Poems of Glass by Kathleen Janz-Anderson is a mixture of poetry and prose, beautifully illustrated with photographs and tiny, intricate, sketches by Tammy Sargent-Young. Written primarily during the grieving process for her beloved son, it is the author’s way of coping, as she had by keeping a journal and writing songs for many years. Divided into five sections, it comprises Loss, Weaving Life, The Core of Injury, Collateral Damage, and Echoes That Take Us Back. Loss prompts the eternal question, and Kathleen gives the expected answer – “okay”. Waking to the Tenth Day lets us into her true feelings. Kathleen is a Christian and her son had made notes in a Bible. This is a brave, revealing, autobiography written in America but with worldwide appeal.

Chaddyboy, the opening poem, was written for the author's son. She didn’t know that he had only months to live, but it was a heart-breaker that hooked me utterly. “You’d fill your pockets with bugs and rocks and sometimes yukky things.” Second Year illustrates the depth of her grief that refuses to let go: “Somewhere from beyond where you are my bones wait.” If I Could Be A Golden Eagle follows Kathleen’s thoughts on God and free will and shows her fighting for acceptance, the last of the five stages of grief, but that only comes towards the end. Even then, it isn’t total, as life and memories prevent it. Poems of Glass by Kathleen Janz-Anderson is a challenging collection to read, but if you love poetry, or simply exploring the human soul, it is not to be missed.

Poems of Glass is a soul-stirring collection of prose and poetry. Penned by Kathleen Janz-Anderson, these snippets of prose and poetic verses touch upon themes of loss, grief, despair, love, abuse, and much more. It opens with the poem Chaddieboy, where Kathleen reminisces about her son when he was a young boy full of love and wonder, innocent of the world's ways. The poems in the next section, Loss, deal with a mother's grief over her son's death. Carefree Days of Young is a nostalgic remembrance of a time when one was young. Artistic Truth highlights the solitary nature of writing and the form of expression that often leaves writers lonely. In She Picks the Rose & Dances, a young girl refuses to let others judge and mock her in her dreams.

A poignant collection that touches upon some truly serious issues, Poems of Glass may not be for everyone, but it is a riveting work of art that mature readers will undoubtedly appreciate. Kathleen Janz-Anderson's powerful poetic verses and moving prose combine her personal experiences to create something uniquely authentic and strikingly impactful. This collection feels intimate and personable in a way so that you can't help but lose yourself in the pages. A word of caution for readers who may be triggered by sensitive subject matter as there is a poem that sheds light on the brutal murder of a child in the 90s. Overall, I found Kathleen's poetic storytelling somewhat melancholic yet mesmerizingly beautiful. It is highly recommended.