It’s been a bit, but here I am ready to work on those thankfuls. Each day I begin, end, interrupt with thankfuls, but it’s time for me to report in!
There are so, so many things to list and I am just jumping in and letting it roll. A couple of weeks ago I met with a local friend who is also a publisher and she brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a glass milk jug. It’s still brightening my day, when it should be dead.
Daughter has been very busy with her barista job and loving it more and more every day. She has so much fun, but takes her work seriously. They do have a sort of motto to have fun while they work. She’s working the Christmas parade crew and is going to get all decked out in a cute apron from her holiday attire at Joann’s. She’ll have all kinds of necklaces, headgear, and more. I can’t wait to take a picture.
We are enjoying the hiatus of tax season. Sweetheart still works steady, but not so much the overtime. He enjoys being able to read more as he is an avid reader of financial books.
Next week, I have cataract surgery #1 and I look forward to seeing better. Maybe my blinkers will get a rest and I can eventually drive at night without the light issue. And I am grateful for audio options if I need to rest my eyes. My reader is loaded all the time, anyways. Thankful for free books? Yes, please.
Tomorrow would be my sister Paula’s 75th birthday. I will celebrate it with her in spirit and believe she will be in the know. I am grateful for the time we had together on earth and that I can call on her now. I am grateful for my adopted sisters of which I have quite a few.
Each day, it’s important to stop and breathe, to take in what’s around us. It’s important to reset. May you have those moments of peace.
We are pleased to announce that “Perihelion” by Roberta Batorsky is now ready for your bookshelf. Her debut poetry book, “Perihelion” is a poetry collection which has been carefully crafted, critiqued, and polished for the best of reading.
About “Perihelion”
This book uses powerful, colorful imagery and often humor, applied to everyday life situations, to delve deep into the realms of love, loss, childhood, memory, aging, relationships, partnership and friendship. The writer’s command of language, including colorful and strong vocabulary, will appeal to poetry readers of all stripes in its accuracy, insight and universality. Her critical insight and unsparing explorations of feelings will bring readers into her circle with recognition of the beauty of her words and the similarities with their own experiences. Her love for nature and ability to describe people’s lived experiences, mental problems, societal upheaval, relationship struggles, love for family, and deep love for, and familiarity with, literature will inspire all who pick up her book. Her style is a giving and loving one which will be meaningful to all readers.
Note the cover design by Kelli Jackson of KRynae Design Co. She really captured the meaning of the poem by the same name.
What others have to say:
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Perihelion, the debut collection of poetry by Roberta Batorsky. Roberta’s poetry has taken the literary community by storm, her words will make you want to sit up and think, stir emotions, as she pulls you into her world. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, through lived experiences and the world of science. Each one is full of humour, pathos, and empathy. She is incredibly articulate and precise, reflecting her intellectual ability as an educator.
This collection has over one hundred poems; each one is a masterpiece in its own right, beautifully crafted to perfection. Each poem gives you an insight into her life and the lives of others, incredibly observant and full of wit, as you are transported to her world.
This book will appeal to readers of all ages and genders because it is relatable, to enchant, move and delight. Stand out poems include “American Standard or The Loo’s Lament,” “Social Dancing on Neptoon,” “Lost Lives Matter,” “Unstrung, for Richard,” “I Remember It,” “If I die first,” “Picking Apples in Stilettos,” “Bismillah,” “Autumn Finds Me,” “My Dis Connect,” “Drinking with Mom,” “Man to Man,” “The Walkers in the Rain,” and “Gasp.” This poignant book of poetry is an entertaining read, will make you laugh out loud, smile in places and shed a tear, extremely relatable and utterly brilliant, it will be a welcome addition to your bookshelf, a classic in the making.
Sarfraz Ahmed, Poet and Writer (UK)
Roberta Batorsky’s “Perihelion” carries rich layers of meaning in the context of poetic creativity. Like planets drawing close to the sun, the poet’s voice circles the most intense experiences of human life: mental health struggles (“Unit 4,” “New Year to Be Born”), grief (“Irreplaceable, for Mariana”, “Tremolo”), and love (“You Are All I Need”). These are moments of most excellent exposure, where both illumination and pain work together. It suggests that poetry itself becomes a perihelion. In this space, the poet dares to move nearest to the burning core of experience, and in doing so, offers illumination to the readers. In “Perihelion”, readers encounter humour, grief, survival, and renewal in equal measure. It is a collection that burns close, like its namesake, leaving the reader illuminated.
Roberta Batorsky is a Biology teacher and freelance science writer. Her poetry reflects her interest in people, their lived experiences and science. She writes with empathy, knowledge and humor and has been published in Heron Clan, Fine Lines, NJ Bards, Delaware Valley Poets and other collections. This is her first book. She lives in NJ with her husband and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
and made stew from the leftover lamb my sister didn’t eat
I’m tired, it’s cold and dark here
and I am afraid of what’s out there
beyond the glass of the balcony door
beyond the neighbor who yells at his wife,
and kids, and brother
I’m afraid I’ll never find
what it is I don’t even know I’m looking for
or maybe I’m afraid
I won’t be able to change those things that need it…”
This is Ken Tomaro, so easy yet so profound.
Ken Tomaro’s collection “You’ve Got it All Wrong” explores nostalgia, loss, and the absurdities of existence through poignant, reflective poems. It is a collection of poetry that resists lyric ornament in favour of blunt realism, irony, and dark humour. Written in a conversational style, these poems traverse memory, absurdity, faith, mortality, and working-class identity.
The first poem, “I remember the distinct aroma,” begins with the scent of Polish doughnuts, using this family memory to reflect on the passing of time, the loss of childhood innocence, and fleeting moments that cannot be reclaimed.
“I was robbed” is a fierce monologue where Tomaro likens life to a thief: it brandishes a gun, steals sanity, dreams, and certainty, yet he refuses to yield.
“Playing God” conjures the fantasy of manipulating fate, depicted through cars on a highway—miniature models in the mind’s grip. “Summer of ‘89” is a lyrical meditation on teenage nights at Lake Erie.
“Life is very much a horror movie” is a standout poem that likens office life to an unending nightmare.
“If I believed in God” and “The big God damn bang” both question religious belief, exposing the flaws Tomaro perceives in the idea of a universe created by an indifferent force. In contrast, “Chickens” injects humour with its absurd image of chickens wandering a city road, disrupting the poet’s brooding thoughts.
“We all carry anger.”
A compassionate poem speaking to grief, persistence, and the will to keep breathing. “Make it stop” is among the darkest, most unflinching poems:
“word of warning –
It’s not a happy ending.”
“Breathworks” is a brief yet powerful poem that reminds us that trauma begins at birth. “Bad genes” is a satiric poem wrapped in humour and rage. Tomaro’s bluntness, “fuck all of you!” is cathartic. “Rosemarie” is a deeply nostalgic and tender poem that evokes memories of childhood winters, fireplaces, and Christmas music from 1976.
“Sometimes a dog’s butthole” leans into shock value, but its humour reveals genuine affection for Cleveland, using the city’s quirks—potholes, pierogies, grey winters—to illustrate imperfect love.
“A glittering shitshow of smash-faced adults” distils Tomaro’s outlook: absurdity, bluntness, and unyielding truth. The poem confronts adolescence, broken towns, and fragmented adulthood.
“Beyond the Glass” is one of the most vulnerable poems by Tomaro. It captures the threads of loneliness, seasonal depression, and the fear of the unknown that linger in the human heart. The “cold and dark” beyond the balcony glass becomes a metaphor for uncertainty and existential dread. “Well, hello” is the closing poem. It is structured around the word “well,” and ties together themes of health, survival, and cautious hope.
Tomaro writes with honesty and sharp wit, never sugarcoating his words. His poetry speaks to those who want the truth, humour that doesn’t hold back, and a clear-eyed look at life. “You’ve Got It All Wrong” reminds us that being human means living with contradictions and sometimes finding reasons to laugh anyway.
“You’ve Got It All Wrong” isn’t for readers who want romance or flowery language. Tomaro’s poems are stripped down, gritty, and often hit hard. He writes about life’s odd moments, the pull of memory, and the humour that helps us get by. This is poetry about surviving with honesty and wit, not by escaping reality. Fans of Charles Bukowski, Diane Seuss, John Prine, or anyone ready to face life’s absurdities with a grin must grab a copy:
“and it’s time for your annual wellness check/ to make sure you and your doctor/ remember each other’s faces.”
As a teacher, I will always remain a student. In the classroom of life, l wish to work with and educate others. Whether you’re a teacher, student, or just your average person, here are a few of my "TEACHERble" moments.
Hi! my name is Sebastian (You can call me Seb!) ...welcome to my Blog. I'm a photographer from Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy my work.
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