Live Encounters Aotearoa New Zealand Edition April 2023

We enter the by Piet Nieuwland

Copyright 2022, Cyberwit

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

Thoughtful poems and ones of intense introspection permeate throughout this new collection from Nieuwland.  The poems are prepared well, but often take the reader into an unexpected direction from the one expected making them a fascinating read. 

Nieuwland writes in a gifted and lilting almost prose type of free verse with scattered bits of form included here and there.  It is reminiscent of some of the classic poems by often revered poets.  The poems are complete and balanced with a touch of guided originality which means they can stand on their own or within the confines of the book and work well either way.

The author almost melts images together.  You will feel them dripping off the page as you read.  These are definitely poems to be savored and embraced.

Nieuwland cleverly illustrates the human experience with these mostly free verse poems.  The verses seem to operate within their own frequency, adapting to the subject at hand.  Nieuwland’s voice is fresh, his images pour forth on the page loud and clear.

The book is divided into four different sections of poems.  The author makes good use of spacing and lines.

These are poems of explanations and possibilities as well as vulnerabilities and ambitions.  Themes seem to boil underneath the surface and come to light with the exact right timing.  Nieuwland’s lines are subtle, but intricately composed. 

This book is a calling card for nature, people, the soul and so much more.  You will recognize the geography of the poem, you will recognize yourself, and you will embrace spirit, questions, and communion. 

These are responsive poems, ones that will linger in your mind for some time.  These are the types of poems readers can immerse themselves inside to really feel that connection and to explore all the possibilities each poem brings.