Mine Eyes Have Seen: The American Dream Collection

Mine Eyes Have Seen: The American Dream Collection is a book of poetry revealing the intricacies, contradictions and beauty in the American character. The collection begins with American Places and takes the reader through a series of glimpses into the impact the vast magnificence of the American landscape had on shaping the nation and people of the United States. The second section is called American People and explores the different facets of the diverse American culture. The reader feels the heartaches, despair and triumphs of a soldier, blue collar oil refinery workers, a young prostitute, middle class vacations and the business community. In the final section called American Soul the collection reveals the ethos of America as a beacon of hope to the world. The idea of a strong nation based on the freedom of individuals to choose and create their own lives is a symbol to the world of the hope and longing of the human spirit. The collection culminates in the title poem Mine Eyes Have Seen which reviews American history from the fifties through recent twenty-first century through the lens of one person''s experience.The collection is the second for poet Linda C. Thompson. Her first collection was entitled Life As We Know It and in the words of one critic "was a grands start for Thompson''s contribution to the canon of twenty-first-century women poets." In this new collection she extends her vision and talent to her native country - the United States of America. "I''ve always blended intellect and emotion in my writing. In this collection I wove history into the fabric of the verse as well." explained Thompson.