Title: Poems of Life / Faces of Poems
Author: Byron Clark
Publisher: Avid Readers Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 978-1-61286-260-6
Genre: Autobiographical Poetry
Pages: 94
Reviewed by: Jodi Gallagher
Hollywood Book Reviews
I was fortunate to have received my copy of Poems of Life / Faces of Poems in its hardcover version, and surprised to see it was already signed by the author (Jim) Byron Clark. What a nice welcoming to begin my journey paging throughout the poetry, quotations, musings, aphorisms, autobiographical reflections and captioned photographs.
Poems of Life / Faces of Poems reads like a stream of consciousness – jumping from personal memoires of people from Byron Clark’s life, his travels, parties and family and friends. Always handsome and dapper in the scores of photographs, Byron Clark appears to be living the life of royalty. Whether he’s wearing a denim shirt, bandana and cowboy hat outside a stable in Santa Barbara, or sporting a white dinner jacket or tuxedo in Rome, he’s always dressed appropriately for the occasion. Many times he is toasting with a cocktail or glass of champagne in his hand, along with the who’s who of celebrity personalities of the time period.
The layout of the book has the genre of a scrapbook style, with little clips of photos and comments placed around the galley text of the pages. Even the typestyle and font coloration is whimsical in nature, adding a layer of creativity and fun to the book. I particularly liked the poem about his poodle, “Peaches Apricot Poodle a.k.a. Black-Eyes Princess.” In that poem he brings the spelling of “dog” as being backwards for “God,” and shows the love and devotion each had for each other. His love and respect for his wife is showcased in everything he does – as he dedicated a tribute to his deceased wife Lena, then rejoices whit his second wife Eleanor Vallee, making for the perfect couple sharing the golden years of life’s adventures. With children and grandchildren, friends from all professions and acquaintances around the world, it is easy to drift into the optimism and humble kindness of Byron Clark’s world.
A cornucopia of revelations, albeit without the theological overtones, Poems of Life / Faces of Poems is a book which is a must-have possession to all those touched by Byron Clark throughout his decades of bon vivant life. To others, like myself, it is an ideal way to get to know the author and for some time, be swept into the “Norman Rockwell America” which he lived throughout. He was an unofficial ambassador to the countries visited, a scholarly influence to his friends and most of all an honest person with good principles. Having a signed copy of his work of art will now become a valued keepsake in my personal library. Clark’s remarkable ability to express himself in a raw and honest manner lets you not only read his experiences, but also join in! Every poem was an absolute delight that appealed to me whether in wit, heartbreak, or adventure. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good read; you will find not only poetry, but also a feeling of camaraderie with the author himself.