Lilies & Lace & Dark Pretty Things: Poetry from the Heart

Like her other three books, this fourth volume is a creature all it's own. It is divided into three parts: Watercolors & Pomegranates, Blooming Roses & Black Holes, and Dinner With Poe. The first section reminds me most of Melody's first volume of poetry, Moon Gypsy, with it's wildly free, open, loving, whimsical, sensual, bohemian, in-love-with-the-world sense of being. It's impossible to not fall in love with poems such as these. Some of my favorites (from my first reading) are "May is the Color of Pomegranates", "Sundress", "Broken Rainbows", and "Learning Curve." "Sundress" specifically, evokes in me some of the best of Bukowski, when he took a very specific thing, such as the way one horse ran in a race, the way the condensation looked on a beer bottle, the shine of the lamp on the sheet on paper in his typewriter -- how he took that one specific thing, and made us see it in an unarguably clear and memorable way. I feel Melody rises to that level here, and since Hank will always be one of my icons, this is high praise indeed.In the second section we hear more from the quieter, reflective, less rambunctious voice of Ms Lee, and it is a fitting quieter counterpart to the roller-coaster of the first part -- this is more of an elegant carousel ride. My favorite piece in this much shorter section is "Blooming Roses in June," a piece written as a word prompt challenge for a writing event, and we are left to wonder if it was fantasy or autobiography, and having the question unanswered is the perfect answer. Brava!The last section, Dinner with Poe, brings forth Ms Lee's love of the goth, the dark, the images so well known and so often written-of, and it is obvious that this is where Ms Lee's heart often resides. I especially enjoyed "A Great Love Affair", "Oxygen", and "In a World of Butterflies." Though I may be overstepping to offer this opinion, as my guess only and through no personal knowledge, I intuit that that last poem may be one that best sums up Ms. Leeas well or better than any other piece she has published. It certainly seems to suit her well, to me.Should you be someone not yet familiar with her work, I would recommend this volume to you as a fine introduction to this fine author. (Then immediately thereafter buy her other books and indulge in an orgiastic revel of reading!)If you already are a fan of Ms. Lee's work, then I predict that you will love this book with a love that is more than love, in your kingdom by the sea.

This book is full of powerful words and impactful language!

I just love everything that is in this book.. I have read through it a few times already and and I've shared a few of the poems with friends... I will continue to read it over and over again...

Absolutely beautiful poetry! Love, love, love this writer! The passages are so deep and personal. My husband also enjoys it so much that he reads a few poems to me each night.

RecommendedIf you love reading Poetry and feeling of realness, this is a book for youMelody Lee you are beautiful. This had me at the intro. ❤️💯

Melody Lee will place you beside yourself. You cannot just read a page or two and think it's over. She is absolutely phenomenal!

Truly a talented soul. I have followed Melody Lee for some time now and she still finds ways to capture your inner being. Simply beautiful pieces. Great poetry here!

This is the first book I have bought that Melody Lee has written and I will buy more. Its amazing. Completely worth it!!!

I have followed and read books from Melody Lee in the past and I always love her work and this, her latest, is no exception! Full of powerful, passionate and honest poetry, Melody demands full attention from the reader as she takes them on a journey with poems about love, poems about the poet, poems about strength, and, poems about the sheer passion and touch between two lovers...there are layers upon layers and poems only a couple of lines long say more than most full length books! Words roll off the tongue, the book itself looks gorgeous and I can't wait for the next book by Melody. And to quote Melody herself "Damn, I wish I wrote like that!".

Absolutely love this book, made me both smile and cry at the same time! I was much in need of something inspiring and uplifting and this totally fitted the bill. I have immediately ordered another copy for my soul sister! And I can’t wait to add further books from Melody to my collection.

Beautifully written, extremely talented poet. I originally bought it as a gift but enjoyed it too much to give away so ended up buying a second one

I discovered this author with this book and let me tell you, it had shaken my soul, poured fire and tenderness in my heart and made my soul sing. It's a deeply personal, delicately and brutally free, sincere and deep writing that make you want to feel each words of the poems on your skin until you shiver enough to imprint it there. A gorgeous piece of literary art. A sensitive and honest humanity is alive within those pages.

Alles wunderbar.