Reviewed by Lori M for Readers' Favorite

“Veiled Threat” hit home with me as it spoke of a workaholic who put more time into working than into a relationship. That theme continues in the poem titled, “Commitment, Responsibility, Obligation – Oh, My!”

In Sally Shirley’s collection of poems about relationships, she hits the high points, the low points, and the sore spots. I’m sure some wives would like to cut out “Substitutions” and tape it on their refrigerators as it speaks of how the husband is finding his comfort in television while the wife is crying herself to sleep, wanting comfort that never comes. Shirley, as she explains in her prologue, has experiences to share in her writing. As a result of the experiences she has had, she brings them to life with emotionally-charged precision in her poetry. Who among us doesn’t know someone who can relate to “Betrayal,” in which a wife leaves her husband for another man, only to have him say he doesn’t want a relationship with her because he can’t trust her after she deceives her first husband? Her piece, “At Risk,” is reality come to life when someone is tempted to cheat on their spouse, but can’t justify a reason.

I enjoyed “Touchpoints” by Sally Shirley because her poetry is real and not just fluffy, pretty rhyming words. Sometimes “grit” gets the job done better than soft-soaping a situation. Because we’re human and have all been through these types of relationship issues, we are able to connect with the author and enjoy these reflections on our emotions.