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Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
"Not My Last Breath" by Nadjwa Effat Laila Norton is a collection of poems reflecting the author's deep beliefs in God and in humankind in general. She divides her reflections into four general categories: Breathe Life into me; Trying to Catch my Breath; Monitoring, Regulating, Altering and Exhaling my Breath; and Breathing Freely. The categories reflect the author's feeling of being trapped and without options, of beginning to feel some sense of control, of learning to relax in body and mind and lastly, her sense of letting go of the trivial and learning to appreciate and act upon things she can control. There is pain and fear reflected in the initial offerings. The feelings are common to humankind. The next stage is a reflective stage in which the author asks questions of God and listens for answers. There is then a sense of stability where one begins to understand what to offer to God and what to take on as a personal striving. The final stage offers reflections on what has been accomplished and what can be offered to others as a result of personal learning.
I loved the way the author spoke in terms to which all can relate. There are no esoteric messages and the emotions expressed are those to which all readers can relate. One of my favorite poems is the last in which the author tells that her unuttered sounds (her unspoken thoughts) are sometimes the most precious in that they tend to embrace her inner visions. There is something in this collection for everyone.
