Reviews for
American Lyricon:
A Poet Sings of America
by Joel L. Young

American Lyricon has something for everyone and touches on a wide variety of topics and feelings. It will draw out an appreciation for poetry in even the most unpoetic reader. At times romantic, historical, and patriotic, other times playful, folksy and whimsical, Joel Young's writings are thought-provoking, soul-searching, and entertaining.

American Lyricon is a wonderful book for every household, on every coffee table for all to enjoy.

~ Phyllis M. Payne

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“American Lyricon spoke to my heart about America”

I have found that every book I have read has, in some way, changed my outlook on life. Some changes are small, like when Pat the Bunny made me realize my hidden affection for fuzzy things in pre-school. Other books have changed me in larger ways, like when I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings showed me the value of the human soul. American Lyricon by Joel Stein has proven itself to belong to the latter category of life-changing novels.

In reading this book, I found a collection of beautiful poems that spoke to my heart about America. When I say America, I don't mean one group. It is not only for the whites, blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, or Asians of America. It's not for the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Atheists, or heretics of America. It's not for our rich, or our poor, or the middle class. It covers all of American life, from the struggles to the joys, the wars to the peacetimes, the past to the present to the future. As Young writes in his Author's Note, "This is America, the land of ideals and hopes, looking for hungered masses. All of us matter!" This attitude of all encompassing unity is manifest in all of American Lyricon's poems. Although a given poem may talk about slavery, or the Great Depression, or modern pop culture, one gets the impression that what is being talked about is a part of the whole and has effected all of America, as, indeed, the subject has.

Young's writing is, as the title of the book suggests, very lyrical. The poems seem more like songs. In fact, the subtitle of the book is "A Poet Sings of America". Young says in his introduction "The poems included here are more like songs than poems." One could realize this just by reading. Every poem has a plainly evident sense of rhythm and flow found in the greatest songs, as in "Fire and Smoke" where Young writes, "They burned down the mission / Just to stay alive; and the flames burned high / So their dreams could stay alive". One can almost here melodies playing in their head as they read these poems.

The words have tremendous power. They ignite the heart with a beautiful passion. They can flow like a soft breeze or hit the soul with bone-crushing force. Such feelings in words can only be found in the writing of true poets who know the art well. Joel Young is plainly one of these. His words evoke true feelings in the heart of the reader, as is shown in the very last lines of the last poem, "Whitman's Agony": "This grand ideal a treasure of the world / Where the green goes to slumber / In this universal sea." The emotions stirred by his poems range from all over the human spectrum, sometimes delicately, sometimes fiercely. One may feel sorrow, joy, pain, anger, and rapture all within a few pages. As America is full of many people, American Lyricon is full of many emotions from the many stories of our country.

As I said before, American Lyricon is one of those books that has changed my view on life dramatically. What it has done is shown me the truth of America. This country is beautiful and unique. It is made of every individual that has lived in it, from its very birth to the present. One cannot get caught up in negativity as many of America's children have. Life is much better when you see its beauty. American Lyricon has shown me that by touching my soul with its message.

~ Bryan

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“…filled with historical mystery, imagination and great metaphor”

As I read through American Lyricon, I became more inspired from the memories of this historical country. Although some of the poems are emotionally, sad hauntings of what once was, the poetical stories told were beautifully written.

While looking through an old mirror of historical memories, I became intrigued by each lyrical poem, and felt magnificent drama from the stories as they unfolded.

"Prayer of the Droughtmen, Windsong, and Road to Glory touched my heart the most, bringing tears to my eyes, as they portray a desperate desire for hope to give us a better tomorrow. After reading through these poems, I was reminded by the historical events I've lived through in the sixties, and what our country learned through survival of such traumatic events.

I strongly recommend that an audience of young adults as well as the older generation would find this book delightful to the soul. The young adult would learn what many have lived through, and the adult would cherish memories we were part of in this country while it was still in the making.

Such quotes as: "Let our dreams expand forth, Heaven pray let it begin soon, To color these drought men's fears," made me cry. "I sit here and ponder cables of inspiration" made me content, peaceful, and happy.

This book is filled with historical mystery, imagination, and great metaphor. The poems are bittersweet, moving, and inspiring through rich imagery used to describe feelings left behind from those who once lived. I was impressed at the sophisticated look of each poem, delighted to look back into that old mirror of historical memories, and my soul was uplifted. This book was exquisite in images, thoughts, and feelings.

~ Geri Ahearn, author of The Nurse in the Purse
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“an incredible journey through our minds and imaginations”

Joel Young has written a lusty book of poetry about the flavor, sights, smells, and texture of the American landscape. Full of prose that lets the reader experience America from this author's viewpoint, Joel starts us off with a dissertation of how he got the inspiration to write this book, thanking John Mitchum for his inspiration. Throughout the book, Young takes the reader on an incredible journey through the neighborhoods within our minds and imaginations.

There are poems dedicated to real people who've influenced Young's writings. Yet in others, he gives us the world from back broken workman and their laments. This tome brings tears to the eyes, laughter to your soul, and a desire to go out and explore every nook and cranny in this country of contrasts. I hope to read more poetry from this gentleman, and I fervently wish you the reader also see the pleasure within these pages.

~ anonymous

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