Deep Focus by Judith Oppenheimer Loth is a collection of poems that cover a variety of themes: from love to childhood and from illness to art. In the first part of the book, the author explores feelings of abandonment and betrayal, the ambivalence of grieving the death of an old lover, and the assonances between the four seasons and human emotions. The latter part of the book contains poems about nine classic painters admired by the author. A few writings distance themselves from the main themes, such as poems about the Amish and Egyptian and Greek architecture.
Reading this collection of poems was absolutely delightful. Judith Oppenheimer Loth assembles the words in a sharp and yet delicate manner. The array of topics she covers in this collection is wide, but each of them is explored with depth and passion. While reading, I felt as if the poems were windows into the author’s most intimate thoughts and experiences. Even the poems about art uncover an almost personal relationship between the author and the artists as she beautifully puts into verses their works and lives. She writes that Rembrandt “saw humankind’s deep, warm worth” and that she wishes to “embrace and thank” Vermeer.
My favorite poem is “Another Thing They Never Told Us.” The author reflects on what it means to age as a woman. While men can always rely on a woman’s support regardless of their age, growing older causes women to lose the charm of their youthful appearance in the eyes of society. Men stop calling them, they become “the friend taken for granted” and, in a way, they lose their power. The author expresses regret over not being informed that growing old would bring about these experiences for her:
As a young woman, I read this poem as a powerful reminder to focus on my own growth and practice appreciating myself regardless of the value that society and men place on my youth and appearance.“They did not tell me that I should
plan ahead so that I would not feel threatened,
should exercise my body and my mind, so that
the winter that lay ahead be not curse but crown.”
There is absolutely no element of this collection of poems that I disliked. Each poem is vibrant and captivating, always sparking reflection and soul searching. The book is error-free and professionally edited, offering a perfect reading experience for poetry lovers.
Deep Focus by Judith Oppenheimer Loth deserves a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The poems are like unique pearls that have been beautifully assembled into a necklace. I know I will be coming back to this collection to immerse myself in my favorite poems. I warmly recommend this book to readers who enjoy vibrant and deep poetry.
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Deep Focus
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