Book Review: Seasons of Life by Susan McLeod

The most beautiful feeling in the world is to reminisce about pleasant moments of life. Memories are the greatest way to reconcile with the past, to relive past experiences by reflecting upon them. In the poetry collection Seasons of Life, poet Susan McLeod presents the memories of a lifetime through rhythm and rhyme. This prose poetry collection is a lyrical bioscope with a strong tint of nostalgia.

The book is aimed at participants of healthcare facilities and for home care to indulge them in fun and peaceful activities which reminds of good times of life. And thus, help in embracing all seasons of life by restoring joyous memories of past life.

The collection is divided into four parts – Childhood, Family, Seasons of life and Holidays. The structure of poems is identical to rhymes which enhances the joy of reading and listening.

The first part Childhood takes one back to simpler times, full of imagination and finding joy in the mundane.

The poems form the connection between ordinary objects and special memories. From Paper dolls to Birthday cake, from Hopscotch to School vacation to back to School, the excitement of childhood fun is candidly showcased. 

Contrary to the first part, the focus in the second part has moved from material items to bonds of love.

Whether family or friends, relationships serve as building blocks of life and so the memories around them are endless. The poet has wholeheartedly devoted the poems to the spirit of togetherness. Reunion, Picnic, Stars, Knitting, Tree house etc. poems reminiscing about mundane moments with parents filled one with the realization that interactions with loved ones have the most special place in the album of memories.

Poems contain strong imagery elements which let the reader and listener immerse.

Not everyone’s life and memories are as easy and happy as shown in this book and often contains a tinge of unwanted happenings too. But here, poems are an attempt to connect with happy memories which can bring peace and joy rather than an honest reflection.

The poems use nature as both setup and subject, creating serenity in mind.

As the title suggests, ‘seasons’ play a crucial role in defining a timeline with memories. Rolling pin, Maple syrup, Sunday morning, Apple sauce, Snowman and many more, the poet has taken small objects to tell the tales, suggesting that every small thing in life conveys a story to be remembered for a lifetime. The poetry succeeds in its aim of being relatable to readers and soothing their mind with happy memories.

The book contains all peaceful as well as exciting memories of people, places, times and things. Life is filled with diverse phases and the poet has curated them beautifully while showing gratitude for each phase. It encourages to look at life’s journey with warmth and be grateful for being part of some lovely and wonderful experiences shaping life.

Memories are a conscious effort to bookmark time. In the third part, Seasons of Life, the nostalgia is curated around seasons and stands as a metaphor for phases of life. It is an attempt to chronicle pleasant moments of life. Poems such as Sunday Dress, Wedding Band, Spring Rain, Summer Day etc. have sweet mentions of different types of love received during a lifetime such as familial, platonic and romantic.

The last and shortest part is Holidays and are conveyed as a source of celebration, commemoration and joy of togetherness. Santa Claus, New Year, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, and many more such poems evoke the childlike excitement, leaving the reader or listener with heart touching stories of celebration.

The poet Susan McLeod plays with the senses. For instance, ‘taste’ is an integral theme, a depiction of how memories are made around and remembered through food items and recipes. Mention of fragrances is also an important element, continuously used to make the words come alive. These elements aid in use of the book for healthcare facilities and recreational centers by bringing the tastes, smells and feels of the days gone by.

The simple language and ordinary subjects let the participants of activities (at these places or at home care) connect easily to the memories. The book helps the caregiver to engage the patients (or participants) in enjoyment activities such as poem recitation, comparing one’s own memories with that of poems, which results in developing a considerate environment.

The poetry collection has achieved an emotional interpretation of the mundane.

The poems also reflect an urge to go back and relive the happy times, an emotion so close to all humans, and the collection sincerely connects with this sentimental side. There is warmth exhibited through the rhythm and pace of poetry. The book wants to find its audience among people in need of care and be a helping hand and it is a great recommendation for such situations.

And even for a regular reader of any age, it does a quite nice job as a collection of sweet, little moments and will serve as a time-efficient enjoyable read. It is a happy read and accomplishes its purpose.

Discover the magic of ‘Seasons of Life’ by Susan McLeod on Amazon! Dive into a world of heartwarming poetry that will transport you through childhood, family bonds, the beauty of life’s seasons, and the joy of holidays. Don’t miss this enchanting journey into the depths of human experience – order your copy today! More information check out Susan’s Poetry – https://susanspoetry.com/

Also Read: An In-Depth Conversation with Susan McLeod, Author of ‘Seasons of Life’