Forty-Nine Poems

In Forty-Nine Poems, Cynthia Hearne Darling creates a compilation of poetry that showcases her experiences, emotions, and observations. Each piece is a personal memento from the author's life. She goes beyond conventional personal anecdotes as she reflects on the subject matter, which ranges from Sylvia Plath to royal weddings and dinosaurs. Each piece seamlessly blends from one to the next.

In ''Solstice'' the author reflects on the summer and winter solstices, the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively. In ''August 17, Twenty-six Years Ago,'' the speaker reflects on the death of her father and the impact it had on the family, especially the younger sister. And in ''Aging,'' the author comes face to face with her age, accepting the place she is at this point in her life. There is a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and ease in the author's tone as she pronounces her age. Although each piece is personal, the author writes in such a way that allows readers to find their own meaning and interpretation.