What's Happening at Book Readers Heaven--Also Featuring Adolfo's Latest Photography! Prelude to National Poetry Month...April!

I had never even heard of the Banyan Tree until I read The Reach of the Banyan Street by Mark Sasse (Of course, click over to read about that book before you leave!); so I was quite surprised and thrilled to receive this latest photo by Adolph Caso, a regular contributor to Book Readers Heaven...with his note...

Attached please find the Banyan tree, which was named by two friends of mine, the Adolfo Tree. It is truly magnificent; for me, it continues to be thought-provoking and the generator of many poems on aspects on the nature of humans and other forms of life, much as revealed in the poem, Hosta... (This poem has already received nearly 400 hits...check it out before you leave.)


Now what I did upon openingthis picture was immediately made it background to fill my computer screen... Each time I come to my computer, I see a larger version of the above and marvel at its magnificence...its strange wonderful beauty... Then I thought of why Adolfo's friends might have named the tree after him... and came up with...

Ode to Adolfo

Friends have named a special Banyan Tree

After Adolfo Caso, also my friend...

Immediately thoughts started flying into my mind...

How do I compare thee to a Banyan Tree?

Then I saw Roger Williams play his brilliant Autumn Leaves 

His hair now white, but his body still reflecting his strength...

And again Adolfo's tree came to mind...
Years only add more stability and support to its gift...

Adolfo, in age, has both become strong in mind and body

But the work he's done reflects the heart of love and kindness

All like the central, host tree that supports epiphyte that has found life

There against the magnificent body and spread of its limbs

to be umbrella-ed

Just as Adolfo's has done with family, friends, and writers...

Somehow he finds the interest, energy, support and love

to share both his own words, as well as hundreds of others in publishing

His love for both the United States and his homeland, Italy

magnifies the breadth and depth of his continuously extended reach...

And if you study the Bantam tree, immense and tall,

you will also see the light of the sun coming through in this place or another

Just like Adolfo always and eternally has shared 

God's light and love through his life...

May you, our Adolfo Tree, stand firm, powerful, passionate

continually to extend your trunk and limbs to allow each new epiphyte

each new member as your family expands...

each new reader as your words spread afar...

each new writer who has gained your support

each new friend who has received your brilliant flow of love into each life...

You are indeed the Banyan Tree to whom I'm endlessly connected...

--GABixler
~~~

Okay, in no way do I consider myself a poet, so don't critique my words! When I write poetic words, nearly always it is an emotional response I have...such as in my responsive poetry I've previously shared...

And, of course, the reason why I'm timing this article now is to remind you, that Book Readers Heaven will be focusing on poetry and photos (notice that photos has been added) during April, National Poetry Month...

The month will start with my review and spotlight of Idealism is an Attractive Flower: photopoems by Oneida Morningstar  Cramer. Also Bradford G. Wheler,'s Latest Love Sayings, will be covered sometime that month. Poems are already coming in from Adolfo, of course; Thomas Kemp, and others have notified me of participating...(Don't forget to send those in ASAP...) 

Note that I've added photos as part of the month-long emphasis...Many writers are now merging words and photos and I wanted to capture that option as well... Also, if you have placed yours words on video, then do consider submitting those as well.

Please note that I wish I could provide some type of compensation, but I do not wish to use my blog to make money so I have no funds to reimburse others... BUT I have a growing base which works out to average well over 20,000 readers a month, coming from both the U.S. and across the world...so your work will receive exposure... Also I will be using both of my blogs simultaneously this month, so feel free to submit your erotic poems and/or pictures--please not pornographic...

Just My Personal Opinion -  I wanted to talk about my second blog... Although it does include some erotic articles, this blog is used primarily for anything that is beyond a straight G-rated book review. The primary reason is that Book Readers Heaven has many children's book reviews and I want to ensure that this blog stays at a level where I can welcome children to read my articles.

That does NOT mean that books that I don't consider suitable reading for children, are not worthy of your attention. I notice that the hits for books on there are generally lower... That's a shame, because adults are missing many great books, that just happened to be only for older teens, young and older adults... I will be making sure on my announcement page that I place tags at the bottom. I use erotic to refer to books emphasizing sex, which are few in number... Give that blog a chance, please! 

JMPO is also for my own personal blog writing, so the variety of content is wide. I've also included product reviews there and will probably be increasing those in the future...

In the meantime, watch for Frankie Y. Bailey's latest, What the Fly Saw, on Sunday as part of her blog tour...

By the Way, you may wonder why I'm spotlighting poetry next month, when I'm not at this moment accepting many new booka for review... Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm getting old... just had another birthday and have had a bad month physically--fell twice and burnt my hands twice--so I'm having to adjust to those bodily issues that won't go away...LOL... Besides the enjoyment of reading poetry, the emphasis will give me a chance to read and post reviews as finished, while at the time, also sharing poetry from those who may not have yet been published.

As I've been mentioning, most of the books coming in are all long, and take longer to read. I'm selecting based upon length of book and filling in with children's books, etc., as I need to. The poetry will help me with keeping my blog articles moving ahead. Hope this answers any questions about my response time on requests...

Reminder: send poetry, photopoems, speaking word videos to GABixlerReviews@aol.com!