|
An Amazing Anthology
Aurelio. NJ
From Here to Never encompasses the thoughts and feelings associated with a sudden realization that one is only going to get older, that youth is now somewhere in the past. Many of us grapple with it in different ways, Howe has obviously taken to writing down his perceptions of middle age. I find much of his work intriguing and entirely
relatable. There are some poems in the book that are, frankly, rather inaccessible, as if the author has a secret knowledge that he only hints at. But other poems, such as I Went Back, In Savannah, The Rhythm of Time and many others lyrically state the things that I wish I had said. Or perhaps in ways that I wish I had said them. This is a fine collection, especially for a first work. The only suggestion I might have for Howe is to avoid the pedantic and blatantly esoteric approach that characterizes some of his work (albeit, not most). Other than that, I highly recommend this for literary nuts and just regular old readers.
TTFM
Emmy. NY
Absolutely original, creative, and quite touching. Never grow old or up. Just grow!!!
A Melange of Experience
Aubrey, Web Developer, Washington
Although there is no single common theme through the book, it's easy to get caught in its stream of conscience. Each poem is its own gut punch, a flash of light, a quiet chuckle and varies enough to keep you reading to see what comes next. Howe's creations range from several tremendously clever spoofs to the simple pleasures of
"Falling Snow." He writes about himself, his journey through life in outrageous and brilliant language weaving images of nature with earthly passions. Howe has an uncanny way of scooping memories up into time pockets, draping them over the page in his unique writing style. By the end of his book, I felt as if I had lived the life of Jeff Howe myself. Or, perhaps, just a little over an hour of it.
Mr. Versatility
Jeff Metz, Author, California
Jeff Howe's poetry is amazingly versatile, and stimulating. When you sit down with this book, turn off the TV, rid yourself of distractions and get ready to take a journey. You will find some of the best imagery, you are liable to find in poetry today. The work ranges from subtle romantic visions to the biting realities of the world today, on almost every page you will find yourself saying "I can absolutely relate to that!" You don't need a Phd to understand and enjoy this work, you only need some place to curl up, a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and a few hours to spend in another world! An absolutely fantastic work of poetic art. Jeff Metz
Mid Life
Musings
Leslie Burkart, Author, Songwriter, California
Jeff Howe has written an excellent book of stories and
poetry that reflect one man's journey through his soul. The author takes you
to bittersweet or comical places and lands you right back on your feet. His
down to earth philosophy and intelligent and artistic imagery transport the
reader in a magical way. I was enchanted by reading this collection of his
thoughtful and skillfully written pieces. I highly recommend this book to
anyone from Maine to California and beyond!
On
From Here to Never
Carl Winderl, Professor of English, Point Loma Nazarene University
"Melting Clocks" certainly also
grabbed my attention, in a Salvador Dali sort of way, and was too a nice way
to sort of thematically jumpstart your collection. Effective compare and
contrast use in "Fall" "The Drowning" clever work with a
writing schema . . . it worked . . . and perhaps most importantly foreshadowed
"The Field." Goin' Out There, Jeff, with "No Time Outs Left" --
and why not? You actually sustained the effort quite well; try some more of
these extended efforts . . . they are, like Dunkin' Donuts, 'worth the trip.'
Good Extended Metaphor in "Digging a Well." Interesting stuff on
the lines and between and beyond them in the "Paler Shades of White"
sonnet. "Vanishing Point" begins your best group of 4 Poems in a Row in
the book: nice, effective, clever, and powerful finish to your collection.
But "The Field" is the absolute winner; if this one and "The River
Speaks" have not been published as stand-alone poems in some journal or
review somewhere before they NEED to be. More people need to read these.
What Goes
To Make An Award-Winning Poem?
by John Reid
http://www.lulu.com/content/411544
In many such entries, the images are cleverly sustained for a
large number of stanzas. Sometimes, however, a poem is well served by brevity.
Jeff Howe's highly commended "Horses in the Mist" is most effectively
confined to two stanzas, each of six lines. The opening stanza: "When just
before the day breaks free,/Rips loose the ragged reign of night./Clouds
descend to hug the land,/Obscure the image from my sight/Of pastures where the
grass is kissed/With dew, graze horses in the mist." These images are
astutely reworked in the final stanza to bring the poem to a most effective
close.
On
From Here to Never
by Andrew Colvin, Editor
Windham Independent
newspaper, Vol. 4, No. 3, Jan. 2007
With the future looming, it's only natural to try to hold on to
the past - but despite our best efforts, time can't be controlled like that.
The book's first poem, "Melting Clocks," sets that tone. Right out of the
gate, the opening lines establish time as something that goes on regardless of
our concerns, the future gone sof ast we can't grab an awaited moment when it
arrives. And once in the past, time can't be revisited unaltered, Howe's
poems seem to argue. In "I Went Back," the narrator visits landmarks of
his past - camp, college and a military base - only to find them
unrecognizable in the present. Not a nostalgic look, where everything
remains unchanged over time, the poem is a sad disconnect between memory and
reality. This idea is taken up later in "Old Orchard Beach" when the
narrator finds ghosts of his past as he walks along the beach's deserted
streets, but can't help thinking the keys to finding those memories will be
lost in the future. It's a scary concept to think that even our memories
are not safe from the progression of time, which the book's own title alludes
to. "From Here to Never" could mean time travels to a past that never
actually was. .... The picture he painted with words was poignant
and worth review. Despite not being able to go back to the past, Howe
has a promising literary future ahead.
On
Falling from a Cloud
by Andrew Colvin, Editor
Windham Independent
newspaper, Vol. 4, No. 26, June. 2007
The book is broken into two part. While the first half is
traditional, rhyme and meter poetry, the second part is free verse. Both
sections have their strengths. Howe has a great ear for traditional
poetry, choosing words to beat a steady rhythm that drives the poems quickly
from beginning to end. He seems to build the poems around words that
work, though he still reigns them in as best he can. While I enjoyed the
quick pace of the first half, the second half's free verse made me slow down
more often to give deeper thought to the poem's meanings. Unbound by
poetic rules, Howe is free to try different experiments, most of which are
effective. These poems, however, don't have the comforting sounds of the
first half, allowing their messages to fester. ....One theme Howe
explores ni several poems is the idea of the forces that strong-arm us into
motion. ....The collection's title poem builds on this theme as the
narrator describes a voice that rationalizes stepping off a cloud into the
open sky to fall to earth. It's a powerful image that builds on the
streams of traffic, night drives and sudden drops that frequent Howe's poetry
throughout the book. The poem left me thinking about the forces that
work to drive our lives - toward good, bad or ugly..... I find myself
disagreeing with most of Howe's arguments, which is actually a credit to his
work - his message was clear enough to make me realize I didn't share it.
Still, his constantly dry, dark, cutting tone may be too bitter for some.
I closed the book feeling heavy inside, which made me both admire Howe's
poetic power, but dislike his taste in mood.
|