Bookish Thoughts: Joy Street by Laura Foley

Joy Street by Laura Foley

Headmistress Press, 2014

Poetry; 48 pgs

From the Publisher: 

"Joy Street" pays lyrical homage to the truth of living as a lesbian in the second half of life. Each poem in this radiantly plainspoken collection offers subtle and penetrating observations that swell to a rich tapestry of ordinary life, beheld from a stance of grace and buoyancy. Starting with intimations of desire in childhood, these poems travel through ordinary domestic scenes to the blessing of a maturity in which the narrator, still embracing desire and wild promise, thrives in the midst of life's darker gifts.

When first approached to read and review Laura Foley's book of poetry, Joy Street, I hesitated. While I occasionally read poetry, it is not something I read often nor am completely comfortable reviewing it. I have said before I am a bit intimidated by poetry, afraid I often miss the intricate meanings behind the words. Having said that, perhaps you will be surprised to know I write poetry from time to time.

I decided to take on the challenge and give Joy Street a try. My first thought was how much I appreciated her free form style, and how simple the poems were--simple in how approachable each poem was, I mean. Not in terms of depth--for there was depth. With each poem, the reader gets to see into the heart and mind of the author, experiencing her life through her words.

There were poems I liked better than others, some I could relate to and some that touched a personal chord with me. There was "Near Miss", a poem about the feeling of dread and foreboding that sometimes hits us; when we think of the tragic things that have befallen our friends and family, and realize how lucky we are, sure we might have--and still could be--next.  There was the poem about the "Dinner Party" which read like a script from my every day life. How often I am listening to a conversation and think of something to add, only to fail to do so--that missed opportunity. "Springtime in the Grocery Store" made me think of young love and brought up my own memories with my husband. "Hindsight" and "No Humming" (the second brought tears to my eyes) brought out thoughts and memories of my dad.

The final poem of the book, "Low Night Tide", was my favorite of all:

Around our feet, 

the scritch-scritch-scratch  

of claws on sand,  

ancient sounds  

of midnight rounds,  

of seemingly solid ground  

shifting under us:  

revealing worlds below our own.

As you can see, I cannot read poetry without reflecting it back on my own life. I do that with the books I read as well. I enjoyed reading Laura Foley's Joy Street, spending time in the author's mind while at the same time feeling her words in my own way.

To learn more about Laura Foley, and her book, please visit the author's website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Joy Street on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. E-Copy of the book provided by the publisher.

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