A Journey Through the Night: Poetry from Petals of the Moon

T. L. Cooper: Petals of the Moon: A Poetry Collection by C. Churchill offers short lyrical poetry that left me feeling both melancholy and hopeful. There's a thread that runs through even the saddest of these poems that weaves feeling of positivity awaiting. Using the moon as an anchor, Churchill tells the story of life, love, loss, and renewal in these poems. Petals of the Moon feels like a journey and an immersion all at once even on the poems that feel easy to gloss over in the moment.

United States on Dec 13, 2023

Brooke Goodwin: (4.5)

I’m a huge lover of all things night-related! The moon, stars, cloudy skies, silence and comfort when the world is asleep, and a wonderful calm-but-alive feeling you get under the moon.

This is a moon/night-themed book and I loved it! Churchill has a calming yet clear way of speaking that also has a bit of flare or personality to it. The absence of commas and periods actually worked in her favor, creating this flow and rhythm. (I talk about rhythm and flow a lot because it’s an element that can enhance the poems’ meaning and aesthetic.) There was a good balance of long and short poems as well.

However, 2 small things that stood out to me:
- Some of the longer poems would have benefited from pauses because, while the lines blended into each other, knowing where pauses were intended were sometimes harder to see
- A few poems (mostly on the longer side) were basically one long stanza when I think breaking them up wouldn’t have hurt the poems’ rhythm/flow.

Those are probably just personal preference and it isn’t worth looking into any more than that.

One other thing I enjoyed about Petals of the Moon was the mix of moon/night...

United States on Jun 09, 2022

Arssoonn: I was used to the style of rupi kaur, so this book seemed a bit strange to me, I thought that the book would be longer and the printing is not very good, there are parts of the book in which the name of the author and the name of the book are cut, in addition, the black pages with the photo of the moon are not the best in quality.

Spain on Apr 14, 2022

Chelsea C.: Read it all in a week I couldn't put it down

Canada on Mar 22, 2022

S.A. Quinox Author: I absolutely ADORE all of Cheryl's books. But I am especially fond of this book, since I my soul is also entangled in the moon. Love this book so much and I will always recommend anything from this lovely author.

Germany on Apr 19, 2021

MAGM: Esta es una de las colecciones de poemas con un enfoque hacia la noche, la luna y las emociones que se pueden ocultar entremedio. Tiene toques de melancolía y prosa libre en la mayoría de los casos, pero no todos alcanzan el mismo nivel formal ni estético, sin embargo, considero que vale la pena leerlo.

Mexico on Feb 15, 2021

Aditya choudhary: A fantastic read.I really enjoyed and felt connected to the poetry in this book.I am in love with the writers style of writing and presenting her ideas.

India on Aug 27, 2020

Tres Hermanas: For those of us who read a lot of poetry, there is such a variety of styles unbeknownst to those who are not accustomed to the nuances and breadth a poet may employ. You cannot therefore, talk of all poetry, or all poets, without distinguishing the style of a poet which may change from book to book era to era.

C Churchill’s collection Petals of the Moon is as you may expect, a soft, whispering amuse bouche of feelings and insights, set against some stark and extremely beautiful images. My first impression was to be reminded of the enduring value and necessity of design and beauty in collections of poetry. So often this is forgotten in the indie market, maybe due to cost or inability to find good design.

Design alone, marks Petals of the Moon as a necessary addition to your poetry collection. The author has considered the impact the book itself will make on the reader, she’s taken the time and effort to really walk through your experience beforehand and ensure you are guided to the poignant and powerful imagery and emotions possible in a beautifully designed book.

Like a few of her contemporaries, Churchill puts her titles at the end of the poem, as a...

United States on May 03, 2019

Lori L. Fox: The first thing I found interesting about this book is that the title of each poem is placed below the poem. Second, the poems are followed by the dedication page and then the table of contents. I like the backward aspect. It’s unexpected and unique. Third, the black and white images of the moon and occasional black page with white writing provides a nice contrast to the rest of the book, which is black font on white pages. Fourth, the dedication page is touching: “This collection is dedicated to those who have spent a night or longer sleepless and troubled. You are not alone.” As someone who often has trouble sleeping, I appreciated this dedication. Finally, I loved the poems.

From two lines to two pages, the poems are full of raw emotion, sleeplessness, feeling alone, and the power of the moon. The poems are haunting and relatable. I recommend this book to anyone who feels anxious, alone, and unable to sleep at night. Just like the gentle presence of the moon whose soft glow can bring comfort, these poems remind us that the moon is always there, looking down upon us, and we are never truly alone.

United States on Apr 15, 2019

Jeff Doughty: Petals Of The Moon really hit me with what I call "the feels." It was raw, emotional, and revealed so much about the poet as well as myself. The heartbreak, loss, and aftermath of losing a loved one. It was empowering, reminding me to push forward no matter what obstacles get in my way. And it resonated with me long after I'd read it. Even now, after three complete read-throughs, each piece holds a special place in my heart and it will forever be one of my most favorite poetry books. If you've ever experienced loss and needed somewhere to look, this is for you.

United States on Mar 29, 2019