A Palette of Poems

By Louise Fumo Burrelli Ph.D.

This book consists of four parts. Part 1 is entitled The Spectrum of Life and offers delight and wisdom to adult readers as well as to adolescents who are trying to find their place in the world. Part 2: Journey’s End spotlights various character types and the satirical or ignominious ends that they meet but is written with humorous intent. Part 3: Colorful Creatures is for animal lovers of all ages and stresses the belief that we can learn much from the animals and that we should treasure their presence. Part 4: Animalgrams from A to Z was written with a special concern for children and consists of short poems that may be read aloud to them. This special section of this book has been described by reviewers as “a joy and an asset to any child’s imagination and education.” In short, this collection of original poems offers something for everyone in the typical family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984540409

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Louise Fumo Burrelli, Ph.D.

Library of Congress Control Number:         2018908160

ISBN:              Hardcover                    978-1-9845-4039-3

                        Softcover                      978-1-9845-4041-6

                        eBook                           978-1-9845-4040-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 09/14/2018

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Dedication

With great love, I dedicate this collection of poetry to the following:

…..to my deceased husband, Alfonso, who encouraged my professional writings throughout our years together and whose spirit continued to inspire me in this latest endeavor.

…..to my adult and dear children, Elisabeth and John and to my multi-talented granddaughter, Felicia Rose, who were all so supportive of my efforts in the writing of this book.

…..to my extended family, the students, who throughout my thirty years as a teacher, gave me the privilege of extending their horizons through the study of foreign languages and cultures.

…..and finally, to my precious pets who have all passed on and who were as much a part of our family as any human being and who are sorely missed by us. Let there be a land beyond the rainbow where someday we will find them waiting for us.

Louise Burrelli

Introduction

It is my hope that this collection of poems offers delight and wisdom to adult readers but also to adolescents who are trying to find their place in the world as adults. Part One (The Spectrum of Life) offers poems that are meant to reflect their issues. The epitaphs in Part Two (Journey’s End) spotlight various character types and the satirical or ignominious ends that they meet but is written with humorous intent. Deeply touched by my experience with animals throughout my life, I was inspired to write the poems in Part Three (Colorful Creatures), believing that their appeal knows no barrier to age or gender. I believe we learn much from the animals and that we should treasure their presence in our lives. With a special concern for children, I wrote Part Four (Animalgrams from A to Z) described by critics as a joy and an asset to any child’s imagination and education. Poetry should be a part of every child’s life. It is a way to develop their intellect and find new ways of expression. The discovery of rhyme inspires a love and appreciation of the power of language itself.

Louise Burrelli, Ph.D. Columbia University, New York

Prologue

The title of this collection of poems reflects the author’s belief that colors symbolize and affect the human experience in many ways. In nature, light creates colors that affect us and it is believed that they have a profound impact on our lives and on our very souls. In poetry, one must draw on a vocabulary and placement of words that evoke the human experience in a way that echoes the colors that affect us in our actual lives.

The chapter headings in this collection: Bright Hues, Dark Hues, and Colorful Creatures, are meant to call the reader’s attention to their counterparts in real life. The hues of poetry are parallel to the colors of life: a sensory impression, a recollected emotion, a desire, a disappointment, etc. That said, the author offers this counsel to would-be poets:

Then be as a child to whom all things are new,

And with a palette of words both dark and bright,

Color the world so