Title: Broken Wheel: Beauty in The Madness
Author: Johnnie Williams
Publisher: Writers Republic, LLC
ISBN: 9798888109830
Pages: 116
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.

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Broken Wheel: Beauty in the Madness is a set of intelligently structured vignettes penned by Johnnie Williams which examine the poet’s personal journey from depression and moves on to his path of healing. The text is made up of entries which encircle matters of loss, recovery, healing, forgiveness, hope, and self-realization.

With a resonant introduction that describes where he got his mojo in poetry, the poems begin with a beguiling entry, “Somebody” that reveals the persona’s journey of self-discovery and transformation, admitting to his past mistakes. The words, “I’ve loved and I’ve lost, done some good and some bad. It’s been some hard lessons, but I’ve learned from the past that the man that I was is not the man that I am. I’m happy, I’m healthy, I’m holding it together, and frankly, when it comes to your opinion, DON’T GIVE A DAMN!” reveal the self-determination in him to ignore negative voices in an opinionated society.

In another poem, “The Breakdown,” the poem begins in a poignant and somber mood, hurtling to a hopeful end characterized by fortitude and resilient resolve. Across, the poet employs powerful imagery through various stylistic devices, like personification, such as in the poem “Opportunity.” Here, the noun opportunity is personified and shrouded in an aura of mystery, encouraging readers to seize “him” when he comes before he takes off again.

This intriguing anthology is both emotive and striking, particularly those that use metaphors to examine various subjects across the book. Some poems demand to be read out loud, such as “No Quit” and “Back Again,” giving us insight into the poet’s perspective, which is critical to understanding the poem. Others, such as “Heart of a Man” and “Beauty in the Madness,” the poem that the title is based upon, appear to be pensive soliloquies which seem to offer a captivating catharsis to both their writing and reading.

Johnnie Williams writes elegantly with a masterful touch of language, and his voice is present in every poem. He has employed blank verse in most poems, but their eloquence and splendor remain. Altogether, Broken Wheel: Beauty in the Madness, is a transformative collection and a welcome addition to its genre from an up-and-coming author.