Of Myriad Paths is a collection of poems and illustrations that raises awareness of challenges faced by people whether they are dealing with health issues due to accidents or addiction, ageing issues, stroke and memory loss problems, social isolation, career dissatisfaction, breast cancer and homelessness.

The stories are realistic fiction and offer learning opportunities for readers. It helps challenge our prejudices and biases. Of Myriad Paths is a poetry journal, poetry with powerful illustrations that convey messages of resilience, of tenacity and of hope.

The poems touch upon grief, death, suicide, addiction and challenges of aging like memory loss, dementia. It also gives a point of view of the spouse or significant other of victims of bipolar disorder and stroke. There is caretaker fatigue which is often unappreciated in these cases.

The poem paints the picture of victims of motor vehicle accidents due to drinking or texting while driving. These cases are powerful portraits in survival after such devastating injuries. The stories are dramatic renditions in poetry and leave long lasting impressions.

There are other important subjects covered in this book for instance residents of ghost towns where employment is scarce and alcoholism is rampant. There is a story of narrow escape of an individual from torture and captivity due to having dissident viewpoints.

The book is a collection of causes that need support, that need attention and that need people to promote. This book of illustrated poems is touching myriads of issues that have escaped our focus.

There are stories of racial and ethnic tension, of overt racism and xenophobia and the poetic counter arguments that give multiple points of view without embellishments of violence.

A story deals with a survivor of international human trafficking. Another story is on breast cancer victim showing extraordinary courage. Old age and its associated challenges like isolation is beautifully captured in this wholesome book of causes.

There is a morsel for every taste in this poetry journal. The book is an eye opener for those who have been oblivious of the causes that need their attention. It brings empathy for and renewed respect for some marginalized fellow humans like the poems about a street beggar and another about a couple struggling with opioid addiction. The characters speak clearly in the poems and one would never look at these people again without empathy after reading these poems.

The book is a long awaited journal on human vulnerability and awareness of our intimate relationship with grief, death, disease and unfortunate events. It calls for sensitivity, it calls for putting judgement behind compassion. It is a call for acceptance locally and globally.

In one of the poems the irony is so blatantly depicted that one can only feel embarrassed at the unfortunate death. Clearly it was an avoidable situation one would think. The challenge of access to medical attention was more than evident. The slow moving donkey carrying the dying pregnant lady in the mountains of a poor nation while fighter helicopters were zooming by is the story of our age.

Are we going to remain callous or unaware to these powerful stories portrayed in this book ‘Of Myriad Paths’ by Saal Baraan?

It is a must read for anyone above the age of 18. For millennials,the book gives causes to stand by and advance, to baby boomers it is something they could relate to instinctively and based on their experiences. Women would find the book heart warming and empathetic. Men would find the book appealing to their sentiments.

Pick a cause-texting while driving, alcoholism, racism, aging and isolation,dementia, opioid addiction, bipolar disease, motor vehicle accidents, refugees, human trafficking, caregiver fatigue, dementia, grief, breast cancer and needless death.

The poetry is by Saal Baraan and illustrations by Antonija Marinic. Please make sure to leave a review once you read this book of poems.