"Perhaps poems allow for the descent and the ascent.
Perhaps that is their secret balm."

                                            ~Deirdre Jacobson

ORDER ON AMAZON

https://www.amazon.com/How-Live-What-You-Know/dp/1543988482

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

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First Review by Amy Raines for Amazon Publishing

Through times that make one question life and its very

being and thoughts of knowing love when we feel like

the unlovable, Peter Valentyne has put these moments

of emotion into in his poetry in How To Live With What 

You Know. Moments of questioning God, Earth, love,

prosperity, and joy in the face of life’s trials can hold

much more than their supposed final decree. Does life

have to remain sinister when certain events shake us

to our core? Can we find purpose and meaning in the

depths of life’s greatest questions? Can we cope with the 

unanswerable riddles without coming undone? With living

comes wisdom but sometimes that wisdom is hidden;

we have to look past simple events to find out what we

really know about living.

The poetry in How To Live With What You Know by

Peter Valentyne will make the reader ask and answer

questions that lead to more profound reasoning about

life and existence. I love the straightforward way

 writes his poems. There is no essential need for endless 

rhyme schemes or perfectly-sized stanzas when the

words evoke deep and passionate emotions from the

reader. I can honestly say Valentyne’s way of questioning

the core of reality and existence is nothing like anything

have ever read. Among all of these brilliant poems, my

absolute favorite is Everyday Life Of A Hand Mirror.

simple title betrays the deep resonating meaning of

people getting so caught up in their own conceited view

that they refuse to see what is happening in the world

them like zombies via reflection. I recommend How To 

Live With What You Know to anyone who loves poetry

that resonates away from the cliche of rhyme and verse.

I hope that Valentyne has many more collections

of brilliant poetry to share with us in the future.

Deep and insightful. Layers of thought-provoking, deep, insightful and philosophical poetry ! A must read !                                                                                                 ~Melanie
Having never been an avid reader of Poetry, I wasn't sure what to expect when this collection appeared! I usually found most to be self indulgent or pretentious, never finding any that spoke to me. Mr. Valentyne's work is something i couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams!! But he did in his and i've been moved to tears and exhilarated. After several readings, I still can't find a favorite. The writing here is exquisite, illuminating, inspirational and moving. Peter Valentyne has given us a gem to treasure. It is a must have!! I'm looking forward to much more!                                                                                                  ~Barnet
A Wonderful Poetic CollectionPeter Valentyne's poetic voice is a profound and revelatory treasure of dream and waking ruminations on life and living. His poetry stimulates the reader to examine his own being and offers continuing pleasures with each re-reading. A wonderful and rewarding collection indeed.                                                                                      ~David

NOTE: Your comments would be much appreciated. Please share them at:               Petervalentyne@yahoo.com

More poems can be accessed by pressing the OLDER POSTS tab at the bottom of the page.

The Pedestrians

When will we realize
that fears and insecurities
are imperfect signs of 
a latent goodness
that lead us
to empathy?

Because you had 
not sinned,
I thought you were good.
You were not good.
You were fearful,
unimaginative,
moral,
young. 

Those who think
themselves superior
are in fact, inferior.
Who said that,
Pythagoras?
Regardless,
I caution you.
Like judges
who only follow 
other judges rules,
they can only follow;
their’s is a borrowed
conviction.

My dreams keep 
my ear pressed
to hallowed ground,
that I should be first
to hear
the rumblings of hooves
in the event of
my own private
apocalypse.

But for now,
the rarity of last night’s
pleasant dream
has caused me 
to retrace my steps.
I hadn’t more or less to drink.
No undigested bit of meat.
I hadn’t watched a particularly
potent film before bed.
But dreams aren't
made of facts,
though the fact
that I dream
gives the world 
such invaluable weight.

Clocks stop at 12:00,
So let us consider 13:00.

I don’t know 
if you’ll receive this 
or even respond. 
Poetry is hardly earth shaking
until it is. 
But I did want 
to say not to worry.
There’s nothing 
for you here. 
Only the
existential musings 
of a 
poetic heretic. 
Nothing you would relate to 
or appreciate. 
I’ve learned over the years 
that when people close doors 
by way of inexperience 
and judgements
they seal themselves off 
from discovering
what's truly vital
in the world. 

Even so,
I hope you find your
long sought-for pleasures 
(sensual or otherwise) 
rewarding 
and your judgements 
protect you 
from the unmistakable stain
of enlightenment. 
Stay safe and above the fray! 
For Truth and Beauty 
are typically
the first and last
lovers
to be 
relinquished.


Peter Valentyne
February 10th, 2020