Moments No Replacement Found by Joanne S. Mitchell
“Live in the moment.” We hear that saying a lot, but what does it actually mean?
Joanne Mitchell addresses that very question in her latest book of contemporary poetry, Moments No Replacement Found. The collection reflects on her life experience and wisdom, touching on a variety of themes exploring thoughts and emotions that most people can relate to.
Tackles Life, Love and Loss
Mitchell’s poems explore a variety of themes found throughout every stage of life, from fond childhood memories to the woes (yet freedom) of aging. She examines the love experienced from past and present relationships — with parents and siblings, lovers and spouses, children and grandchildren — and the pain and heartbreak that accompanies their loss.
From love and grief to contentment and regret, Mitchell dives into a wide range of emotions that everyone can relate to. One poem that left a particular impression on me was “Jealous,” which had a line I especially enjoyed: “I cannot share my feelings / If it’s known how I feel about you / You will have one more thing I do not.” I also felt a swell of emotions at the end of “Follow the Rules” when she said, “I see my life like a snowball globe / All storms contained and / Venture-less.”
While Mitchell unpacks a lot of difficult emotions in her poems, she also takes the time to just appreciate the simple things; these were some of my favorite poems, actually. The essence of “Summer” is pure joy, and I could feel every sensation described within the short piece. In “I Loved the Fact,” I was inspired by how she used washing the dishes as a meditative practice.
Student Artwork Elevates the Poems
One of the things I found enjoyable in Mitchell’s poems is how, for many, the title is meant to be included, meaning it’s the first line. This was the case in one of my favorite poems in the collection: “The Life I Live: The life I imagine … I write when / And only when / They come / Together.”
But perhaps what most distinguishes Mitchell’s work from other poetry collections is the unique artwork. Interspersed throughout the poems are drawings done by high school art students of varying grades, skill and background. The artwork reflects the students’ own interpretations of the poetry; I especially enjoyed Elizabeth Arden’s colorful interpretation of “Stand on Your Two Feet” and Rygel Estillore’s cute and whimsical take on “Seesaw.”
Encourages Readers to Enjoy the Moment
While Mitchell’s work tackles a lot of complex emotions and situations, her collection has a thread that ties them all together — experiencing the moment. As she states in her poem “Lying Still,” when encountering a beautiful sunrise: “If I had stopped for the photo / I would have missed the / Adventure.”
Many of her poems encourage readers to enjoy the simple moments in life, but even those that tackle the harder issues continue to place emphasis on the importance of presence. In order to experience life to the fullest, we need to fully immerse ourselves in all these emotions and situations — without trying to replace a single moment.
About Joanne Mitchell:
Joanne S. Mitchell’s books include Moments, Moments and Then Some, Moments When Night Becomes Day, Moments Gentle Hints To Life, Moments Not Things, Moments No Replacement Found, Moments Encountered, Moments With Melissa Sherry Smith’s 5th Grade Class, and the upcoming Moments Treasured. Her works are books of contemporary poetry that are a reflection of the poet’s life experience and wisdom. Her poems are also replete with humor, angst, pragmatism, spirituality, love and hope. Moreover, she succinctly relates thoughts and emotions about relationships, love, and loss that most people think and feel but do not express. Her growing up in a family of eight siblings in New York City, experience as a mother, wife, teacher, counselor and successful Miami real estate and business mogul are woven into poetic nuggets of insight for coping with life’s enigmas and challenges.
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