Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd

"Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd" is a collection of poems and paintings that incorporate the poems into the art--both art and poetry are the works of the author. Subjects reflect insights into family, travel, politics and abstract concepts. There's humor, wisdom and adventure interpreted both visually and verbally. Calvo's two cancer diagnoses also inspire opportunities for reflection. Overall, the book invites readers to look at life differently; to take life's absurdities, turn them upside down and move on a little stronger. Long eBook Description

"Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd" is a collection of poems and paintings that incorporate the poems into the art--both art and poetry are the works of the author. Subjects reflect insights into family, travel, politics and abstract concepts. There's humor, wisdom and adventure interpreted both visually and verbally. Calvo's two cancer diagnoses also inspire opportunities for reflection. As everyone knows, some people are struck by lightning while others win the lottery. While we can strive to make changes that help us manage, we recognize that some things cannot change. Therefore, the art of living is to interpret or “color” pervasive absurdities with a beauty, irony or compassion that makes nonsense less disagreeable and even amusing. Doing so invites us to engage more fully and report, act or think with greater mindfulness and compassion. Each poem in "Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd" presents life from a fresh perspective. Overall, the book invites readers to look at life differently; to take life's absurdities, turn them upside down and move on a little stronger.

Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd is Emily Thornton Calvo’s overdue first book of poems. A writer, author, poet and artist, Calvo is a long-time organizer and member of Chicago’s poetry community. She has been published in journals, such as After Hours, Coleré, Oyez Review and others. She was a semi-finalist for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award, taught poetry in Chicago’s public schools and performed in numerous venues in Chicago as well as Fontenay le Comte, France. She is a co-founder and associate board member of Chicago Slam Works. Since surviving breast cancer in 2010 and leukemia in 2012, Calvo has been committed to focusing on writing and painting for the healing impact the arts offer and sharing this message with others. She thrives in Chicago, Illinois.