the moon won't be dared by Anne Leigh Parrish ~ a Poetry Review

by Susan Roberts

I'll admit that I haven't read much poetry in the last several years.  After I read the moon won't be dared, I wondered why not.  Many fiction authors seem to believe that more is best in their writing and descriptions.  This book of poetry is sparse on words. - words that have been carefully chosen to celebrate the mood of the poem.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2021; Unsolicited Press; 978-1950730803
print (152 pages); poetry

Here is the synopsis of this book of poetry from Amazon:

the moon won't be dared is a poetry collection by award-winning author Anne Leigh Parrish that features artwork by Lydia Selk. In this momentous debut collection, the poet harnesses language to give readers a new vision of nature, the impossible plight of womanhood, love, aging, and beauty. Being a woman in a male-dominated society affords Anne Leigh Parrish the space to witness the world on an uneven keel. Parrish pays tribute to beauty, but also weaves the harsh truths of betrayal and brutality into the filaments holding the collection together.

I had many favorites in this collection and here is part of one of my favorites: 

the moon won't be dared

the monster has a name

the  monster has a face

striding over the tender fields of my soul-

you keep the monster in your heart

you cannot set him free

he runs your mind

holds your body in the mirror

when is he you?  when are you he?

I don't believe in monsters but

here you are

maybe i'm your monster too

Buy the moon won't be dared at Amazon

Susan Roberts lives in North Carolina with her husband of over 50 years.  She grew up in Michigan but now calls North Carolina home. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She reads almost anything (and the piles of books in her house prove that) but her favorite genres are Southern fiction, women's fiction, and historical fiction. Susan is a top 1% Goodreads Reviewer. You can connect with Susan on Facebook,

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