souldust
a collection of reflections
by Lisa O'Neil-Guerci
Do you sometimes feel as if life has ground you to powder, or smashed your last dream? Do you question the meaning of existence in the grand scheme? Do you ever see yourself as an insignificant mote of dust in the midst of a windstorm? Have you ever searched for answers in a cloud’s changing shape, the ocean mist kissing your face, or in the lessons learned from longing, love, and loss?
In this debut collection of poetry and prose, I invite you into my way of looking at the world; through a lens of wonder and enchantment, in which particles of feelings and experiences shimmer and swirl in sunbeams and on cloudy days.
Through each of these poems, I channel the Muse through the magic I notice in Nature, in the unique details of each season, as I explore beauty in all its mysterious forms.
Join me on this journey as I travel from trauma to triumph, as I discover and uncover awe in the world that surrounds us, as well as the deeper one within.
Listen with me to the clarity found in the voice of soundless woods, in the quiet flight of birds, and in the myriad miracles that walk across the lake on which I live.
I wrote this book to be a kind of roadmap, a compass, a blueprint with which to create a rich appreciation of life’s many blessings, a guide to being a divinely inspired human with feet planted firmly on the yielding earth.
May these verses elicit a nod of empathy, a sense of recognition and familiarity, and a shared conviction that there is a vast knowingness to the ever-evolving, benevolent Universe which reaches far beyond what our five senses perceive as “real.”
Let these words soothe your troubled heart and mind, as they illustrate that, more than mere vessels of clay, we are cannons containing glorious confetti.
We are made of Souldust.
“Lisa O’Neil Guerci’s debut book of poems is filled with the soul of a mystic. She writes fresh and casts a spell of whimsy, wonder, and warmth. Lisa notices the details of our emotions. She doesn’t shy away from life’s questions and then delivers her wisdom. This is her gift to us. Poems of grace and intelligence bestowed with a fierce heart full of love.”
—CAROLYN M. RIKER, poet & writer of Blue Clouds and The Colors I Hear
“In this exquisite collection of poems, Lisa O’Neil Guerci professes the many forms of love everywhere her graceful eyes softly land. Souldust captures the truth held inside our longings, our grief and losses, within our connections, and in all the places we yearn to be seen. Whether it be heard in the whispering leaves and seen as sign posts along a summer walk, or in one sweeping moment watching the pouring rain, each lyrical poem offers an honest reflection and reveals the close-knit feelings we share as humans. Read this book and you will be enchanted, consoled, uplifted and understood.”
—SUSAN FRYBORT, author of Look to The Clearing, Open Passages, and Hope is a Traveler
“Souldust takes the reader on a beautifully palpable journey of life’s countless beauties and intricacies. Each poem is brimming with lulling lines, vivid imagery, and soulful diction.”
—EVA XAN, Bestselling Poetry Editor & author of Esoterra
“Lisa O’Neil Guerci writes poems steeped in rebellion, resilience, and profound gratefulness. I appreciate her playfulness as she befriends the moon, her observant eye as she notes even the delicate membrane which lines the eggshell, and her empathy as she envisions the world in which ‘we would be each other’s eyes.’ I read her poems as calls to action, inviting us, too, to bring our best selves to the world.”
—ROSEMERRY WAHTOLA TROMMER, author of Hush (winner of the Halcyon Prize) and Naked for Tea
“Lisa O’Neil Guerci’s poetry is an invitation to come closer to life, to your own beating heart, an invitation to settle into the arms of the moment and commune with all that you meet there. Her words are the deep breath of nourishment this world so urgently needs. You will want to keep this book close so that you can return to it whenever you need a dose of what is real and true.”
—JULIA FERENBACHER, author of Staying in Love
LISA O’NEIL-GUERCI, a passionate reader and writer, has always found solace in language and self-expression. Poetry became her escape from a challenging childhood, and the natural world remains a constant source of inspiration for her creativity. Drawing on influences like Keats and Mary Oliver, Lisa uses vivid metaphors and imagery to share her observations on life. Fueling her artistic fire, Lisa thrives in the community of writing workshops and spoken word events. She has been a featured poet at the Stark Reality open mic in New York City and Confetti online magazine. Her work has been published in diverse platforms such as Rebelle Society, and Blue Motel Rooms, an anthology dedicated to her musical idol, Joni Mitchell. Having overcome many personal struggles in a very unconventional life, Lisa is passionate about personal growth, recovery, authenticity, and the deep dive into the human psyche and spirit. A proud parent of two thriving adults and two cherished grandsons, Lisa resides in a lakeside cottage in Putnam County, NY, with her birds and twin Hemingway cats.