Weekly Mews Poetry Corner Edition: From the Inside

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

April is National Poetry Month. It seems the perfect time for it. I often think of poetry as a flower, starting out as a seed, growing roots under the earth and sprouting up, words put together, coming together to form a bud and then blooming more fully into a beautiful flower--a poem fully formed. 

I may have mentioned it before on my blog, but every Wednesday this school year, my daughter's teacher has the students write poetry. They have been learning different types of poetry, experimenting a bit on their own, and been given free rein on what they write about. When I am working from home, I sometimes get to hear the an occasional student's poem read in class--some are silly and others more serious. I love their creativity.

I recently read a collection of poetry offered for review via NetGalley. I was drawn to the description of From the Inside: The Inner Soul of a Young Poet and decided to take a chance on it. I hadn't realized when I accepted the book for review that the author, Thanvi Voruganti, is ten years old, the same age as my daughter. It would not have made a difference in my saying yes or no to the collection, but it did influence my reading, I imagine. 

It is clear Thanvi has a passion for writing poetry--and she is very talented. She has a way with words and a gift for putting to paper her thoughts and feelings. Her words are those of a child but speak to all ages. It is easy to forget she is so young. 

I found her poems very relatable. They are mostly centered around the pandemic. They are uplifting and heartfelt. She touches on such emotions as grief and loss as well as hope. She writes about taking pleasure in nature and finding joy in the little things, as well as about the isolation and sadness. 

I have several favorites but one that stands out the most is "Journey Home" which tells the story of a sister searching for her brother. It's whimsical and fun:

I asked the royal blue ocean

With the cool winter breeze

He said, "Ask the mighty mountains,

They'll find him with ease." [excerpt from "Journey Home" by Thanvi Voruganti]

I would like to share some other passages I came across in From the Inside. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have. 

Words slowly rebuilding me

Flooding my heart

Slipping onto my tongue, to the tip of my pen

To tell the story of emotions [excerpt from "From the Inside" by Thanvi Voruganti]

It's okay to be fearful, life has a way

No matter the circumstance [excerpt from "One Tear Left" by Thanvi Voruganti]

Voice shrieking anguished cries, but unheard

And shoved back into a world of isolation [excerpt from "Left Out" by Thanvi Voruganti] 

Is this a sign?

Could I make it without you?

Screaming until my voice fades in the wind

If only you could tell me [excerpt from "Lanterns" by Thanvi Voruganti]

Everybody is trying to help

But I know I'm on my own

It's slightly disheartening

But greatest battles are fought alone [excerpt from "Be a Fighter" by Thanvi Voruganti]

The singsong voices of the whispering aspen trees

The gleeful response of the bluebird warbling

The rushing peals of laughter from the streams

Making harmony of your wildest dreams

Swaying to the chorus of the idyllic forest [excerpt from "Does Nature Count?" by Thanvi Voruganti]

Have you come across any poems or poetry collections recently you would recommend? 

What I Am Reading: I had every intention of picking up The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo as soon as I finished Kiley Dunbar's The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday one day this past week, but after a rough morning at work, I needed something more familiar and intense to clear my mind during my lunch break. As a result, I picked up Chloe Neill's Shadowed Steel (Heirs of Chicagoland #3) instead. It proved the perfect choice because I was soon back in Elisa and Connor's world of vampires, werewolves and other supernatural beings. I have since finished it and officially have begun reading The Poet X, this month's TBR List Poll winner. It's so good! 

On the Mouse front, she and I finished reading Tales of the Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (Dork Diaries #10) and have moved onto Tales of the Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (Dork Diaries (#11) by Rachel Renée Russell. I love that Mouse wants to share these books with me--they continue to be funny and entertaining reads. Mouse is reading other books as well, which I hope to talk about in my next Mouse's Corner.

I haven't put much thought about what to read next. Angels of the Overpass (Ghost Roads #3) by Seanan McGuire is a tempting choice though. 

What I Am Watching: I am nearly finished with the first season of Netflix's The Irregulars. I have one episode to go. It is about a group of teens in Victorian London who reluctantly are talked into solving mysterious crimes with an obvious supernatural bent by a sinister Dr. Watson and an elusive Sherlock Holmes. The show focuses mostly on the teens and their exploits. I am enjoying this horror mystery drama with its interesting cast of characters.

We watched the fifth episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and have one more to go. It was an amazing episode, a bit quieter than the last, but still packing quite a punch. We learn more about Isaiah Bradley and his background. I have enjoyed seeing Sam and Bucky's relationship grow. They are both such great characters. I am already looking forward to watching the show again when the season ends. 

Off the Blog: I am loving the spring weather and am craving more outdoor time. It was a hectic and challenging work week which I was glad to see come to an end. I think my husband felt the same way about his week. Mouse has kept busy with virtual school and dance. Rehearsals for the summer musical seem to be going well. The cats are as playful as ever. Gracie and I have had to have a few talks about her continually trying to lay on my computer or my chest while I am trying to work. It seems to be happening more and more this past week. Nina usually just periodically walks under my desk and around my feet for a quick pet. Although lately she likes to jump up onto the desk, walk around a bit, just enough for an above the tail scratch, and then will leave. Luckily she keeps her paws off the keyboard, unlike Gracie who has been known to type messages to my coworkers. 

Nina stretching out to nap.

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Bookish Mewsings: Passiflora by Kathy Davis
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: Swimming Back to Trout River /Black Water Sister / Lost in a Good Book
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Road Trip Anyone? / Reading Now & Then / Meme Addict)

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this week?

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

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