Pending Plays > Books > Window and Mirror – Book Review

Window and Mirror – Book Review

Arden Skye02 mins
The back cover of the book on the left. Text: "Copyrighted Material. The introduction of Window and Mirror begins with a question: What are we doing here? The emphasis is on both the doing and the place. Ted Virts' poetry collection meanders through life experiences with story, blessing, myth, and the day-to-day realities of pain, delight, humor, and wonder. Virts explores life with an undercurrent of curiosity, faith, emotion, loss, hope, acceptance, and presence. His poems link tragedy at the southern U.S. border, the death of his father, the constant plea for political donations, the nightly news, and a description of Christmas as an artichoke. The link? The sacredness of everyday life." "So many poignant poems here stop me in my tracks. inviting me to be deeply present with what is offered, and to carry that invitation to situations I contend with beyond the author's reach." -CAROL BARRETT, Ph.D.. author of Reading Wind and Pansies atmospherepress.com "ISBN 9798891325951 90000 Copyrighted Material 9798891 325951" On the right, the front book cover. There's a brown rectangle frame that shows a painting of an outdoor street which has an round archway showing the blue sky. There's a red carpet spread out, leading from the bottom of the frame towards the middle of the picture. Text: "WINDOW AND MIRROR POETRY BY TED VIRTS" The back cover of the book on the left. Text: "Copyrighted Material. The introduction of Window and Mirror begins with a question: What are we doing here? The emphasis is on both the doing and the place. Ted Virts' poetry collection meanders through life experiences with story, blessing, myth, and the day-to-day realities of pain, delight, humor, and wonder. Virts explores life with an undercurrent of curiosity, faith, emotion, loss, hope, acceptance, and presence. His poems link tragedy at the southern U.S. border, the death of his father, the constant plea for political donations, the nightly news, and a description of Christmas as an artichoke. The link? The sacredness of everyday life." "So many poignant poems here stop me in my tracks. inviting me to be deeply present with what is offered, and to carry that invitation to situations I contend with beyond the author's reach." -CAROL BARRETT, Ph.D.. author of Reading Wind and Pansies atmospherepress.com "ISBN 9798891325951 90000 Copyrighted Material 9798891 325951" On the right, the front book cover. There's a brown rectangle frame that shows a painting of an outdoor street which has an round archway showing the blue sky. There's a red carpet spread out, leading from the bottom of the frame towards the middle of the picture. Text: "WINDOW AND MIRROR POETRY BY TED VIRTS"
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A great collection of poems
that remind us
poetry doesn’t have to be rhyming,
one only needs to know
the art of language,
and how to weave the words
in a way
that touches the reader’s soul.

And it’s clear,
that Ted Virts indeed
mastered that art,
as it touched
my soul
at least.

Particularly
the “write an ‘I am’ poem”
poem
was really good.
Made me think
and wonder
and let my thoughts
wander
—I think.

Quite inspiring.
Indeed so much,
it might be how I choose to express
my inner world
the next few days.

CriteriaScoresOur Score
Artistic Achievement1-54
Pacing1-55
Characters1-5–
Writing Style1-55
Originality1-53

Finale Grade

A

Thank you to Atmosphere Press on Netgalley for a digital review copy. The book was released on April 8, 2025.

Finished reading: 3rd May 2025
~Arden Skye

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Written By: Arden Skye
Favorite game/film/book: doesn’t have one, cause there are too many good ones!
About: generalist, who likes a bit of everything, but especially has a love for magic, queerness and melancholy. When they’re not arting, they’re probably dreaming/reading through another world, or spending time in nature with their dog.
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