To the 4 a.m. Light is a collection of poetry that revels in the gifts of language and sound. Beautifully descriptive, these poems honor the simple splendor in observing the present moment. Adrienne S. Wallner's poetry conveys the celebrations and challenges of daily life; joy and grief, pleasure and pain, light and dark, connection and solitude. Poems also explore themes of the self, independence, reclaiming empowerment, and connecting to nature.
While some poems, are wildly imaginative, even surreal, others are rooted in reality and reveal the poet's fears and reflections on potential blind spots. Other poems bare intimate moments with the self and ruminate on struggles with doubt, technology, and metaphorical darkness.
Poems exhibit a bold sensuality, a female force unafraid to explore and celebrate desire. A few ekphrastic explorations demonstrate inspiration gleaned from art and music, while others celebrate National Parks and love of and in the out-of-doors.
Many of the poems in this collection reveal a deep connection to the natural world and a reverence for the lessons it can teach. There is spirituality between the poet and place, between the voice and the landscape it inhabits. The poet invites the reader to be witness of this intimate relationship, revealing a fierce devotion to the energy of the Earth and the solace of wilderness.
To the 4 a.m. Light contains portraits from a Midwest life, particularly northern Wisconsin. The poet's voice speaks with a strength of conviction and commitment to each moment observed and each insight discovered within these pages. There is a notion of seeking - not just for the sake of understanding, but to fully appreciate the unique moments of beauty and curiosity that exist around us every day. Enter the wilderness that is Wallner's mind and emerge on a path of daring imagination, passionate honesty, devotion to the natural world.
