Visits From Our Muses is lovely

by Jennifer Hersey

Visits from Our Muses, poems by Bets Parker Albright, drawings by Betty Nickerson, published in 2001 by Alberson Publishing in Danville, Vermont, softcover, 32 pages, not priced.

Visits from Our Muses, a book of poetry by Bets Parker Albright of Danville and drawings by Betty Nickerson of Peacham, is a lovely selection. Poems cover a variety of topics with a highly spiritual focus.

"Autumn Glory," a poem illustrated by pictures of children of all races playing in leaves, ends with this stanza:

"When the glorious color has faded, and the fiery leaves are gone,
Will we remember the cross that was burned, up the road on a neighbor’s lawn
If we’re to have other autumns, if our world can hope to survive,
We must find it in our heart of hearts to keep goodness and justice alive."

"Temptation" is a clever piece about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Another piece speaks of the tragedies on September 11, saying that people must keep awareness of God alive to overcome terrible acts.

"Alchemy" is a powerful piece that begins:

"The death of my child is like an enemy bullet lodged close to my heart.
I am not dead, but my mind and my heart are in pain."

One poem expresses an appreciation of people of various religions. "Diversity" ends with this stanza:

"Their search for other answers does not diminish me —
I hold strongly to my faith and still I’m clear and free
To share with those whose souls respond to God in different ways.
What matters is to love your God and live your life in praise."

A couple of the poems are humorous, like "Musings on Dust Mites," which is about how television makes everything seem worse than it really is, and "Daddy, I want to be President," which is an adult telling a child about what it means to be President in these trying times.