'A Middling Plain - Poetic Reflections on The Times, ' is a collection of 38 poems that comment on the issues that confront men in their existence on this earth plain. For, there is a mighty part of the universe that is beyond the reach and understanding of men. They include issues like faith and belief, the journey of soul, the relevance of life, man's relationship with the God Force, the power of death and the need for all to work towards a permanently perfect existence. Coming from a third world environment, Gladys Williams Russel has aptly utilized the socio-political and economic exigencies in her environment, to paint a lucid exposition on the realities that confront and confound men today. For, as the poet points out: 'Only in realization of our worthlessness can man accept to surrender himself. Only in surrendering of the self can the fears and snares bedeviling our hearts as creatures of form be put to rest.' (introduction to subtheme, EXHORTATION) The collection is in part, a record of the nuances in third world regions and poverty affected areas of earth.Thus it speaks of the impact on life of the conflicts of colonialism and politics, of the relationship between corruption, unemployment, civil strife and poverty, of the results of militarism, transitions and foreign intervention. The poems come under eight heads dedicated to specific sub-themes. Although they are thought- provoking, they have a light and airy quality that makes for easy one-sitting reading. As she postulates in the introduction to 'Dreamscape, ' 'What is dream and what is real? The line between is thinly drawn. For one is built upon the other And none exists without the other.' This 90 paged collection is the second part in a trilogy of poems by Gladys Williams Russel under the AFRICA WOMAN SERIES. The others in the collection are 'Africa Woman - The Poetic Perspective' (1997) and 'Bronze Silhouette - The World From my Thatch' (2012).,
About the Author: Gladys Williams Russel a veteran African writer and author with a varied genre of creative works. They include poetry, drama and fiction, as well as self help, spiritual and mass communication publications. Having spent her working life as a mass communicator in the Nigerian Federal Civil service, she was enabled to personally relate with the challenges of growth and development in third world environments, both at individual, societal and national levels. Her works therefore, are a cry from the heart. For these, and the fact that she comes from a multi-ethnic background, have colored the nature of her works. For they display a thematic urge for consideration of the poor and helpless, who are often the victims of discrimination and deprivation. Published works from the author's stable include the following: 1. Africa Woman - The Poetic Perspective 2. A Middling Plain - Poetic Reflections on the Times 3. Self Care The Natural Way - You Have a Chemist in Your Kitchen 4. A Guide to Body and Beauty Care 5. Bronze Silhouette - The World From My Thatch 6. The Laws of Life and The Challenges of Our Times 7. Two Plays - The Bridge and The Miracle Man The first five collections are available under Amazon books.