The Burden of Light: Poems on Illness and Loss

by Tanya Chernov

The Burden of Light: Poems on Illness and Loss by Tanya Chernov (2013) The first poetry anthology of its kind, this digital multimedia collection weaves together many solitary experiences to create a tapestry of inspiration, support, and hope. In honor of the author’s father, the entire book is being offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance.

Part poetry anthology, part field guide, part multimedia art collection, The Burden of Light offers its readers companionship through the darkest days. With work by artists who have confronted serious illness or grief in their own lives, the poems and artwork in these pages hold the power to touch the heart, stir the mind, and heal the spirit, each in its own way. These pieces illuminate the vital force of our humanity, while encouraging us to reach out to others in need. Editor Tanya Chernov, having lost her own father to colon cancer in 2001, has collected poems that take the pain and struggle of life’s most challenging moments out of the darkness and into the light. It is in that light where we might see a way back again—back to healing, to happiness, and to rejoining our community. From the enigma of death to the sweetness of friendship, these poems speak to life’s mysteries and consolations, and help us navigate our most trying times. Through lyrical verse, experimental forms, powerful imagery, and an innovative use of digital multimedia technology, this collection introduces new readers to contemporary poetry, while bringing many audiences back to verse with a reminder of its intellectual force and powers of emotional healing.

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