Don’t Fret (Jazz Poems) Michael L. Newell

Don’t Fret

(Jazz Poems)

Michael L. Newell

ISBN: 978-93-95224-24-6

Copyright 2022, Cyberwit

Review by LB Sedlacek

            A musical book of poetry awaits in this new collection by Michael L. Newell.  The poems are all musical or music related, hence the title.  The author states many of the poems were previously published in “Jerry Jazz Musician.”  That publication also inspired the author to turn his poems into this manuscript. 

            The way this book came about is somewhat reminiscent of composing a piece of music.  Each poem belongs and/or adds to the one before and after it.  These poems are not only complementary of one another they also invite the reader in as if experiencing a live performance.

From “Of Fireflies Jazz and Lost Relatives”:
“In the gloaming's last embers, a swirl of fireflies
flits, flashing brief bursts of light, as certain
trumpet and sax players will play swift staccato
notes, each one perfect, lighting the minds,
imaginations, and hearts of listeners who
have no idea how such perfection is achieved,…”

          Newell’s words ripple beneath you.  You can almost hear the poem as music from a whisper to a loud sound.  Every hint of sound is explored in these lines. 

          The poems center around Jazz and you will feel the essence of this particular type of music through the core of the book.  It is the heart of the book and a musical style of sorts that many will truly appreciate.  There’s something soothing and perhaps miraculous about listening to Jazz music.  Better yet, if you play a musical instrument and get to play Jazz song or two or three.

          Here, the author uses words as his instruments.  The subjects of the poems, the rhythms, styles, line breaks or not, word choices and more are his accompanist.

          There’s solace in Newell’s words.  There’s also heart and harmony. 

          The reader will be moved by this book’s beauty and grace.  The reader will also be able to hear the music drift in and out through the pages.

~LB Sedlacek is the author of “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” and “The Blue Eyed Side.”