Official Review: centered in the heart by Sameer Zahr

[mmm17]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "centered in the heart" by Sameer Zahr.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Centered in the Heart: A Journey of Love, written by Sameer Zahr, is a poetry book divided into three parts. The first part has no title; the second is intitled “Poetic Prose,” and the third part is called “Wisdom.” With less than a hundred pages, it is a fast and light read – a book to savor during a lazy weekend.

The author praises nature, love, music, and beauty in his poems. Spirituality is also a frequent underlying topic. These core themes were what I liked the most about Zahr’s book. I also enjoyed how the poems, especially the ones in the first part, have a paced, rhythmic, almost musical quality to them. Most have 4-line stanzas, some have 2-line stanzas, and the lines usually follow a pleasing pattern. For instance, in “I Yearn,” every line begins with “I yearn to” and a verb.

A thoughtful image accompanies each of the poems, which I appreciated. In “Innocent Love,” there’s a picture of a lovely little girl; in “My Olive Tree,” we see a picture of a majestic olive tree in a beautiful and bucolic property, with chairs underneath it. From the contents of this poem, one can infer it depicts a place that is very dear to the author.

Another positive point is that several of the poems appeal to the senses. “A Walk on the Beach” begins: “I sink my feet on the soft sand/I inhale the gentle breeze with open heart/I trickle with water flirting my toes.” It feels like you’re there with him!

The third part of the book was my favorite, for it dealt with some everyday life issues such as work, success, failure, parents, and relationships. Zahr is clearly a man of faith, and he values God’s role in our daily lives. Several poems allude to God; I particularly liked “Peace,” in which the author explores the relationship between peace and God. He also dedicates one to Buddha, called “Siddhartha and Me.” In it, the author imagines having a conversation with Buddha.

In closing, I was pleasantly surprised by Centered in the Heart, and I gladly rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It seems to be professionally edited – I did not find any errors in it. It’s a beautifully written collection of uplifting, inspiring poems, and it manages to put you in a meditative state. I, for one, felt relaxed and peaceful after reading it. The author successfully sends a message of peace and joy throughout the whole book. I recommend it to readers who enjoy poetry, especially if they appreciate soothing themes.

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centered in the heart
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[Amberlily]

Sounds lovely. I always find poetry that speaks about the troubles of everyday life so uplifting. It's hard to make it out there as a poet today, but it seems that this author has managed to get their foot in the door.

[Rayasaurus]

I think I would prefer the third section overall for its everyday topics. I'll have to skip this one though; I don't usually read poetry collections. Thank you for the review!

[tsic]

Zahr's poems seem to be very meaningful. His appreciation of nature, love, music, and beauty through poetry is encouraging. Great to also know that the author is a man of faith, and values God’s role in our daily lives. Thanks for the informative review.

[mmm17]

Sounds lovely. I always find poetry that speaks about the troubles of everyday life so uplifting. It's hard to make it out there as a poet today, but it seems that this author has managed to get their foot in the door.

I think I would prefer the third section overall for its everyday topics. I'll have to skip this one though; I don't usually read poetry collections. Thank you for the review!

Zahr's poems seem to be very meaningful. His appreciation of nature, love, music, and beauty through poetry is encouraging. Great to also know that the author is a man of faith, and values God’s role in our daily lives. Thanks for the informative review.

Thank you very much for reading and commenting. I appreciate it!

[kdstrack]

The author does have a captivating writing style. The quote from "A Walk on the Beach" makes you feel the sand and the breeze at the seaside. These poems sound peaceful and appealing.

[mmm17]

The author does have a captivating writing style. The quote from "A Walk on the Beach" makes you feel the sand and the breeze at the seaside. These poems sound peaceful and appealing.

Yes, indeed. A welcome moment of peace in our lives, isn't it? Thanks for commenting. I appreciate it!

[Domcarey504]

Overall, my favorite was probably the third section . I’m life, you succeed and you fail . It is relatable in life . No matter who you are the third section applies to us all . Lovely overall . Best of luck .