Morning Leaves
Reflections on Loss, Grief, and Connection
by Laing F. Rikkers
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Pub Date May 16 2023 | Archive Date Apr 30 2024
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Description
Steeped in beautiful art and verse that invites reflection, Morning Leaves is the perfect gift book or self-purchase for those grieving the loss of a loved one.
An honest, insightful, and beautiful gift for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. In the wake of the untimely death of the author's younger sister and isolated by the pandemic, Rikkers produced Morning Leaves, a book of vulnerable, evocative, and ultimately hopeful poems. She introduces her story and explains how counseling, the artistic process, and nature helped her through the healing process. Her poems, paired with Kelly Leahy Radding's stunningly realistic botanical paintings, metaphorically describe the range of emotions she passes through while grieving. Rikkers seizes the opportunity to be attentive to who she is and, more importantly, who she wants to be, leaving space for the reader to do the same. Her writing is soulful, open, and accessible and the artwork is exquisite. Ultimately, readers are invited to reflect on themselves as they address the grief and loss they have experienced in their own lives.
Advance Praise
“The poems within Morning Leaves are tender, compassionate and full of wonder. Laing's writing and Kelly's illustrations are conduits for healing and hope.” –Kristin A. Meekhof, co-author of A Widow's Guide to Healing
“Laing Rikkers’ first book is a wonderful example of the ways in which communion with the natural world can calm, restore and heal. Dedicated to her late sister Ginna, it makes a meaningful argument for the power of quiet observation in the midst of chaos, and an appreciation for the beauty and wisdom which is all around.” –Anna Holmes, award-winning writer and editor at publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and The New Yorker, and founder of the site Jezebel
“So beautifully written and thoughtfully constructed. Visceral. Visual. Vulnerable. The passages cracked open my heart.” –Amy K. Hutchens, award-winning speaker and bestselling author of Get It and The Secrets Leaders Keep
"Through Morning Leaves, Laing has found an elegant, beautiful way to deal with her loss. Poetry is so helpful here, isn’t it. The book is quite beautiful to look at as well." –Nils Peterson, first Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County and author of The Comedy of Desire
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781685555955 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 104 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Hailey G, Reviewer
This book has some seriously beautiful words, I totally recommend for anyone going through grief after loss.
Maggie J, Bookseller
If you need quiet moments with your thoughts, this is the book for you. It offers a quiet respite from the world. Besides the prose, the illustrations offer beauty that touches the heart. The author wrote this book while working through her grief from losing her sister. But this is not a sad book. It is a hopeful book. I thank NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for this peaceful look into a tranquil place.
Allie L, Reviewer
The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous. I want prints of them on my walls.
The idea of poetry centered on nature is nothing new, but still difficult to accomplish. I don’t know if this really touches on grief and loss the way the author intended, but I applaud her for jumping in on something new during an extremely difficult time in her life.
I expected a lot more out of this after dealing with my own loss and grief in 2019. I wish it would have done more. Themes could have been more prevalent, ideas expanded upon, and overall just more could have been done with each poem. They felt like little half thoughts written down quickly and forgotten.
My favorite line though was “My heart is an avocado pit pierced with toothpicks, hanging in my chest.” It’s so strange, but also fully speaks to how you feel after losing someone so loved.
Alicia G, Reviewer
I really enjoyed this book. I've been looking for something similar to help expand my relationship with God and this was absolutely perfect to achieve my goals.
Julia R, Reviewer
Short and sweet, Morning Leaves packs a punch directly the heart. Written during the pandemic, the longing, loneliness, loss, and reaffirmation of strength is palpable on the pages. With beautiful artwork accompanying each poem, the nature presented throughout this collection makes the reader pause in its beauty, feeling the heartbeat of the wild through Rikkers’ use of senses. It was such a touching read and an important one for anyone dealing with a sense of loss or grief.
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