest, enrich everyday living in ways that nothing material could. Through simple, direct, deeply personal accounts of moments of transcendence, the poems in Words to Breathe By blend literary craft with meditative practice: “river of peace within, help me find my way.”

Each of Hansen’s collections changes course in the final section. Here, he shifts from contemplative reveries on the cosmos to love poems for his muse, Kristen. These entries often lack resonant specific detail, favoring reverent exclamations such as: “In your soul’s light, I stop wasting time making war and look for peace, helped by your endless reserve.” However, some lines achieve a substantive delicacy, as in “More Than Enough”: “you are a diamond, but soft.” Readers seeking mantra-like and meditative poems will find a calming set in Hansen’s collection.

Takeaway: Accessible, meditative poems addressing gratitude, the cosmos, and love.

Comparable Titles: Tyler Knott Gregson, Rupi Kaur

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Formats
Paperback Book Details
  • 06/2020
  • 9781728363813
  • 66 pages
  • $10.99
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