Believe: A Poetry Collection has a lot of heart and soul in it. The experiences expressed within it tie in seamlessly with the world that we are living in today, and the poems are without any doubt incredibly relatable. One poem, in particular, resonated with me, titled "Flashbacks," and impacted me on a very profound level. Especially the lines, "Flashbacks come unbidden, unannounced, /Memories from the past, once lost, now found." Your ability to simplify and cut the words down into exactly what you mean is also commendable.

Believe: A Poetry Collection by Denise Alicea is a highly romantic, sumptuous celebration of a beautiful world vision. There is something irresistible and irrepressible about poetry written with the pure intention of lifting people’s spirits and making the world a better place, and Alicea rises to that task with complete sincerity and real artistry. In a mixed offering of rhymed poems and free verse, Alicea defines a beautiful vision for a more gracious, tolerant, hopeful, compassionate, and positive human landscape. From The Trodden Path: "So let us walk with angels/On this journey called life." There is a call to action hidden in the exquisite simplicity of this couplet – a sense of awakening that infuses the rest of the collection with a quiet but urgent exhortation to recognize and expand upon the beauty that is around us and within us. As halcyon as Alicea’s poetry is, there is also a deeply rooted sense of strength and resilience underlying the gossamer. In Empowering Me, she writes: "I walk with all the women of the ages/Legendary Queens of times past/Women who would not sit down …" We should all be grateful that Alicea has chosen not to sit down. Hers is a much-need poetic voice in this care-weary world, and timely as well. Believe by Denise Alicea offers a balm for flagging spirits and a lifeline to those wishing to find the beauty behind the world’s pain. Believe is a gift straight from the poet’s heart, sure to find the hearts of readers everywhere.