Description
Reflections of My Heart is written by
It is poetry and reflections on her journey, that of having Bipolar. It is written with a Christian emphasis; God’s love has been her strength throughout.
It details her times of depression, also elation, and how she found a way through both, with God’s help and other people’s. It also has a chapter about the loves and friendships she has met along the way. She hopes and prays it will be a great encouragement that there is a way through Bipolar to greater wellbeing and happiness.
All proceeds go to the Leprosy Mission.
Reflections of My Heart says us Church Life, Poetry, Health
What is poetry?
Poetry is a form of literary expression that uses language to evoke emotions, create vivid imagery, convey ideas, and engage the senses through carefully chosen words, rhythm, and often a structured arrangement. Unlike prose, which follows a more straightforward narrative or informative style, poetry often employs a heightened use of language to convey deeper meanings, emotions, and themes.
Poetry comes in various forms, styles, and traditions, reflecting the cultural, historical, and personal contexts of the poets. It has been used throughout history to express diverse human experiences, share cultural heritage, and explore the depths of the human psyche.
Key characteristics of poetry include:
Imagery: Poets use vivid and descriptive language to create mental images that engage the reader’s imagination. This imagery can appeal to the senses, helping the reader experience the emotions and scenes being described.
Figurative Language: Poetry often includes figurative language such as metaphors, similes, personification, and symbolism. These techniques help to convey abstract concepts and create connections between seemingly unrelated things.
Rhythm and Sound: Many poems have a distinct rhythm created by patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. This rhythm is known as meter and contributes to the musicality of poetry. Sound devices like rhyme, alliteration, and assonance are also used to enhance the auditory experience.
Line Breaks and Stanzas: Poems are typically formatted with line breaks and stanzas (groupings of lines). The placement of line breaks can add emphasis, create pauses, or influence the pacing of the reading.
John Edward –
Following on from her first book Melanie’s Memories: ‘Bipolar and Me’ Melanie has produced a lovely book of poetry and reflections which will give hope an encouragement to everyone who reads it.
Kathleen Morris –
I would highy recommend this book!
In my opinion the Author has dug really deeplyinto her past with regard to her own Bipolar and Depression over the years in order to help other people who may be experieincing similar issues to achieve a better, happier and more fulfilling future for themselves.
I particular found the Poetry very comforting, as at the time of Reading the book I was sadly experiencing grief of the sudden loss of a much loved friend and I found it gave me great comfort and peace.
Give it a read, I am sure you will gain a lot from the experience as I did.
Jane Traill –
This book is a compilation of reflections and poems relating to the journey the writer has experienced, since first experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, as a teenager. The poems have been written at different stages of her illness, from times when she first experienced depressive symptoms and also times she has been in a manic phase of the illness. In poems such as ‘Dying’ she expresses the despair and loneliness she feels when in deep depression. In a subsequent poem ‘Cycles of Time’ however she has started to understand that this phase will pass and she will be able to enjoy life again. Her reflections and many of her poems emphasise the importance of the love and support she felt from God during her journey, in addition to that of family and friends.
Despite the fact that the book is written from a Christian perspective it might be a mistake to think it is only a book for Christians. The writer vividly describes the intense despair associated with depression, but in the poem ‘Give Life Time’ she also provides practical words of encouragement that would benefit anyone with bipolar disorder, any depressive illness or anyone who is going through a very difficult period in their life and finding it difficult to cope.