The Poetry of Helena Lancaster – Amazingly Beautiful No Matter How Painful

To most people, poetry is about love and happiness. Fortunately, not all poetry is that way. Don’t get me wrong, I love romantic, sappy poetry that makes your heart soar. But for the unfortunate souls who have to live through abuse, that kind of poetry doesn’t help them. For them, the need the poetry of Helena Lancaster.

 

Lancaster’s poetry in Behind the Mask: A Collection of Poetry, reveals all of her dark corners and makes you wonder if you have dark corners of your own. As you read each poem about abuse at the hands of a parent, betrayal from the blood as they turned their backs, and her thoughts of suicide, you are felt overwhelmed by emotions.  Her words will bring tears of sadness and heartbreak as you read of the abuse to anger and resentment towards those who were to be her protectors. Helena’s poems make you wonder how she ever decided to live another day.

 

Helena Lancaster’s poems are not of roses and rainbows. They show that you can find a rainbow after the storm. That roses can come after the heartbreak. Helena does not write poetry for the faint at heart. Her poetry is for those, like her, who have been burned by ones they loved over and over again. She will help you find the deepest, darkest places of your soul and guide you out of the recesses of Hell.

 

Her poems in Phoenix from the Ashes: Poetry from Personal Struggle, Rebirth, and Triumph will put you on an emotional roller coaster as you journey from sadness and anger to joy and pride. Her poems follow the the topic of her previous collection with one exceptional difference. This collections shows exactly how she decided to live another day and grow from the hurt and abuse she suffered. Lancaster has the poetry categorized in three sections; Fall to Darkness, Burning Day, and From the Ashes. Lancaster aptly named the sections knowing that as you read, you can see the tone change with each poem. By the end, your heart is swelling with pride at her decisions and triumphs!

As I read these collections, I have to admit, they were hard to read at times. Only because her feelings pour out through her words and into you. You can almost feel every feeling she describes. I highly recommend these collection to anyone who has dealt with any form of abuse especially to the point of suicide. I give both books 5 stars. And for those who have not had to deal with issues of an abusive parent or loved one, as you read, you realize that no matter what, you can rise from what you are going through. Her poetry gives us all the chance to have our burning day and rise like a phoenix.

Both collections are available exclusively on Kindle. Print copies can be purchased through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.