Poetry is often viewed as the classic form of venting teenage angst and misdirected rage towards parents, teachers and the like. But poetry also gives many other people the release that they need from the struggles and trials of life and loss.

This can be seen in a particular poetry book, South Dakota raised R. H. Swaney’s “Lovely Seeds” was inspired to write his nature-themed poems based on his experiences growing up in a complicated family, facing racism and living in the midwest.

The book has six parts “seed, soil, water, growth, bloom and restore.” Each is based on a step in the process of how a flower lives. The theme of nature is shown throughout the book in nearly all of the poems.

The book starts with the iconic poem “Weather Talk,” which compares weather with how we as humans experience emotion. “I wish we could talk about our hearts like we talk about the weather because whether or not we are okay is more important than the chance of rain.” The poem speaks to the true complexity of feelings; we all talk about the forecast but not often about how we feel inside.

Another noteworthy Swaney poem is “A Walk to the Rail Yard” about a time that he went on a stroll and came upon a pair of people, he takes a photo of them together. He finds out that they are homeless and truly realizes how much he appreciates that he has a home each night. “I couldn’t help but wonder where they slept that night as I crawled into my comfy bed.”

The final poem and namesake of the book “Lovely Seeds” shows regrowth and the beauty in the experience becoming new. “This is not an end, it is a chance for rebirth,” we go through all these experiences, we are buried by hate and hurt but we sometimes get a chance for the treasured regrowth.

“Lovely Seeds” is definitely a must read for everyone wanting to feel even a little sense of mystic in their everyday triumphs and struggles.