Father’s Eyes

Cherie Burbach
Bonjour Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9780978974701
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (8/07)


“Father’s Eyes” is the story of Cherie Burbach’s personal journey.  It is a story of self-doubt, anger, isolation, and pain written in a poetic form. While grieving the loss of her father, as a result of suicide, Cherie writes of her feelings. She felt guilt for his illness and addiction, even as she faced the burden of his death.
 
As a child and young adult, Cherie struggled with the experience of living in an atmosphere of verbal and emotional abuse.  Cherie was driven to live up to her alcoholic father’s expectations. Nothing she did would please him or bring a word of praise. Her longing for love was rewarded with loneliness.

Cherie’s poems are sensitive and insightful. They are flowing and rhythmic in style.   These are deeply-thoughtful poems.  Although elegiac in nature, the poems reveal a God- given spirit that keeps Cherie going in her search for love.  Unbroken by the experience, she tells of healing as she discovered strength through God’s never ending grace. 

 In the poem titled “Read the Label.” Cherie relates another forward step in her surrender:
“I read the label, passionate and honest I’ll take it. I said in fact, I’ll wear it out of the store. I handed the clerk my old skirt and told her I didn’t want it anymore. As I walked out I looked at the mirror one more time, and smiled.”
 
The poems bring to light Cherie’s growth and transformation from a woman of despair to a woman full of hope. She relates how she was able to accept forgiveness and guidance as she embraced life as a child of God.

While offering hope and comfort to those who have experienced similar abusive family relationships, there is a universal commonality that will touch the heart of all readers, allowing them to both identify and empathize with those grieving who need comfort and those downhearted who need encouragement. 
 
Cherie has a demonstrated a remarkable gift of poetic expression in this haunting and promising account of her life journey, “Father’s Eyes.”

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