Book Review: “Left Waiting”, River Dixon

Foreword:
This is a poetry book. I often hear the words, “I hate poetry,” “I don’t understand poetry,” “Poetry is so boring”… and yes, I agree – poetry is a very subjective art, just like paintings: some love Dali, some love Ruben.
I just want to remind you about the time when you were a kid and your parents bought you a book – often short poems about animals, nature, relationships, elves, daily chores. You grew up, and the poems grew up with you, too.

 You loved them when you were a child, didn’t you?
So, what happened?

Poetry is the literature itself. It is a place where our hearts start beating. This means, if you hate poetry = you hate literature. Hmm, then – what do you think you are doing…when you are reading all your books? 👁😼

 Review:

Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather, it is ‘timing’…

What great timing! After “freezing to death with the last pack of ganja in our pockets” (from Colder: A Collection of Poetry and Prose), we slowly continue our journey to the Land of Waiting. It’s very convenient, don’t you think? First, we were invited to a peaceful chat in the middle of dope-fields, and after, all of a sudden, we arrived at an abandoned pier… 

!! Ganja aka Hashish aka Marijuana aka Dagga aka Cannabis aka Weed (+1000 more slang terms for marijuana). Ask River for more info 😜

Let’s start! River Dixon opens his book with a very suspicious line:

I could stand here
For a lifetime…

It forces me to ask you, fellow bloggers, what if he is ‘a vampire?’ Do you have time for standing & waiting? Like, ever??

“Never on Monday!” you’d say.
(and our ‘Monday’ is every day of the week!)

Following questions to River Dixon:
a) What is River’s favorite music? – Scream of poetry!
b) Looking for a sad vampire to come & bite you this Halloween? – Go grab the book!
c) Where’s vampire Dixon living? – Send your blood type and he’ll answer your question…

Ah, let me tell you the truth… River doesn’t give a damn about days, weeks, years, centuries. Time is irrelevant and his poems are immortal: there’s not so much of ‘oh-ah sentimentality’ here and even less fluff. It’s a collection of unbelievable power and a nearly uncanny, simple perception of the world/life.
Toiling through the hours
And miles away
From the only thing
I know as home
We are slowly moving closer to that ‘ghostly/in-grave-d’ home… through poems ‘Jar of Coins’ & ‘Another Corner.’ I especially love this piece of darkness and modern romantism:

I watch the blood run down my hand
Drip from my fingertips,
splash on the floor
All I can do is think to myself
How much I really don’t care anymore…

Then we are jumping over ‘Brewing’ (not beers), ‘Becoming’ (not Obamas) and ‘Locked Away’ (not Mansons). Sigh 👻
River Dixon creates landscapes, moods, friends, scenes of love and death… and then, in the middle of it all, he is just standing there, on the pier, throwing stones from a bridge. Hm, I guess the author is simply playing with us – check the poem ‘Hide and Seek’:

I’ll be safe
In these spaces between
Where no one
Can find me

Ta-Ta-Ta -Ta! As a regular follower of the ‘Poirot’ series (this is the very first thing I do after my coffee, every damn day – watching 1 episode with Hercule Poirot), I have ONLY TWO questions for River Dixon:

1. Whom are you hiding from, Mr. Dixon?
2. If nobody is seeking… how are you planning to be found? 👽

There is no direction
When every way is the only way
That leads back to where we began…

Ah, what a mouth-watering line! He is simply ‘Meant to Be’ a poet… and yes, we believe all your promises, River:

No more shivering in the cold
No more darkness
Only light…

What’s left to add? 📚

This is a book full of vulnerability, honesty, passion and loss. I’m amazed at the imagery that comes alive out of each phrase. Anyone who reads this book will find a connection with the author and maybe even is going to feel reborn (it’s a vampire-thing! 😂).

Now run-run-run and read the absolutely wonderful poem that starts with the words:
I took two steps
Then gave up…

 One of Ray’s & Hemingway’s favorites!
(because every true poem ends in death…) 

Why you should read this book?

1. A great addition to your dark autumn collection!
2. Romantic, philosophical and haunting.
3. It’s like Christmas for poetry lovers! 🌪🔥
4. Raw (heartfelt) book of beautiful poems!

From Ray: It is NEVER TOO LATE to start reading great poetry!

x x x 

Visit author’s page:  The Stories in Between Blog
Check book on Amazon:  Left Waiting on Amazon – link
Follow author on Goodreads:  Goodreads page – book and  Goodreads page – author

If you are up for dark & twisted tales from River Dixon (horror) – CHECK IT NOW! IT IS A HALLOWEEN FFS!

Leave review and follow River Dixon… do NOT be ‘greedy’ with your words – spread light and kindness around 💃💃

Sunset. A girl in a pink dress standing on a pier by the sea…Waiting.

Next post – “The Pearl Territory”, ch. 25 – Mimo #personaljournal 

Tags: anxietyartBloggingblogospherebook-reviewBooksfungothic-poetryhumorindie-authorsinspirationkindle-unlimitedlovemental-healthmotivationpoetry-about-deathpoetry-booksrelationshipsWritingwriting-style