The paperback edition of Song of the Pines by James Vespoli is now available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble online! Dive into this evocative collection, where each verse weaves the beauty, strength, and whispers of the forest. Pre-order your copy today!
The journey of “Song of the Pines” has blossomed in ways that are both astonishing and deeply humbling. I invite you to spread the word about this remarkable book and share its magic with others! Order today at Barnes & Noble online.
Song of the Pines is currently the number one new release in poetry about nature on Amazon Kindle. If you want to see what all the hype is about with my new collection of poetry I invite you to pre-order today!
Here is an excerpt from “An Autumn Sonnet”:
“From wrathful skies, the sheets of rain descend,
A torrent fierce that shakes the trembling vale,
A golden leaf, torn free, begins its end,
And dances wild within the storm’s harsh gale.”
Here is another preview of what you will find in Song of the Pines. If you enjoy my work make sure to share and like to get the word out about Song of the Pines.
Through the veil of silent night,
A chorus breaks with tender glee,
The robins sing to morning’s light,
Their voices weave sweet harmony.
In dawn’s embrace, they flit and dart,
With wings that dance on breezes cool,
Their song, a flame within the heart,
Ignites the day with vernal rule.
Beneath the boughs of ancient trees,
Where shadows fade and colors bloom,
They call in tones that ride the breeze,
Dispelling traces of the gloom.
Each note ascends, a joyful plea,
As if to coax the sun’s first ray,
Their anthem, wild and ever free,
Proclaims the birth of newborn day.
From hill to vale, their music flows,
A river carved of melody,
It wakes the meadow’s soft repose,
And stirs the soul’s eternity.
The mountains, old as time’s own breath,
Stand witness to their ageless rite,
Their song defies the chill of death,
And bathes the world in golden light.
No mortal choir could match their art,
Nor rival nature’s boundless grace,
For robins sing with fearless heart,
To paint the dawn on heaven’s face.
Through misty air, their voices soar,
A symphony that knows no end,
They bid the sun to rise once more,
And broken hearts to softly mend.
When I started Song of the Pines, I thought it would simply be a complete collection of my poems. But as I worked, I found myself growing as a writer in ways I hadn’t expected. With this volume, I’ve tried to focus more carefully on structure, meter, and rhyme—elements I used to overlook. I hope the result is a collection that feels meaningful and heartfelt, more than just poems written for enjoyment. As a writer, I believe this is my strongest work so far, but I’m still learning. Whether you’ve read my writing before or are new to it, I’d be truly grateful if you’d give Song of the Pines a chance—I hope it resonates with you.
Through fleeting clouds, purple and amber gleam,
A cooling breeze dispels the humid haze,
The trees sway soft, and flowers bend in dream,
As twilight weaves its radiant, wondrous blaze.
The clouds drift on, the sun begins to sink,
Its hues would stir the painter’s heart to awe,
A canvas vast, where colors blend and link,
Outshines the art that mortal hands can draw.
Lavender, orange, pink, and yellow blend,
A spectacle of heaven’s sacred art,
Its whispers bid the seeking soul attend,
And find in sky the wisdom of the heart.
One critic described my poems as “modern romantic nonsense.” While it is never good to have one’s work critiqued as nonsense, it is understandable that in a time when modern poetry is a raw, materialistic nightmare, the stomach for nature poetry through a romantic lens laced with Christian imagery may not be in the mainstream. However, my poems attempt to keep the old and venerable Romantic tradition alive. There are undoubtedly many who do it far better (the late great Mary Oliver comes to mind). Yet, it is my view that viewing the beauty of nature and writing simple poems with basic structure and rhyme scheme allows the reader to see nature the way they might in light of their own emotions. Not everything needs to be so grim, materialistic, and carnal. Anyone who has gone on a long hike knows the struggles that this can bring. Heat, bugs, sweat pouring down one’s brow. If we focus on the material, all we might see are rocks, trees, and streams while we languish in discomfort. But if we open our eyes and hearts to see the beauty surrounding us, we find the way the light flows through the trees expresses something more profound. Here, we may discover whimsy, beauty, grandeur, and wonder.
The other day, as my wife and I walked through Target, we wandered into the book section, and my eye caught the bestselling poetry book Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell. I read through it, wondering where my writing has gone so wrong! I came across this quote: “But the world is exhausted, and the only wealth we have left is love.” With all my heart, I could not disagree more. It depends, of course, on what one means by love. However, one only needs to stand by a meandering stream in northwestern New Jersey to know how untrue this statement is. The bounty of creation surrounds us in every breath we take. Modern man is surrounded by beauty we cannot or dare not see. For if we saw it, we would be forced to reconcile that in Nature, we have a wealth far beyond any measure. Beyond money, status, or romantic love. As I say of that small stream in New Jersey:
“Though small, this river’s wonder calls, Its quiet beauty humbles all, Despair displaced by tranquil might, It flows through May’s eternal light.”
So that is, to the best of my meager ability, the apologia I can make for the existence of my work. My great prayer is that should you decide “modern romantic nonsense” is for you and pick up a copy of Song of the Pines in its pages, you will find wealth in the simple verses and see the splendor and majesty of creation.
Find this poem and so many more in Song of the Pines. Releasing August 1st, available for pre-order on Kindle today.
The rolling hills to valleys sweep,
Where ravens call through snow’s soft veil,
The lake reflects God’s winter deep,
His radiant grace in light’s travail.In peace divine, His mercy flows,
Where hope in Christ’s great love is found,
Through mighty works, His glory grows,
If eyes of faith see joy abound.
Today’s poem from Song of the Pines.
The lunar light in winsome night does gleam,
Its silver rays adorn the evening’s dream,
A gentle breeze from sea’s soft murmur flows,
Yet stirs my heart with melancholy’s throes.
The waves caress the shore with tender sigh,
Their rhythmic song a lullaby gone by,
Each glint of moon upon the water’s face,
Recalls a joy no time can now replace.
Why does such beauty weave a dour lament?
The stars above in silent vigil stand,
Their glow, though fair, cannot my sorrow mend,
For love once held has slipped from longing’s hand.
Yet in this night, where sea and moon entwine,
A quiet strength within my soul does shine,
Though heart grows heavy ‘neath the lunar veil,
I’ll carry forth where hope and memory sail.
The beginning purpose of this blog will be to release a few poems from Song of the Pines until its August 1st publication date. I hope they will entice you to support this work I have poured my heart and soul into. However, this book is not merely an economic pursuit.
For me, this is a life spent in nature, searching for wonder, beauty, and truth and writing about what I have seen. I, with all of my heart, believe in the merits of this work and humbly ask you to consider supporting it. Song of the Pines is quite different from anything I have published before. I have dedicated myself to the craft of writing poetry in rhyme and meter in the hope of improving this work. Gone are those youthful poems free and filled with chaos (for the most part). Hopefully, you will find what is in their place is deeper richer and more filled with beauty and truth. While nature is, of course, my frame of reference, this collection of poems, more than any other, that I have released calls the reader to look into Nature and peer at the great reality that lay beyond.
Now for an excerpt form the book:
Summer’s reign now fades away,
Its heat and sun no longer stay,
Sweet autumn comes with auburn glow,
Where vibrant leaves in splendor flow.
Once sweltered ‘neath the summer’s blaze,
We greet the crisp and golden days,
In concord, nature turns the page,
To set her colors on the stage.
Creation’s play takes up its bow,
As hues return, the fields we plow,
In beauty vast, God’s grace is shown,
His providence through seasons known.
Song of the Pines 