“Between Selves” by Diana Cole

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (June 5, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 87 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8196202695
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8196202699
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.3 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.22 x 8.5 inches

• Best Sellers Rank: #330,027 in Book

Review by LB Sedlacek

Diana Cole’s “Between Selves” is a collection of poems that delves into an intricate landscape of identity, self-discovery and the connections that tend to weave in and out throughout our lives.  Cole uses a graceful blend of lyrical expression and a deep introspection to take her readers on a transformative poetical journey.

The strength of the collection lies in her ability to capture the universal human experience while also embracing how unique that can be.  Cole’s language is accessible.  This allows for readers to be able to connect with the themes and the emotions contained in each poem.  Her words strike a chord and will resonate with readers. 

From the poem “Pantomime”:

“A beetle on his back does not give up on walking.

The desperation is mine.

I turn it over because a being this small

is more legible alive.

Another day, it’s my foot that comes down

on the insect, still kicking.

I don’t notice because a being this small

is negligible dead.”

The poems are thoughtfully arranged into five sections.  This helps to create a seamless progression that mirrors an ebb and flow with waves of verses and lines.  The author states that the collection is “a place of breaking down, reassembling and becoming.”  She also indicates that the poems are a story of her own life.         

From the title poem “Between Selves”:

My lips brushed the pillow.

I felt my body, its changing landscape.

Moss grew in crevices.

Buds swelled, petals opened.

Dry riverbeds for ivory streams,

blood in the bayou.

          This poem presents vivid images with the comparison of the body to a changing landscape and the growth of moss in crevices seems to create a tangible connection of inner emotions and the external world. The blossoming of buds and petals acts to symbolize the unfolding of perhaps emotions or desires.  All of this conveys a sense of transformation.  Dry riverbeds for ivory streams and blood in the bayou hint at something more related to nature and maybe the passing of time.  Reading this poem leaves the read longing for more.

Cole offers a willingness to dive into her own vulnerability to add such an authenticity to each of her poems.  She has a keen observation and can elevate perhaps ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. 

          The reader will be a participant in this inviting dance to experience the themes she brings forth in the book.  This makes for a compelling read!

          This book of poems perfectly captures ideas and intricate tapestries of layers of the author’s life, writings, and observations.  This makes for a meaningful collection.

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