Review for Faces in the Crowd, by Mary Harwell Sayler
By DiVoran Lites
I met Mary Harwell Sayler at a Christian Writer’s Conference in Titusville, Florida. She was speaking about writing novels and poetry and I was fascinated. She had so much experience and, as I discovered, so much expertize as a writer that I wanted to know more of what she knew
A kind of funny thing happened that in a small way started an ongoing student/teacher relationship as well as a personal friendship. Mary mentioned from the speaker’s podium that she had left her watch at home, so I stopped by our big store and got one that cost very little. Mary was gracious, as she always is, and made me feel as if I had given her something wonderful.
From there I discovered that she would take me as a private student and so many years I drove to DeLand once a month, where she lived. We talked and talked and got to know and care for each other. She quickly became my favorite teacher as well as my favorite poet. I haven’t missed one of her publications, and I appreciate them all.
I particularly enjoy Mary’s newest book of poetry, Faces in the Crowd, I identify with every line. The poems are full of humor, understanding, and pathos. They let me feel and apprehend what she is talking about. I identify with each one as if Mary had been looking into my life, and yet I believe every poem comes from a place of empathy and experience in Mary’s life, too. Her poems showed me how connected we humans are and how much we have in common with each other.
One thing I love about poetry is the insight, or epiphany that should come with every poem. Mary excels at making words pictures as well as at drawing deep meaning from every one. I’m so happy to be able to read her work and I’ll be reading Faces in the Crowd over and over again for a long time to come.
Mary is one of the featured authors on Rebekah Lyn Books.
Clink HERE to read more about her work.