Being Full of Light, Insubstantial
By Linda Addison
Review written by Karen L. Newman
Linda Addison’s third poetry collection, Being Full of Light, Insubstantial, is a master work by a master poet. The poetry evokes a spirituality without ever becoming overbearing. There is romanticism without mushiness. Addison accomplishes this by contrasting darkness to light as in “Chatoyant Love”
light then dark
your love shifts in the evening light,
shining in the dark like cat eyes
you see into the corners of my desire
shifting my thoughts to only you,
shining in the light, stunning and bright
you breath into the heart of my dreams
She also uses the concept of dreams to evoke strong emotion. An example is in the poem “Transcending”
In the world of humans, driving
on a path, one foot in front of another,
waiting for a similar effect
as the dream, bright lights,
animals, small and tall enter
dancing, wanting nothing
more than to float in the shadows.
Addison’s poetry flows seamlessly, adding to the dreamlike state. She uses consonance without leaning on it like a crutch. Rhyme appears effortless. The use of animals instead of humans adds to the dream. The reader feel as if riding the blurry line between light and dark, floating about in a shadow world that’s not scary, a tribute to Addison’s talent.
Being Full of Light, Insubstantial is a must-have book for any poetry lover.
--Karen L. Newman
