Images at Christmas

a collection of family-shared Christmas poems and play, touching, warming, gentle, and reaffirming. Throughout her recent collection, Patsy Ann Bickerstaff's eloquent poems calls us to experience, as she did, joy, faith, and wonderment. She shares a treasure trove of Christmas remembrances. We are treated to flashes of humor, brilliant imagery, and a sense of longing for times, long-ago, when children entertained themselves, and adults lingered over Christmas dinners. Memories so tender, tears swell and we are left breathless. Page after page touched my heart, such as, Christmas Trees, Blessings for a Friend, and Tour Guide. Rhine River Cruise. Then there are poems that whisper, allowing the reader to savor those moments of nostalgia. Giving us an opportunity to reflect on the things in life that are worthwhile. We see farther and deeper into the workings of Patsy Anne's, heart. There are so many reason to own, read, and gift someone with Images at Christmas. It is written with precision by an author who demonstrates an uncanny ability to clearly recall years of family gatherings and traditions. The sweet ones, and the gosh-awful ones. But always, a subtle renumber from this author that the spirit of Christmas and "home" is within us. If a writer could select a perfect time to bring forth an uplifting, restorative body of work, the perfect time is here and now. Readers are eager for a sense of balance in this unpredictable, complex world. Read and feel transformed, as I have, with beauty, purity, and hopefulness written in the language of love. A gift from the heart and soul of a poet, Patsy Anne Bickerstaff. Review by Ann Shalaski. author of Just So You Know, World Made of Glass and Without Pretense.