EDGE of the ECHO

Out of the depths of the sea, a breath of wind. From the roots
of the earth, the shifting fire. Warm and cool. Firm and flowing. The early Celts
recognized the relationship of invisible geography where blood whispers and
memory clings to these ancient rhythms of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.

Though encompassed by these elements every day, we still
don’t fully understand them. Hegel said, “The familiar, precisely because it is
familiar, remains unknown.” Earth, air, water, fire: their energy destroys, nourishes,
purifies, and we are captivated by this age-old tapestry of mystic balance
between stone and stars. In this world full of upheaval and clatter, we need
more than ever the tenacity of nature – its magic and variety that mend our weary
souls.

Within each season of the year a threshold emerges where these
elements intersect, allowing the possibility to cross the thin spaces into the
“Other” that perforates the darkness around us. Spend time with the earth: revel
in its strength. Drink deeply of the air and let it satisfy you. Taste the
water, whether clear or salty, for its cleansing power. Dance with the flames
of passion. Let the elements speak to you, speak through you. It’s time to live
again.

Praise for Edge of the Echo:

Edge of the Echo by KB Ballentine is a mystical, lyrical treasure of poetry filled with detailed wonders of nature. These words must capture our attention or we betray our existence, life's gift. The collection is divided into four sections: Air, Earth, Fire and Water – Elements of Astrology, all dependent on each other to give us our little planet. The poems scattered with dreams have scattered mine as well. Family immigrants from Ireland, often left in boats, cold and hungry, praying to be taken in-a darkness our world continues to imitate. During a visit to Birkenau her poems grieve for those lost during the Holocaust, numbers scarred on my grandmother's arm-a time to whisper together the Kaddish. These poems experiment with different forms, are rich with images of the natural world in all seasons, and resonate with deep allusions to classical mythology. Many of them focus on Celtic countries-Scotland, Ireland, England, as well as home – all of Ballentine's landscapes are alive with movement that captures the spirit of Creation.

—Bill Brown, author of The Headless Angel

Now and then poets come into our lives where words become art, sentences become canvases, poems become masterpieces. KB Ballentine's pages draw the reader into her retrospective of life, and Edge of the Echo will hang in the gallery of our minds where images turn into pictures that have developed over a lifetime. There are poets compared to Clementine Hunter, Norman Rockwell, Van Gogh: KB is the Picasso of words stretched on a paper canvas that will stand the test of time.

—Margaret Britton Vaughn, Tennessee Poet Laureate

In KB Ballentine's new collection Edge of the Echo, she reminds us that the earth supports us in beautiful and bountiful ways. These are thoughtful, layered poems of gratitude and reverence. Ballentine truly has a gift for painting with words. Every line evokes beauty in a stunning array of color. With a deep connection to nature, every aspect of life is filtered through the poet's lens of tenderness and compassion. These offerings bring us hope for the weary heart. Ballentine beckons us to "believe in everything again," and we do. A stunning collection to be celebrated and savored.

—Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor of Blue Heron Review, author of Beauty in the Broken Places