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The sweep of Heather's poetry is wide and varied     -   Photo by Weebly.com                                    

Book Review: 
"All in Measure
A Book of Hours: 2020 - 2022"
A collection of 77 Poems
by OLLI Member
Heather Saunders Estes;

Published by Blue Light Press/
1st World Publishing, 2023

Reviewed by OLLI Member
Elsa Fernandez

​Before I decided to write a review of this magnificent book of poetry, I had to think about the effect Covid had on my personal world. I recently read the New York Times Magazine article "A Covid Oral History Project.” I found there was an innate resistance in myself to look back at a period of time when lives were impacted by a killing disease and how we got through it.
 
But when I received the book, my first thought was how beautiful it was—the cover was like a medieval Book of Hours, a prayer book, intricately designed with traditional devotionals that were read at specific times, by the religious and seculars. It felt peaceful and joyful. And that is the one thing I hope readers can take away from it. Even turning each page, every new poem had an ornate, capitalized first letter, called a rubric.
 
Facing a cloistered life with her family and a cherished friend, in the throes of the Pandemic, Heather writes about the infinitesimal details of her world, telling readers of her joy in seeing the solace and inspiration they found in each other, during their sequestration. She describes the stories of their lives, guiding them through a disabled world, wracked by the killing illness.
 
Heather gently pieces together the tapestry of four lives and their interactions with the world around them—the birds, animals, and people who tried to continue their existence in a world we recognize, because we too live here and breathe the air of this place we call home. She takes us on her travels, showing us the places she discovers. As you read her words, you will also discover the love and wisdom that bind four lives. 
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In "Choices and Omens" - their daily mundane foray into the outside world to get coffee, Heather and their friend, find joy from driving to coffee shops, choosing which one:
Right? Left? . . . .
Old Faithful or the friendly barista who knows us by name?
The shop that offers nitro cold-brew or oolong latte?
Perhaps the coffee shop near the bakery with eclairs and chive cheddar scones…
A daily morning choice becomes an adventure, escaping a Covid mandate of sheltering in place for a few minutes.

​In "Above the Din,” Heather paints a picture of her world:
Our house is higher on a San Francisco hill. Ravens and wild parrots
wing through the day at eye-level,
fire engines, buses below.
The umbrella of sky above.
Colors illuminated in catches of sun, shadowed by rushing clouds or fog.
"Glen Canyon Park:"
The narrow stream, Islais Creek,
is nearly lost underneath tangles
of brambles, willows, and wild-cherries.
Only shadows where there might be
water.
Islais Creek is not very pretty but it has an historic aura of old San Francisco.
 
This is our world and it gives me joy to read how beautiful it is through Heather's eyes.
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In "A Girl's Best Friend,” Heather describes their young family friend's initiation into the joys of choosing and wearing jewelry:    
Learning pleasure in beauty that sparkles,
she moves her hand or lifts to the light—-
a pinky ring of faceted red.
 
Different days she wears diamonds,
emeralds, sapphires, and aquamarines,
She luxuriates in warming gold,
and the moonshine softness of silver.
She is a rare jewel.
Now she knows what that means."
These highlighted lines are two of the most memorable and exquisite lines I have read in a long time.
 
Life goes on—as we all realized when tending to the mundane aspects of living in a Pandemic—like giving haircuts to husbands or lovers:

​"Cutting My Husband's Hair:"
First time it was shoulder length, wavy -
a flag of rebellion.
Next, still mahogany black, with a teacher's cut . . .
This afternoon, his hair is the color of falling snow
I smiled for a long time, envious of the affection in these few lines!
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I don't have the space to talk about this whole extraordinary book where Heather shows us in beautiful words and cadences how wonderful life really is. 

The sweep of Heather's poetry is wide and varied and reads wonderfully. 

Then, I found one "Border Skirmishes" and wondered if Heather had turned to writing political poetry! But this is a funny, realistic poem about the urban scourge of San Francisco—the marauding rats! It's something we're used to—and as creepy as it seems San Francisco only ranks #7 in a 2021 national review of rodent infestation—Boston, Philly, NYC lead the nation with 21.6% to 15.3%, whereas SF shines in at only 9.2%. Rest easy San Francisco, we don't have to fear rats—as Heather's gentle piece reveals.
 
The jewels of this collection are Heather's poems of the places she visits and invites us in. There is a spectacular beauty in "Midnight Meadow,” "Carquinez Strait,” "Teton Range: Wyoming Winter."
 
And, my favorite, one of the best examples of feminist poetry--
 
“I Am a Big Woman Shopping for Bras”
 
Enjoy many days of reading.
Editor's Note:  This book, published by Blue Light Press, is available at Amazon.com and other booksellers, including independent booksellers. ​
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​​Elsa Fernandez grew up in Asia. She has lived in San Francisco since 1970 and never gets tired of this lovely city. She has travelled the world and still gets excited flying back home and to finally land at SFO. Her family is scattered around the world—India, Australia, Dubai, England, Ireland and Argentina. She is a political junkie and majored in Journalism and Political Science. She loves music and plays the piano quite well (one of her dreams was to own a piano bar in upcountry Maui . . . she would probably call it the Maui Moon!). Writing poetry is an emotional outlet for her.
Other works in this issue:
Poetry:
​Looking Through Sunlight
Poliahu's Realm
Inside OLLI:  
A Memory on OLLI's Anniversary 

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Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State University​.​
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​Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to theVistas & Byways  ​volunteer staff.