Author: Harry E Gilleland  Jr

ISBN: 1-4116-2927-2

The following review was contributed by:  Molly Martin & CLICK TO VIEW  Molly Martin's Reviews

Gilleland Poetry : Storoems and Poems consists of 195 pages of poems and storoems.  Storoems are explained by the poet :  -I am a 60-year-old Southerner, now living in Louisiana, who is a retired scientist with a passion for writing poetry. I write mostly 'storoems', which are hybrid story-poems. -

I read through the Table of Contents to locate special pieces to read:

Of particular interest were several works entitled ‘Wandering Warrior’ ( II, III and so forth) a storoem detailing the adventures of a wanderer who comes to a valley menaced by a fearsome foe. 

 ‘Wandering Thoughts Gleaned Walking My Dogs,’ ‘Cats and Dogs,’ ‘In Memory of Coco, A Red Dachshund,’ and ‘On Armadillos,’ all caught the eye of this animal enthusiast.

 ‘An Idea To Die For’ is a verse composition extolling the Freedom we cherish while

‘America’s Indians and Hitler’ leave the reader with an unsettling realization of the antithesis of that Freedom. 

‘Rick and Mick’ and ‘A Visit With Grandma’ offer two succinct, poignant reads portraying the reality of life. 

‘Old Blue’ is poem beginning ‘When I was a lad of ten, my great granddad once told me a tale that left me out of breath.’ The composition goes on to bring the reader to tears with ‘a tale of love, of danger, with an end that’s sad, about a boy, his dog, and a savage death’ as we read of a boy and his dog and the dog’s faithful, boundless love. 

 Poet Gilleland includes an ethereal Haiku entitled ‘Spring Rains,’ along with a touching, poignant work detailing how love sometimes causes us to do what we would not.  ‘Alfred Must Die’ will leave the reader saddened.  ‘Granddad Did His Best’ touches on the bond of familial love that transcends time and space.  Beginning –My Linda, my darling wife, my soul mate … ‘For Linda’ is a loving tribute to a wife offered by her husband of many years.  Poet Gilleland ends his loving tribute with these words –You make my life worth the living, cause my heart to soar.  Sweet Linda, I’ll love you today, tomorrow … forevermore.’

 Within the covers of Gilleland Poetry : Storoems and Poems lyrist Gilleland offers the reader a wide variety of style, subject and feelings to fit any reader want or need.  I enjoyed the wide variety of themes from the heartfelt to thoughtful, tribute to merry.  There is truly something for everyone, and something for every occasion included in the work.

 Gilleland Poetry : Storoems and Poems is one man’s life’s journey presented in thought and notion through his insights, notions, understandings and words.

Poems are not grouped by subjects, rather the table of contents is used to stimulate readers toward searching for engaging titles and subject matter. That poet Gilleland loves and understands words, their flow and meaning is obvious.  His works are filled with meaning, feeling and charm without sounding stilted or ‘poetsy.’  Gilleland Poetry : Storoems and Poems is an excellent addition to the home reader pleasure library, the school library as required reading for students and for the home school curriculum to be used for introducing young people to interesting, worthwhile poetry.

 Gilleland Poetry : Storoems and Poems is a volume to be reached for often.  It is as an excellent a choice for a lazy afternoon spent sitting on the porch, swinging, reading while sipping lemonade as it is for a cold wintry evening spent before a cozy fire with a good hot cup of chocolate.