In the Dark, Soft Earth: Poetry of Love, Nature, Spirituality, and Dreams

By Frank Watson

Book Overview

Dig into this delectable journey through the dark, sensual, and ravishing poetry of Frank Watson. Ruminate the searing to the sultry as you absorb this haunting lilt of burning carnality. The poems ignite rapid and surprising shifts in focus and perspective as they twist and turn your preconceptions, allowing the implications to linger in your thoughts.

Vignette verses explore the workings of love, nature, spirituality, and dreams with sprinklings of tarot symbolism and jazzy blues. Together these verses contemplate the subtle underpinnings of a soft earth.

Beautifully illustrated in color with classic paintings.

Hear what readers and reviewers have said about Frank Watson's poetry:

"A dazzling and intriguing poetic examination of the wonders of the universe."
-Kirkus Reviews (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"These verses are lush and bewitching."
-Katherine Harris, NetGalley (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"Lyrical. Mysterious. Sensual. I adored this volume."
-Catherine E., NetGalley (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"Each stanza feels natural and not crafted, as if words simply blew in through the poet's heart on the breeze."
-YogiMa.Org (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"A wonderful selection of well-organized brilliant poems."
-Sharon Reif, NetGalley (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"This collection is truly captivating and beautifully written."
-Lenore Jordan, NetGalley (In the Dark, Soft Earth)

"Watson left me wanting more. More poems. More imagery. More blue nights and haunted dreams. More weeping wood and moonlit ecstasy."
-The Portsmouth Review (The Dollhouse Mirror)

"This book was HAUNTING. There is no other word for it. Fantasy, romance, contemporary, mystery, and historical all rolled into one; each poem brought all of my emotions bubbling to the surface. It's not something I will soon forget."
-Shawna Brooks, Goodreads (The Dollhouse Mirror)

"A collection that is both sensuous and graceful; I found myself drifting into a tranquil garden of dancing words and imagery. The eloquence is revealed in the rhythm as each page prances past the reader. A highly recommended compilation of words become art."
-Patricia Zarounas Murphy (Seas to Mulberries)

Thematic Influences

Watson traces key thematic influences in his work to favorite poets, songwriters, and works of fiction. In T.S. Eliot, the author admires his use of symbolism and the multi-lingual, multi-cultural sources he drew on from classical literature. In E. E. Cummings, Watson admires the fluidity and spontaneity of his work, the willingness to break form and play with new form, the passion, and the stark imagery. In Pablo Neruda, the intense use of imagery from nature and the way he tied it to romantic longing. In Bob Dylan, the author has been strongly influenced by the apocalyptic and prophetic symbolism of songs such as "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and the dreamscapes of songs such as "Mr. Tambourine Man." Finally, fiction that explores the depths of the human subconscious, as expressed in fantasy, horror, and drama, has had a strong impact. This includes such works as the Twilight Zone and the movies of Alfred Hitchcock and Akira Kurosawa.

Aesthetic Influences

Stylistically, Watson has been heavily influenced by the haiku and tanka (waka) of Japanese poetry and the quatrains of Chinese poetry. This influence has been particularly pronounced in his reading and translation of poets such as Basho, the Hyakunin Isshu poets he translated in his book, One Hundred Leaves, and the works of Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, and Bai Juyi.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1939832195
• ISBN13: 9781939832191
• Release Date: July 2020
• Publisher: Plum White Press
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"