Review of K.P. DeLaney’s book “Swill and Daffodils” by “Spriha Kant”
The poet has dedicated this book to his poet family: Darryl Lovie, Sharon Toman, Magnolia, Tres K, and J.D. Greyson, which has proved to be worthwhile as it is a collection of a plethora of deeply heartfelt poetries.
Some poetries of the poet remind a few poetries by the poets Abel Johnson Thundil, Verde Mar, and Ratan Chouhan as well as the poetess Shiksha Dheda, as shown in the next four stanzas below:
Whatever message “Abel Johnson Thundil” conveyed indirectly through the poetry “Torture” in his book “Wilted: Poems of Modern Tragedy,” has been said directly in the last seven lines of the poetry “Monumental” by K.P. DeLaney.
The poet’s poetries “War” and War (Part two) are the burning furnaces as the chilling emotions in these poetries are enough to melt the hearts of the readers, this trait is common in the few poetries in Abel Johnson Thundil’s book “Wilted: Poems of Modern Tragedy,” the poems being “Loud Contemplation,” “Rolling down,” and “Into my arms,”, Verde Mar’s poetry “Newtown (Sandy Hook Elementary)” published on March 20th, 2023 in Gabriela Marie Milton’s Journal “Literary Revelations Publishing House” as well as in his debut book “Turbulent Waves” (without the parenthesis “Sandy Hook Elementary” though), and Ratan Chouhan’s poetry “Fire-fighters” from his book “Leopards and Other Poems.” Each poet’s way of expression is in a different alignment, though.
The poetries “Climbers” and “Everest” by “Abel Johnson Thundil” from the book “Wilted: Poems of Modern Tragedy” and “K.P. DeLaney” from this book respectively point indirectly to the ruthlessly ambitious workaholic trait which is booming rapidly like algae in people these days, though the expression of poets is on different alignments.
The poet’s poetry “I Have Insomnia” has traces of a few poetries in Shiksha Dheda’s book “Washed Away- a collection of fragments” in which she shares the details of her phase that how her mind used to keep drowning in a labyrinth of unrealistic quests and dreams and hallucinations, especially at night making her nights sleepless and without peace.
The poet’s brilliant use of metaphors, personifications, and similes have added impact in the poetries the way shades and tints add in a colour. Quoting a few of the metaphors, personifications, and similes below:
“like a match to gasoline we incinerate nights into nothing… until hello, sunshine.” “and then she whispered a story about the smell of time; something she read in a book one night about another planet and other lifetimes as if the New York Times was foreign language on paper… just jargon that didn’t even rhyme.” “choking the neck of every single sweaty bead as she haplessly hurdled our fathers like a herd of turtles.” “arms outstretched, her crucifix an opera trying to save this.”
This book gives the vicarious experience of traveling from one universe to another universe. Each universe is poetry sharing its own story, tales, feelings, and opinions with its expression. Some universes are filled with beauty, some with sensuality, some with nostalgia, some mixed with simultaneous different expressions, and so on. Sharing a few glimpses of a few universes below:
“half-melted ice cube made wimpy clank like a hapless tap on heaven’s door against the side of her glass and still caught in a laugh some liquid ran from her eyes down the lines of her chin. and I met it with my fingers, that dewy drop as it ran; that dewy sin… ready to begin and never stop; with my other hand still stuck between the gaps.” “and the momentary glistening is just the rain caught in a certain angle of light from the ever-moving sun, so blistering and she wondered… what would the sun sound like, aside from its dull sizzle of its daily drone drowned out by the moan of precipitation’s drizzle?” “hearts, palates of used watercolors playing mancala against one another. breath and skin, a canvas of Pollock-esque rivulets.” This book is a perfect fit to feel more varieties of vicarious experiences of different universes.
K.P. Delaney: K.P. DeLaney started writing words, lyrics, and poetry from the influence of music and philosophy at age fifteen. He is the author of two self-published novels, Half Empty Glass To The Rising Sun (2009) and Impossible Knots (2021). As well as two poetry books, Swill & Daffodils (2022) and Purity Gone Mad (2022). He is currently working on his third novel and poetry book. He is a father and a husband who resides and roams in the quiet neighbourhoods of upstate New York.
Spriha Kant:
Spriha Kant is an English poetess & book reviewer.
Her first published poetry is “The Seashell” which was published online in “Imaginary Land Stories.”
The poetries of Spriha have been published in the following anthologies:
- Sing, Do The Birds of Spring
- A Whisper Of Your Love
- Hard Rain Poetry: Forever Dylan
- Bare Bones Writing Issue 1: Fevers of the Mind
- Hidden in Childhood
- A Glitter of Miles
- The Empath Dies in the End
“Hard Rain Poetry: Forever Dylan” & “Bare Bones Writing Issue 1: Fevers of the Mind” have been published in fourteen countries, namely:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- India
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- France
- Italy
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Turkey
- Sweden
- Japan
“Hidden in Childhood” became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon. This book consists of poems from about 150 globally acclaimed poets and poetesses, out of which most have been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation),andthe New York Times. The wonderful Japanese painter “Hikari” featured this book in her exhibition in Tokyo in Japan. This book will also be translated into the Spanish language.
All the proceeds of the anthology book “A Glitter of Miles” went to the “Senior Staffy Club” (UK), a charity that helps older Staffordshire Bull terriers.
Spriha’s collaboration on the poetry “The Doorsteps Series” with thewell-known Southern Indiana poet “David L O’ Nan” has been published in the anthology “The Empath Dies in the End.”
Reviews on the books of critically acclaimed as well as budding poets and poetesses by Spriha have been released that are as follows:
- The Keeper of Aeons by Matthew MC Smith (South Welsh poet)
- Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow by Jeff Flesch (Oregonian poet)
- Washed Away: A Collection of Fragments by Shiksha Dheda (South African poetess of Indian descent)
- Spaces by Clive Gresswell
- Silence From the Shadows by Stuart Matthews
- Breathe by Helen Laycock (Former recipient of the David St. John Thomas Award and nominee for the Dai Fry Award)
- Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton (#1 Amazon bestselling and award-winning poet, internationally published author, and 2022 Pushcart Prize nominee)
- These Random Acts of Wildness by Paul Brookes (Wombwell Poet)
- Turbulent Waves by Verde Mar (Californian Poet)
- Wilted: Poems of Modern Tragedy by Abel Johnson Thundil (Indian Poet)
- Othernesses by Paul Brookes (Wombwell Poet)
Spriha has been a part of the two events celebrating the launches of the books:
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow by Jeff Flesch
As FolkTaleTeller by Paul Brookes
Quotes of Spriha Kant published as epigraph and blurb:
- Her poetic quote “An orphic wind storm blew away a sand dune that heaped all our love memories upon one another.” has been published as the epigraph in the book Magkasintahan Volume VI By Poets and Writers from the Philippines under Ukiyoto Publishing (Philippines) in the year 2021.
- Her poetic quote “After falling for you, love became mere poetry for me which for an unusually long time was fascinating me with its utopian world.” has been published as a blurb in the book Swiped Right Volume IV By Poets and Writers from the Philippines under Ukiyoto Publishing (Philippines) in the year 2022.
Features of Spriha Kant (Interviews & Others):
- Quick-9 Interview on feversofthemind.com (Interview Feature)
- #BrokenAsides with Spriha Kant on the brokenspine.co.uk (Interview Feature)
- Creative Achievements in 2022 on thewombwellrainbow.com (Celebration for literary achievements in the year 2022)
Spriha Kant as a guest of honor in Bloomsbury Radio (London):
Spriha graced the award-winning show “Victoria in Verse” as a “guest of honor” in “Bloomsbury Radio, London,” hosted by Victoria Onofrei which broadcasted on January 29th, 2023 at 6 P.M. as per the time standard in London.
Encomiums received by Spriha Kant:
“There is a saying in Nepali, ‘Hune biruwako chillo paat’ (meaning a plant with
potential for growth has glossy leaves), and I feel it fits you perfectly, Spriha!
Sharing in the joy and pride of your achievement, poetic milestones”
—— Nepalese poetess “Mingmar Sadhana”
“Spriha Kant has a wondrous force of nature spirit that shines like the north star
and her poetry is revered by our fabulous writing community.”
—— Californian poet “Verde Mar”
Links to the features of Spriha Kant:
Fevers of the Mind 