American Authors Association Book Review

Desert Of Tears

Author:  Wayne Holland

Publisher:  Ultimate Books

Reviewer: W. H. McDonald – President of AAA

Poetry That Questions Life and the Status Quo

In “Desert of Tears: A collection of poems, vignettes and stray dogs from the wastelands of time,” poet Wayne Holland uses the metaphor of the desert and the wastelands to formulate his vision of life through his prose that seems to question more than give answers to what the meaning of life is. He has a way with words and phrasing and can make the simplest thought feel like a journey of inner discovery. His poems lead to introspection and perhaps more questions. He is not afraid to show his weaknesses and doubts and fears.

There is a wide range of subject matter both physical and emotional that the poet takes on and writes about. These are some powerful and thoughtful poems. The energy jumps out from the pages. Even though the poems are not trying to be spiritual there is a undercurrent through out that reflects someone who is searching and asking and looking for that inner vision of enlightenment.

Readers will enjoy these poems and the subject matter is all over the map. It is worth adding to your poetry book collection.

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – AAA Review Board

The author frequently treats the subject of Death and its effects on the individual, how it is to be dealt with, its effects on the human being. In between the lines there seems to exist a fatalism.

Each person naturally questions what life is about, the purpose of being, how to evaluate choices made or, more importantly, choices to be made. Most refreshing is doing this introspection in a positive manner.

Wayne Holland chooses natural scenes as well as human exchanges as subjects for his poetry. Companionship with fellow humans is treated positively in a limited fashion, often in a negative manner (hurt experienced, rejection suffered).

The work doesn’t need the few four lettered words which appear in some of the poems.