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Reviewed by Juan Lynch for Readers' Favorite
The Feeling of Love: Poems & Watercolor Art by Dana Gradaya Farrell is a visual and literary work of art. This anthology features over thirty poems that explore romantic love, heartbreak, hope, loss, human nature, and Mother Nature. The first few poems are fun to read, thought-provoking haikus. ‘Flirty Fun’ captures the mindset of someone who is enjoying the initial flirting stage of a romantic connection. ‘Country Joy,’ the first non-haiku entry, is a freeform poem that highlights the warm feelings of happiness that friends and a romantic partner conjure in us despite the conditions surrounding us going from good to bad. The titular poem, ‘The Feeling of Love,’ is the longest entry, and it focuses heavily on the various ways in which love shows up in our lives. Aside from the intriguing poetry, this work showcases strikingly beautiful watercolor art by the author herself.
I greatly enjoyed reading The Feeling of Love. Dana Gradaya Farrell is a master wordsmith. Every word in every haiku comes across as thoughtfully chosen. Within the constraints of the 5-7-5 syllable structure of the haiku, Farrell brings in so many visual and other sensory details. For example, ‘Ripe Strawberries' is a haiku that made my mouth water. The watercolor art of four ripe strawberries after the poem added to my enjoyment of the poem. Most illustrations are on theme, and all of them are stunning. Of note, my favorite haiku is ‘The Chase,’ as it tells a story that left me wanting to know more. Overall, the poem that I read and re-read several times is ‘Me and You.’ I have written many similar poems myself, and I strongly related to every line. I highly recommend The Feeling of Love to everyone, especially poetry lovers.
