To the One and Other: Poems and Prose by Karina Maria Lagdameo-Santillan has inspired me to write again. At 39, I sometimes feel that I no longer have new material to draw inspiration from. However, Lagdameo-Santillan has shown me that inspiration is everywhere, and writing needs to be a continuous process.
Her poems reflect a life filled with wisdom. Her simple writing style makes her message clear and easy to understand. While there is a refreshing quality to the bare essentials, the author manages to insert the important life lessons that she has learned along the way. I appreciate how often she describes the feeling of being alive, and how meaningful it is. I also enjoyed reading her reflections through her stanzas.
Her prose shines because it shows the reader how much life has impacted the author. Her lessons have given her contentment and satisfaction. If there is a way for her spirit to manifest itself, then it has already done so in the short paragraphs in this book. It was an honor to have a glimpse into her thoughts, and how she sees life has given me a sense of hope and wonder.
Where can prose and poetry meet? Maybe they never will, or perhaps, they are better off separate from each other. The author has shown that prose and poetry can co-exist. The multitude of themes in her writing has formed a tapestry that is filled with different shades and colors. The thread of her life is sewn into her own experiences, and she gladly shares them through her written work.
It is never too late to write, and in my case, I am inspired to write again thanks to Lagdameo-Santillan and her book.
To the One and Other: Poems and Prose by Karina Maria Lagdameo-Santillan is now available!