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Kaleidoscope by Barbara Findley Stuart is composed of 100 poems written over the course of a lifetime, ranging from her childhood experiences during the Great Depression to the uncertainty and trepidation brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. In eloquent and hauntingly beautiful poetry, Stuart encapsulates her deepest thoughts and emotions about the world around her-her "kaleidoscope [of] memories"-diving into her own fears and privileges while acknowledging the disparities others face around the globe. The poems of Kaleidoscope jump between the seasons, the decades, from death to birth, and fictional to factual, employing the natural world as well as Stuart's regard for the teachings of Jesus to tell her stories. An amalgamation of poems on her own life, Kaleidoscope is a charming collection that optimistically addresses the concept of death and growing old: "it's bringing me the thing I needed most-courage-the courage to look at death without fear. Unconditionally." Stuart does not sugarcoat the tragedies that have befallen the world in her writing, unapologetically discussing topics such as racism and fascism, and bringing afflicted voices to light through dedicated poems like the one addressed to Merlin Kennedy. A remarkable, compassionate, and creative woman, Stuart beautifully crafts Kaleidoscope as a map to the inner workings of her mind, and as a celebration of life and love. "The path I follow comes to an end up ahead beyond the woods. And I . . . am I afraid? No, not afraid of what lies behind the woods. Truth-light-lies there."
