Hues of Hope is the latest volume of poetry by Balroop Singh, a work inspiring in both its diversity and sentiments.
Let’s face it—the last couple of years aren’t likely to be called “the good old days.” When we tell stories of this period, I just don’t picture them as having Happy Days sitcom-like nostalgia. It seems like all the bad stuff is more and more prevalent, especially depression, and people are just trying to hang on. Right now what folks need is hope, or at least I do.
So I took a break from the news and gave myself a mental vacation instead. Hues of Hope is a collection of fan favorites, and I had no trouble finding several verbal gems to give me a mental pick-me-up.
Consider this excerpt from the poem When Darkness Deepens:
“Make your own choices.
Wake up to catch those clouds
Be the person you want to be!
When despairs deepen
Ignite the fire within…”
Or this snippet from Celestial Path:
“Far into unknown realms
A beauty beckons
Entwined with wisdom
Soaking my soul,
Warming my heart.”
Ms. Singh has a knack for finding something positive in the most unlikely places, as she so deftly shows in her poem Stuck at Sunset:
“When a perfect artist –
Mother Nature
Painted the sky
And threw all her colors
At crawling cars
Heading home
Feeling blessed…
Stuck on the freeway!”
Lengthy enough to provide several days of uplifting imagery, Hues of Hope provides some much-needed optimism to counterbalance the current doom and gloom that seems to pervade just about everything. I highly recommend taking a literary mental vacation and finding your own favorite snippets.
Happy reading. : )
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Avid writer and reader of Faerie tales and noblebright fantasy.
Cathleen Townsend 
Wonderful review, Cathleen! Love the excerpts and look forward to taking my own mental break with Balroop soon.
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Glad you like the review, Bette–and you won’t be disappointed in the read. : )
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Great review, Cathleen. Balroop’s poetry is so good, refreshing, and uplifting. I’m glad she lightened your mood. We sure do need the lift these days.
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I swear, it’s like swimming through Jello lately, trying to fight off depression. I have to force myself to do everything. Working outside seems to work best (maybe it’s the sunshine?), but I still tire easily from Covid. So I really appreciate anything that can give me a lift. Go Balroop! 🙂
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Sunshine probably helps a lot, Cathleen. And turn off the news. It’s nice to be informed, but it’s so depressing and beyond our control. I can’t take it without becoming a mess. Take care of yourself and give the world your smile – that’s a difference you can make. Hugs. ❤
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Thanks so much for your kind words and patience, Diana. And for the good advice. I’ve cut WAY back on news–I know there’s a war in Ukraine (we sang a benefit concert for the refugees in church) but I have no idea of the daily “progress.” Gas prices are hard to miss, but I try not to listen to the talking heads pontificate about it too much. It’s just…I want something that looks like normal again so badly, and I don’t know if we’ll ever get it. Every time we turn around, there’s a new crisis. But I’m trying to find reasons to be happy, and I’m trying tweaking my health with a milk thistle/dandelion plus a moringa supplement. Maybe if my body gets healthier, things will improve mentally, too.
*insert sigh here* Who really knows? But I keep trying things. Hopefully, something will work. 🙂
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Moringa. Blech. But good for you!
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Thanks Diana, you are so generous with your words.
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Congratulations to Balroop for her latest poetry book!
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I agree–she did a great job. : )
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Great review! I loved this collection too. I agree we need more of this.
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Glad you agree, Denise. I’m looking forward to Balroop popping in and reading all the nice things people have said. : )
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I think we all need a mental vacation. Great introduction to this book.
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Thanks, Jacqui. With the current gas prices, I think a mental vacation is the most practical kind right now anyway. : )
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Wow! What a pleasant surprise Cathleen. Thank you! Thank you for using such lovely words for my poetry. I am delighted to hear that my poems could ease your mental tensions and worries about the time we are trying to live through.
I am sorry I didn’t see this earlier, as I had a busy day with the get together of friends and was too tired but just now, as I was closing my laptop, I happened to stumble upon a tweet and all my tiredness melted! Many thanks for a wonderful review of Hues of Hope. My belief is that hope is always alive. 😊🤗
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I’m so glad you like it, Balroop. : )
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We definitely do need hope.
This sounds like a great read!
During such times as current, I also do like to pick up something darker just to see good win over evil. That gives me hope, too. A different kind, but hope nonetheless.
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I know what you mean. I’ve been thinking about re-reading The Lord of the Rings for much the same reasons. : )
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It sounds like a wonderful book! Everyone needs hope.
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Indeed. Without hope, it’s hard to muster up the wherewithal to keep plugging away. : )
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HI Cathleen, this is a wonderful review of Balroop’s book. I also enjoyed it very much.
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Thanks so much, Robbie. I agree, it was a terrific book. : )
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Great review for Balroop, we all need some positivity and sounds like a lovely collection.
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Thanks so much for stopping in and sprinkling some encouragement, Marje. We can all use some of that right now. : )
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My pleasure Cathleen. And yes so true. 🙂
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