Kaleidoscope by Barbara Findley Stuart is composed of 100 poems written over the course of a lifetime, ranging from her childhood experiences during the Great Depression to the uncertainty and trepidation brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. In eloquent and hauntingly beautiful poetry, Stuart encapsulates her deepest thoughts and emotions about the world around her-her "kaleidoscope [of] memories"-diving into her own fears and privileges while acknowledging the disparities others face around the globe. The poems of Kaleidoscope jump between the seasons, the decades, from death to birth, and fictional to factual, employing the natural world as well as Stuart's regard for the teachings of Jesus to tell her stories. An amalgamation of poems on her own life, Kaleidoscope is a charming collection that optimistically addresses the concept of death and growing old: "it's bringing me the thing I needed most-courage-the courage to look at death without fear. Unconditionally." Stuart does not sugarcoat the tragedies that have befallen the world in her writing, unapologetically discussing topics such as racism and fascism, and bringing afflicted voices to light through dedicated poems like the one addressed to Merlin Kennedy. A remarkable, compassionate, and creative woman, Stuart beautifully crafts Kaleidoscope as a map to the inner workings of her mind, and as a celebration of life and love. "The path I follow comes to an end up ahead beyond the woods. And I . . . am I afraid? No, not afraid of what lies behind the woods. Truth-light-lies there."
Stuart, Barbara: - Barbara Findley Stuart, a wife, mother of two, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother of two, was born July 11th, 1928 in Jacksonville, Illinois. As a child Barbara loved to ride her tricycle along the sidewalk, often accompanying a passing-by neighbor no farther than the boundary set by her mother, talking all the way. Communication-and books and writing, any way to share her love of people and life-has always come first. As an adult her loves morphed into other kinds of communication. Music was often at the center, especially piano and singing-she sang for weddings, church, and funerals, composed songs and piano music, taught piano and school music-even played the Tchaikovsky piano concerto with the university orchestra. But family, especially her much-loved son and daughter, made the core of her life. And always there were words and people: teaching English, serving as an elected county board representative, writing stories, speeches, and opinion letters, and creating and chairing committees-committees that have worked to strengthen justice and prevent violence and racism. Then around 80, Barbara became too deaf for committee work or teaching. Fortunately, a good friend introduced her to a small group who also love books and writing. She soon came to value poetry as a bridge past her deafness, emailing her poems to friends and family and taking copies with her everywhere she went-and giving them to friendly people. Then, if her deafness did not keep her from understanding their speech, she would end up in a warm discussion of the poem's ideas. In her lifetime she planted 61 trees, the last a pink dogwood! At 94, Barbara is grateful that her poems are helping her make friends in her new life in a retirement home, and is especially happy to now have a poetry book, to reach out to others.
