A life that is well lived is a life that is shared with others. From the triumphs to the anguishes that consume even the toughest of men, there is a need for a family by your side. A husband to his wife, a sibling to his sister, and a parent towards his children— they are not just roles, they are gifts that life offers for us to revere and take care of. Ode to thy Apricot aims to accentuate the importance of familial connections. This establishes the author’s self as not just a product of solitude, but as a channel for establishing relationships.

 For Jocelyn, his wife, the verses are an offer of gratitude for the years that they have lovingly shared together. This is simply his way of walking down memory lane with her. It charted their very first vows and even past the complexities that they have endured as they raised their own children. Poetry is also a means for him to channel his loss. Debbie, his sister, remains whole and alive as etched in his memories and as written through his words. These people, they are the altruists that brought the author to the person that he is right now.

The book depicts a brief but comprehensive narration of the author’s experiences in part of the relationships that he has built across his years. Despite the brevity of the genre chosen, the pieces still managed to encompass his whole life span effectively and put across his intended message to the audience. The poems were also systematically ordered through its fairly chronological element. As a whole, the literary piece evokes emotional response as it leaves an imprint of hope for the future and even longing for the losses that the past entails. For those readers who aim to reflect more about life and the relationships that they surround themselves with, this book is a must-read.