 |
ran with the wind-climbed the great oak.
Now it’s hard to walk, climb steps."
Filled with scintillating imagery that captures the vivid shades of Mother Nature, Krauss' poetry encapsulates life's ups and downs from the prism of the landscape. The weakening and melting of snow, as well as the sweltering burn of the sun, are particularly prevalent to magnify and mirror one's monumental life events on both sides of the spectrum, ranging from the euphoria of love to the devastation of cancer.
In this particular poetry compilation, the energy of the illustrations is in strong alignment with the words of the poems. Poems like "Omniscient-omnipresent" are resplendent with bursting colors in the same manner that reflects the spirit of the universe and the expansive, limitlessness of the cosmos. Unquestionably, the pictures add depth and frame of reference to the poetry, telling their own story through the angles and the inquisitive nature of every photograph and catering to both the poetry aficionado as well as the visual enthusiast.
Interestingly, most of the poems reflect the illustrations or vice versa. "What Counts," for example, features a pensive elderly man lost deep in thought, his wrinkles further accentuated by the visceral imagery such as "bones crooked and broken." Krauss' poetry helps the audience understand what one should value. For instance, should a person appreciate the spectacular qualities that are innate and embedded within the individual or be fixated on the outward material appearance, the "bald, no teeth / Shrunkenbody?" Similarly, "Quietude" and "Time" delve into the metaphysical and philosophical outlets, an acknowledgment for one to peer within and carve out the inner spirit from the layers of buried material attachments. Overall, the combination of illuminating illustrations with piercing prose brings to life the numerous metaphors of life that Krauss integrates to help inspire the audience toward their own awakening.