Fragmented Roots (Paperback) | Released: 20 Apr 2020

Fragmented Roots, Joanne Cherefko's second book of poetry and sequel to her well-received collection, A Consecration of the Wind, reflects her recurring themes of the divided self, loss, and the poet's attempt to "infuse reality" with her perception. "Glass that Melts" opens this collection and powerfully reflects the poet's self- condemnation in its concluding lines: "Glass that melts/Into water that washes /Over me, /Insinuating a holiness that/Somehow leaves me dry."

"Fragmented Roots by Joanne Zarrillo Cherefko is as perfect a fractal for the journey from crippling isolation to negotiated peace as we are likely to find in this complex modern age. In deeply personal and introspective flashes that somehow succeed in being simultaneously and masterfully universal, Joanne Zarrillo Cherefko pieces together shards of memory and perspective as one would recall images in a broken mirror or flickers of light between Venetian blinds at midnight. The effect is mesmerizing and unexpectedly comforting. In the alternately garish and romantic light of Cherefko's narrative, we come to understand that our pain may not be as singular as we have imagined and this realization, stripped sagely and surgically bare of platitudes, is a new kind of hope for a cynical world. Fragmented Roots is part love letter, part primal scream, and altogether transcendent."- Rich Follett, author of Silence, Inhabited, Responsorials, and Human &c.

"It's hard to make people feel sentences, taste words and see beyond the letters on the page, but that's exactly what Joanne Cherefko achieves through her poetry. Her writing about love and loss is deeply moving and personal, creating a bridge to the reader's senses that few writers are gifted enough to achieve." -Kim Kavin, national award-winning author of Little Boy Blue and The Dog Merchants

"Joanne's brilliant use of words through her poetry shines brightly in her newest book, Fragmented Roots. Her writing is such a deep expression of her soul that it allows the reader to understand the words and feel the emotions of each poem. It's truly a work of art and a book filled with "creative magic!"-Anne Dennish, author of Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures With Life and Breast Cancer, My Collective Soul, and Each Breath Along the Journey

"Joanne's poetry is so absorbing. Each poem is a clue that opens up further mysteries. The reader gets involved piecing together the story, always wanting to read more to find the answers. It is addictive writing."-Paul Brookes, poet, family historian, and editor of The Wombwell Rainbow Interviews of Writers