You can tell this poetry is extremely personal and the author did a great job of telling his story through the poems. It's not easy to put yourself on there, so bravo.

A great collection of poems
that remind us
poetry doesn’t have to be rhyming,
one only needs to know
the art of language,
and how to weave the words
in a way
that touches the reader’s soul.

And it’s clear,
that Ted Virts indeed
mastered that art,
as it touched
my soul
at least.

Particularly
the “write an ‘I am’ poem”
poem
was really good.
Made me think
and wonder
and let my thoughts
wander
—I think.

Quite inspiring.
Indeed so much,
it might be how I choose to express
my inner world
the next few days.

~

Thank you to Atmosphere Press on Netgalley for a digital review copy. The book was released on April 8, 2025.

-Ayxan Solongo, 03.05.25

The first positive point Virts’ short collection of poetry scores is that it is accessible in its approach and theming-- the variety of topics and themes explored, centering around everyday life, make it an engaging read. More than anything, "Window and Mirror" is relatable and heartfelt, and while it may not be anything to write home about, it shows enough of a glimpse of a budding poet to merit following Virts and his future works.

Each poem in this small book deserves a moment to pause, reflect and appreciate the thoughts that went into creating it. Some of them brought to my mind the thought that they are almost Zen-like in nature.

This wasn't quite what I imagined it to be based on the title and cover art. There are some really good poems in the collection - my favourite is about the pandemic - and I could tell this is a very personal collection and a labour of love for Virts. Overall, an interesting read.