Writings from the Spirit offers a poetry collection focused on the spirituality of life. Author Peter Benjamin LeBuhn inspires through lovingly crafted verse that offers the hope and optimism of the life’s spiritual side. Reviewing a spiritual journey of ten years, LeBuhn explores times of great loss and those times of great faith and renewal. These verses are based upon true, honest feelings and emotions that will touch the heart and inspire the spirit. The Journey Beleaguered and Beaten Burned to a crisp My faith I have lost What is to become of this? The Fire burns brightly … The ashes spread widely. All I feel is death Lord how do I get out of this? The light flickers only dim But flicker it does For The answer now is known I have lost everything only to regain it Trials and toils They do boil in the deep of my soul My burning and yearning to do right With all thy might I humble thyself in thy sight The journey has been long … now I am strong “Peter’s words live; as I read them I feel the meaning of the poem or song come alive. He really knows how to capture the ‘here and now.’” —Carol Lee, artist “Peter’s poetry is truly romantic; I can see myself within the words.” —Suzan Gumush, poet, Kent, United Kingdom “Peter’s word’s are very inspiring—beautiful choice of words, beautiful imagery; many of the poems are like … sagas. A paintbrush of words.” —Keiah Delu, author "Peter's use of words is truly touching,great word use, passionate ,emotional, the words come to life." —Claire Jones, poet “I have enjoyed reading passages from your book many nights. You did write as though it is happening now. That was so clever of you! I have read some to friends and they too conquer that you are very gifted and a romantic.” —Alberta Steans, Nutrition Counselor

ForeWord Clarion Review POETRY Writings from the Spirit Peter Benjamin LeBuhn Trafford Publishing 978-1-4269-5066-7 Three Stars (out of Five) Though the world is full of darkness, there is also light. The latter shines through in Peter Benjamin LeBuhn’s poetry collection, Writings from the Spirit. LeBuhn invites readers to take a step back and recognize and cherish all of life’s blessings. From love won and lost, to finding peace in a hectic world, his poems are heartfelt and earnest. In “The Journey,” he writes, the “journey has been long ... now I am strong.” This survivor mentality resonates in nearly every piece in the collection. The best poems experiment with language. “Love in Many Languages” uses Spanish, French, and Italian to explain that one of the few universal truths is love. In fact, only the last three lines of the poem are in English. To write in other languages is bold, and the point LeBuhn makes is strong: Love rings true in any country, setting, and culture. The power of the last line echoes throughout the entire collection: “The one language we all understand is love.” Some of the poems read more like mini-essays than lyrical explorations; more images, word play, and descriptions could have been included to flesh out the complex and meaningful messages. For example, in “The Key to Your Heart,” he writes: “Let me find the key to your heart so I can unlock your secret / chambers of love when I do find that key, I will lock myself in your heart forever ...” The poem exudes emotion, but the reader remains on the outside looking in. It is not clear who “your” is or why this person is important. Hinting more strongly at the relationship behind the poem would make the piece more relatable. Still, the poems in Writings from the Spirit celebrate life, love, and worlds seen and unseen. LeBuhn’s work encourages readers to “sing a new song every day” and to acknowledge and honor the world’s rich gifts. This poet is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, which results in emotionally honest pieces. Though the poems are sometimes repetitive and basic in form, the positive messages and earnest emotion behind them make the collection worthwhile and poignant. Lisa Bower

Peter Benjamin LeBuhn grew up in the late 1960s and1970s. His musical and poetic influences were Van Morrison, the Beatles, and the Mamas and the Papas. He is now a writer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.