Personified — Cherie Dawn Haas

Adventures from the past, advice for the future, and preparing for the inevitable-life, the people who help fill it and the objects that surround it, is the center of Personified: Poetry, Prose, Short Stories, and Words of Advice for Young People. This collection captures what it's like to make your way in the world with the emotional weight we add to the daily senses of our lives.From the changing seasons in the air, to saying farewell to a family pet; from losing control at work, Personified is a reminder of what it means to be young, and the things you learn along the way. Through delicate and lyrical prose, stories that range from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and advice for the everyday and the days-yet-to-come, Personified taps into the innocence of childhood and the nostalgia of looking back, reminding us that to have loss one must have life, and life is to be celebrated.***The beauty of this mixed collection lies in its candor and earnestness, an artistic perspective that's intensely personal yet broadly inclusive, celebrating both humanity and the wonders of the natural world. The poems and stories in Personified are each a treasure hunt-gorgeous little riddles and private moments that, once revealed, inspire rereading again and again. ~ Lauren Mosko Bailey, former Director of Kirkus Editorial***Like Jane Hirshfield, Cherie Dawn Haas is a poet whose inspiration is a life thoroughly lived. With crystal clear language and warm, pastoral imagery, Haas welcomes the reader into her home with love and family, music and dance, chickens and dogs and all of the joy and heartbreak of rural life. Personified is a hot meal served on a evening, sumptuous in detail, rich in flavor, complex in its simplicity. This is a collection to cherish. ~ Nathan Singer, author of The Song in the Squall and Chasing the Wolf ***Personified is a must-read poetry collection that will touch you on multiple emotional levels. Cherie Dawn Haas has a knack for peeking inside different layers of the soul and moving you to think. I highly recommend adding this book to your home library. ~ Brian A. Klems, author of Oh Boy, You're Having a Girl (Simon & Schuster)***Personified left me breathless with awe and wonder as Cherie Dawn Haas takes you on an adventure in opening up and becoming and finding empowerment, passion, and the richness of life. She masterfully weaves poetry, stories, and prose together and takes you on a wild ride to the heart of living free and well. This book is a treasure chest of deep feelings, meaningfulness, and joy! I am changed by it-embrace her invitation and immerse yourself in the experience! ~ Gail McMeekin, LICSW, Creative Success LLC, author of The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women, The 12 Secrets of Highly Successful Women, and other creativity catalyst products. ***Cherie Dawn Haas's book of collected works and selected poems is an unexpected treasure. Her personal stories address universal themes that touch the heart and inspire the mind. ~ Jamie Markle, author and publisher***Personified by Cherie Dawn Haas is rich in an existential, sensual awareness of her relationship with and place in nature. The full spectrum of human experience and emotion is described and generously shared with her readers. Her reverence for all life is evident and honored with her words. This book will touch you in all the right places. ~ Sandy Prantl, author of My Wish and Call Me Coinin