Melodies of the Heart: Melodias del Corazon

In this collection of poetry crafted by writer, author and poet Ana Arelys Cruz Cabrera, the reader will first be struck by her profound sense of place. In fact, throughout this work, it is often impossible to distinguish the profound love of her native Dominican Republic from the love of her adopted country, the United States. Perhaps it is a needless undertaking to even attempt to define this distinction. In a tangible sense, her work reflects the raw patriotism she demonstrates in her daily life - a life faithful to active community involvement, volunteerism and leadership in every community she serves.

Throughout this work, the heart and soul of Ana Arelys's voice and ear shine through plainly, planted firmly in the traditional and shared American and Dominican values of family, legacy and spirit.

These themes weave all through this work, binding it together, offering the reader a richness of message that only her unique voice could intend. Ana Arelys selects each word with great care, much like a composer might choose each note of a sonata, and whether consumed in silence or spoken aloud in either English or Spanish, her poems speak to a spectrum of human conditions. Friendship, justice, love, sorrow and even death, appear and perform as lively supporting actors on a stage, built from more universal messages.

It has been said that the aim of poetry is to teach and delight. If so, then in Melodies of the Heart, we propose that Ana Arelys has achieved both.