I’ve Been There Before: A Collection of Poetry

I’ve Been There Before: A Collection of Poetry
Leslie A. McGuinn
Publish America
ISBN: 1-4241-4289-X
Poetry
Reviewed by John Thompson

I’ve Been There Before by Leslie A. McGuinn is a “sweet to your eyes and mind” collection of poetry that you’ll want to read at least twice, maybe three times a week! You’ll look at the outline of these poems, the structure and design, and see them there and wonder, then you’ll read them, and you’ll see an open whole of experience and charisma.
These poems are so full and trailing – I say trailing because when your finished reading one poem and go to another the previous one is still inside your head… and while you are finishing the one you are reading it’s slowly pounding a place inside your head to nestle down and have you ponder about it too, and by the time your finished with the last poem, you’re smiling, and your enchanted by words of feeling and truth.
She starts hercollection with a wonderful poem titled “A Mother’s Day Poem” which is truly beautiful in so many ways. When you read this, it just shows the true love from a mother to a child, and you feel warm inside her arms. She has four sections and each section is a different part of a world in life! Each section is another place to mutter softly and brilliant things! In the first section you look into the eyes of McGuinn and realize the importance to her. Her family and friends and how they portray in her life and how much she loves them – and as you read through it you’ll find that she enjoys these things a lot – and she has an easy time portraying the description she feels about them. In section two it’s more about love – the boldness and the emotion of it. The overwhelming! Section three we walk into the broken part of her collection. Broken meaning, the tragedy side. The stepping out, the separation and the destroyed love. And to this it brings one more side of the full amount emotions you feel. Section four. The last section of this collection moves onto moving on. Going through life. Realizing it and holding what you have. In this collection, she really doesn’t go with structure. Every poem is centered out and in the same style… and I was hoping the structure would eventually change, but it doesn’t. Though, and I say that boldly, it doesn’t change anything to this book, to these poems! They are still enjoyable and still pure!
This collection is an insight to read. It’s big, bold and enjoyable!