Joy Street is a short and beautiful little book of poetry that portrays in a very honest way the later years in Laura Foley’s life. Having lived her earlier years in a traditional marriage she has chosen to live the later part of her life with her partner Clare who had also once been part of a traditional marriage. I love that the two have found such joy in each other despite dealing with Clare’s illness. The poems cover a wide range of things in the author’s life from her father’s wartime years, children, relationships, pets, to the sorrow of dealing with a loved one’s illness.
I liked that the poems are short and to the point. The beauty and sensuousness of the poetry shines through in the sparseness of the words used and many times that is so much more powerful than using more words. They portray the emotions, the awkwardness, the love and the pain that all of us feel at some point in our lives. Joy Street is about finding what joy you can in this world wherever you can and that truly touched my heart.
I had quite a few favorite pieces but I’ll share just one…
No GPS Necessary
I love you, I say, as we leave the hotel room,
as we take the elevator down,
and stroll city blocks
to the hospital,
as we walk the antiseptic corridors,
and she’s wheeled away,
as I return to Joy Street,
where yesterday
she said those words to me.
I love how this piece of poetry reflects both the pain and ultimate joy in the love that the author shares with her partner. I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s work after experiencing the moving beauty of Joy Street.
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Very nice review, Darlene. I’m glad you enjoyed this collection. I’m also on the tour, later this month.
I don’t often read poetry but if that excerpt is any indication then I’d enjoy this little collection.
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I enjoyed this collection, too!
They really are very honest poems, aren’t they?
So glad that you enjoyed the collection; it was wonderful.
I enjoyed this collection too, Darlene. Some of the poems I could completely relate to.