Poetry lovers have something to cheer about with the recent publication of Jean-Yves Solinga's second book of poetry to be released in English from Little Red Tree Publishing of New London in the past year.

In the Shade of a Flower continues a voice in poetry that is both profound and entertaining, and as with Solinga's prior title, Clair-Obscur of the Soul, the 61-year-old poet of Gales Ferry provides yet another feast for those long winter nights curled before a fire to become lost among words, images, and emotions.Like classical music, some might be given to believe that poetry is a dying form of artistic expression. Yet those who subscribe to finer forms of art-as opposed to pop culture entertainment-are still numerous enough to warrant the investment required to turn manuscripts into handsome, printed books like

Like classical music, some might be given to believe that poetry is a dying form of artistic expression. Yet those who subscribe to finer forms of art-as opposed to pop culture entertainment-are still numerous enough to warrant the investment required to turn manuscripts into handsome, printed books like Flower.Publishers like Michael Linnard of Little Red Tree Publishing champion the cause to publish passionate writers who would otherwise likely fail to find a venue for their noncommercial, yet culturally significant, tomes.

Publishers like Michael Linnard of Little Red Tree Publishing champion the cause to publish passionate writers who would otherwise likely fail to find a venue for their noncommercial, yet culturally significant, tomes.Solinga himself, when writing about his work as a poet stated, "It takes commitment from writers, publishers, and readers to keep this art form in a world which demands faster and easier communication."

Solinga himself, when writing about his work as a poet stated, "It takes commitment from writers, publishers, and readers to keep this art form in a world which demands faster and easier communication."There's no denying it; to read poetry requires the reader to slow down a bit. It cannot be skimmed quickly any more than a glass of wine should be chugged down. Both must be sipped and savored, and Solinga offers much to savor and to think about.

There's no denying it; to read poetry requires the reader to slow down a bit. It cannot be skimmed quickly any more than a glass of wine should be chugged down. Both must be sipped and savored, and Solinga offers much to savor and to think about.In "High School Number," Solinga writes:

In "High School Number," Solinga writes: Mother...Mother what has happened to your children?

Mother...Mother what has happened to your children?His football player bulk

His football player bulkWas no protection from the tackles of destiny

Was no protection from the tackles of destinyHis slim physique and talent

His slim physique and talentHave been integrated into the mud of a distant sports field

Have been integrated into the mud of a distant sports fieldHe turns left into a dead end alley of his present life

He turns left into a dead end alley of his present lifeAs the sodium street lights reflect

As the sodium street lights reflectOn the cracking plastic letters of his a State Football Championship

On the cracking plastic letters of his a State Football ChampionshipGlued to fading High School chemical colors

Glued to fading High School chemical colorsThat now stand as the artificial essence

That now stand as the artificial essenceOf his momentary happiness

Of his momentary happinessMother, Mother...what has

Mother, Mother...what has happened to your children?

happened to your children?In all, the book presents 70 poems, with select French translations. The book also contains a set of previously unpublished essays titled "Multiple Realities," in which Solinga explores the core of his intellectual reasoning, beliefs, and concepts that in Linnard's words, "underpin this collection and define his philosophy as a writer, poet, and artist."

In all, the book presents 70 poems, with select French translations. The book also contains a set of previously unpublished essays titled "Multiple Realities," in which Solinga explores the core of his intellectual reasoning, beliefs, and concepts that in Linnard's words, "underpin this collection and define his philosophy as a writer, poet, and artist." In the Shade of a Flower

In the Shade of a Flower by Jean-Yves Solinga is available for $19.95 in trade paperback only by writing to Little Red Tree Publishing, 35 Ocean Avenue, New London, calling 860-444-0082, or ordering on the Web at www.littleredtree.com.

This is the opinion of Jason J. Marchi.