D.T. Caldwell’s soul-stirring collection of poems, Dreamt, includes poems about romance and life experiences. In the first poem “Journey,” the narrator envisions a traveler’s experiences before they arrive at their destination. Laughter, solitude, and grief are among the feelings they experience on their journey. Other poems narrate the passionate, intimate moments between two people. In the poem “Tell Me,” the narrator questions the listener about their perspective on the relationship they share: “Has it all just been a game? Has it all just been a figment of my mind?” Other poems, such as “Hope,” use the title as an acronym for the poem’s content. The poems depict different stages of a couple’s relationship from exciting beginnings to devastating conclusions.

The collection makes use of poems with different structures and themes. Some poems celebrate beautiful memories, others are tragic while some are emotional. The poems also vary in structure; some are lengthy, others are brief, some are question poems while others are narrative poems. The combination makes the collection engaging and absorbing. I loved that the moments portrayed in the poems capture the narrator's emotions, which are evident throughout the collection. Feelings of hope, longing, fear, desperation, or sadness are among the emotions that are present throughout. For instance, in the poem “Smile,” the man is enchanted by the woman’s smile while both are caught in the moment in which they cherish each other. Beautiful photographs also enhance the poems as they indicate the tone and emotions in the verses. Dreamt by D.T. Caldwell is a creative and engrossing collection of love poems.

Dreamt by D.T. Caldwell is an inspirational, powerful collection of poetry that examines relationships, life, and love. As we travel along our unique path in life, every experience we have is necessary and will teach us a valuable life lesson. Whether to build moments of joy or move us closer to attaining our aspirations and dreams or simply learning more about ourselves. What if you allow fear to hinder you from opening your heart to new challenges? This collection reminds us of the importance of living life with no regrets of what could have been. Filled with beautiful photography, each poem examines the emotions of trauma, love, hopelessness, and disappointment. A life lived to the fullest, with no word of love unspoken or chance not taken is a life of wonder and joy.

Every poem in this compilation will encourage you to live a life that is full and without fear or regret. The poems are short but the message behind the beautiful words will pack a thought-provoking punch. I loved the use of metaphors and the style of the poetry flows effortlessly. Dreamt by D.T. Caldwell will appeal to anyone who needs that daily dose of motivation and inspiration to live a joyous and meaningful life. The photography is absolutely stunning, visually vibrant, and supports the poetry perfectly. There were many poems that evoked real emotions within me but my absolute favorites had to be the chilling Footprints, What If? and Their Closure. I feel every reader will find a poem that will speak to them on a personal level. What a perfect gift this would make to anyone who has so much potential but allows fear to inhibit them.