Books by Raymond Sylvester

Its lifeline floats aimlessly beside,as if mourning the loss of a soul at sea.A knot, improperly tied to a life raft releases.The mariner and his only means of survivalare sent adrift to fight the desolateand turbulent sea—the sea wins!The poet, Raymond Sylvester, stresses the importance of living life as securely as the knot one has tied. Life cannot be almost lived; a knot cannot be almost tied. His poetry will provide the guidance needed to ensure one’s lifeline is as strong and secure as possible. Words cast upon a page are as powerful as the third splice. When splicing a line, the fourth splice adds no more strength to the line than the third, although it adds protective value should the last splice fail.Raymond Sylvester lives in Branford, Connecticut, with his loving wife Terri and their cat Boots. His poem “War” won the gold medal in the patriotic division of the 2018 National Creative Arts Competition and his poem “The Darkness of War” won silver in the 2019 competition. His poems are personal yet universal.

From Wilfred Owen to Philip Larkin, war has always been a source of inspiration for poets, who search their minds and hearts for words that help themselves and other to come to terms with trauma and terror, as well as illuminating the surprising moments of beauty and peace that offer hope in even the darkest night. With Leave a Lower Lamp Lit, veteran Raymond Sylvester joins the ranks of poet-warriors, with these verses based on his experiences in the US Navy from 1967-1971 on board the USS Thor. His service on this cable repair ship took him to many special operations in the Pacific around Midway, Guam, Viet Nam, and other undisclosed locations. Personal yet universal, these poems explore not just the reality of war, but the deeper realities of humanity's capacity for courage, endurance, rebellion, and individuality