The Hidden Source by Richard Rose

Copyright 2023, Cyberwit

Review by LB Sedlacek

Richard Rose takes the title of his new collection from a poem by Derek Mahon called “Everything is Going to be Alright.”  In it, the hidden source is compared to a watchful heart.  “The Hidden Source” is indeed full of heart and a visual creation of words and imagery.

And yes, Rose certainly gives heart to his own poetry offering up several new poems in his latest collection.  Each poem wraps a layer of lines and words even verses that seem to have a special poetical life all their own.  To be more specific, each one seems to be lifted up into a unique creation.

From the poem “A man who talks to trees”:

“Of late, while walking in the woods,

I’ve seen a man who talks to trees.

His words are softly spoken, tender,

though I sense some sorrow as he speaks.

I saw him there again today,

while taking care he’d not see me,

anxious that I may disturb

a conversation made in privacy.”

As seen in the poem lines above, there is an elegance to Rose’s poetry.  It is with ease that one can read along in the book while being able to simply imagine walking along in the woods with the subject of this particular poem.  Poetry should be able to transport the reader and thus compliment and encourage the mind and soul, and Rose certainly has a way of doing just that.

Rose pirouettes gracefully from poem to poem covering a wide array of subjects such as seasons, certain places, Shakespeare play characters, a ballad for a pig and a final meeting just to name a few of them.  His poems are written mostly in free verse with some prose and a bit of rhyme or formal verse thrown in here or there.  He seems to take the approach that perhaps the subject of the poem or the poem itself should determine in what way it is written.  He takes liberty with line spaces and spacing in general that also help to shape and form a poem giving it well-determined final verses and words on the page.

Additionally, his poems seem to strive to shatter illusions.  However, they are also deeply grounded in a reality.  There is also a sense of power to his words. 

Rose writes with a refined style.  He captures details and images as if they are a moment in time.  It’s easy to place yourself within each moment of each poem as if you’re part of it.  That type of writing makes it easy to enjoy and to savor. 

Each poem also leaves a long-lasting impression.  There is much to ponder while reading each one. 

Rose indeed is a gifted poet.  He’s able to bridge the gap between poet and reader.  This is what makes poetry readable.  And this is what carries poetry forward so that it is remembered and so that it is also continued to be enjoyed from generation to generation.  Well done!

~LB Sedlacek is the author of several books of poetry including “Swim,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” “Ghost Policy,” and “Words and Bones.”  Her most recent short stories collections include “Motor Addiction & The Renovator” and “The Jackalope Committee & Other Short Stories.”