A dazzling collection of love poems, Penelope’s Purple Passions by Penelope Chaisson is divided into four parts — The Egg’s Innocence, The Larvae’s Sincerity, The Pupa’s Paradigm Shift, The Adult’s Climax — symbolic of the journey of a butterfly and telling of the human experience of love. The butterfly is Penelope who falls in love and is thrilled by the experience. But then as she matures, she begins to understand that love can be more than just what she feels, opening her heart to its beckons and discerning the call to grow as she matures in love. She gets hurt, fascinated by the effusions of love, but finding the space for self-love gives her the wonderful joy that accompanies self-growth. Follow her journey towards growth as she climaxes into adult love.

This book is sprinkled with powerful insights as it explores the persona's journey from innocence through pain to maturity in love. In ''Watching'' she is thrilled to discover eyes fixed on her as they make her think as though she were the center of the world: ''And there they were, watching. They’re always watching my full lips, the power of my hips, the round curves that hug my waist, the firmness of my butt, and the way it stacks up against my black workout jacket.'' Transfixed by the spell of love, the eyes of the butterfly are fixated on the image of the loved one: ''I don’t know why, / but your face, your voice, your smile, / the way you walk, / it’s always you.''

It is easy to identify the journey from innocent infatuation to purposefully embracing love and allowing it to shape one's destiny. The author uses the journey of the butterfly as a symbol of the different seasons of love, exploring the emotions and thoughts that inhabit the human spirit in love and underlining the qualities that are characteristic of mature love, especially self-care and the quest for genuine growth. This book will resonate not only with fans of poetry but anyone looking for a book on love that lifts the heart and inspires them to redefine their own unique love journey. I was captivated by the author’s ability to fathom the depths of human emotion, the lyrical beauty of the writing, and the strong imagery that permeates each poem. It offers a wonderful journey, as thoughtful as it is inspiring.