Blood Moon Rising is a collection of fifty compelling poems by Gino Vallejo, with vibrant illustrations by Stephanie Levasseur. From the opening opus-a sensuous meeting with desire-to the final ode to romance, these verses leap off the page with sentiments and emotions that emanate from deep within the soul-family and country, love and loss, loneliness and regret, faith, greed, and the fate of the world. Several are poignant pieces on being a soldier at war, while others reveal the beauty and pain of navigating life's everyday currents. The most striking poems in the collection summon the mysterious forces at work in a demented world. While speaking to a contemporary audience about themes that flow from modern-day society, the vibrant imagery, historical references, and frequent occurrence of dreams in the poems "Awaiting Venus," "Blood Moon Rising," and "Requiem for a Dream," coupled with lively drawings, are evocative of the visionary romanticism of William Blake. These works are richly layered with insight, offering an important message about the world's current state and the direction it's headed if we don't choose to heed our maker's word.
