"Now you take me as a leaf
Among the thousands strewn below a tree
But this leaf is unique"
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The Purple Lotus Diary by Jane Tremain Trafford Publishing
book review by John E. Roper
Love holds top honors in the ranks of emotions. No other feeling has been explored in the arts to the extent that it has, and even films or novels that focus primarily on negative emotions such as rage or sorrow often include at least a few poignant moments where love plays a role. Poets and lyricists are especially fond of crafting their verse around this theme, so it comes as no surprise that the author has chosen love as the principal subject matter for the poems in her collection.
Tremain is also a music fan, and the structure of many of the entries in her Diary reflects this predilection. At least one of the poems even pays tribute to a classic tune by the songwriting duo of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Although Tremain's "Walk On By" is very original and expresses her own take on leaving a bad relationship and starting over, fans of the song will find familiar phrases such as "foolish pride," "let me grieve," and "let me hide… tears and sadness" popping up periodically within the poem.
While many of the poems in this collection capture the giddiness of a current relationship or the heartbreak over the loss of one, some of the selections are purely whimsical such as "Beetlejuice and Small Headed Friend." Others employ elements from nursery rhymes and fairy tales or show the poet's interest in Japan and its poetic forms. Yet it is love that remains the central focus of this book as a whole, and the author's passion and playful approach to her subject give her prose an interesting twist.