“101 Stories of Love” by William Waldorf caught my attention because I expected an anthology of love stories. But love takes many forms, and Waldorf shows this in his beautifully crafted poetry. In his collection, love echoes through many voices, sometimes as an isosceles triangle or baked in the desert like forgotten toast.
William Waldorf’s “101 Stories of Love” celebrates life in its entirety and encourages self-acceptance. Drawing from the intricate nature of love, loss, and human frailty, Waldorf interweaves wit and memory with profound empathy. Each poem offers a striking meditation on relationships, ageing, grief, and the joys of living.
His poem “Alone” captures the desolation of lost love that “twists and turns to walk far.” The poet’s metaphor of ‘bland sits upon my pillow’ is stark and haunting.
In contrast to the solitude of “Alone,” “Border Watch” is a standout duet that dramatises a love across the U.S.-Mexico border. Through the voices of Simon and Consuela, the poet humanises the toll of immigration, portraying a longing for unity amidst barbed wire and fear.
“Could This Be Magic” uses food and music metaphors to show lasting affection over the years. Images like duck haircuts, poodle skirts, and faded portraits bring a sense of nostalgia. The poem’s couplets give it a gentle, rhythmic flow.
The couplet of “Fluidity of Love”-
“Familiarity brings a relaxed state
causes the loss of a conceited mate”
evokes the couplets of renowned sonneteers—Shakespeare, Sydney, and Spenser.
“Roof” is a powerful allegory that subtly parallels a squirrel’s escape with the ordeal faced by war orphans. This poem shifts into social commentary, referencing ‘the island of lost children’, ‘slave labour for hostages’, and ‘child sex slave’.
From social issues to personal reflections, “Socialisation” defines solitude as ‘a civil withdrawal’.
“Secrets Stay Silent” recalls a panic attack through the eyes of a squirrel.
Sexual intimacy attains a beautiful simplicity in the poem “Cocoon.”
“Let my body soothe away your hard day.
We lie together to start the foreplay
Of our main event.”
Shifting once more to romantic themes, “A Personal Pizza” is a wonderful poem in which love comes to the narrator at a pizza table, where she asks him to order, and he fumbles with his senses, enchanted by her beauty.
“Jazz Repertoire” honours Billie Holiday with succinct yet evocative lines. Waldorf’s use of minimalist, staccato phrasing matches the improvisational nature of jazz.
“Locked In” is a deeply introspective and philosophical work that contemplates the persistence of love in old age. The poem’s image, ‘a glow from an ash-covered coal,’ is both delicate and radiant. It conveys the serene dignity of growing older.
Animal lovers also have their place in this collection: if you are a dog lover, “What Do You See” is for you.
“Choose Your Choice” is one of the collection’s most powerful poems. It tells a story of sexual trauma and despair, using repeated lines like “I didn’t know / I didn’t understand.” The poem’s raw language and honest emotion make it hard to forget.
His poems possess such vivid imagery that you can feel the freshness of washed hair, the proximity of love, the delight of shared laughter, and the sorrow of ‘being last to be picked up’ as you read.
The depth of poetic eloquence is further expressed in the poem “Time Haunts Me,” where human behaviour is dictated by time.
This stylistic range continues, as Waldorf has demonstrated his uniqueness in stanza pattern, as seen in the poem “Senior Moments”.
“Not a lot of room, but enough for you.
Closer, it seems walls can shrink in
Here, a chair, a bed, and a window
offers a view that can’t fall
You’re older and fragile
sit on a bed or chair
See from there.
like a grave
Sign now.
Bye.”
Punchy and proverb-like, his style sometimes reminds me of the aphoristic style of Francis Bacon (1561-1626), an English philosopher, statesman, and author.
‘Indifference breeds crime from poor self-worth’ (From “What Can Happen”)
Looking at the collection as a whole, you will find comfort, joy, and shared moments as you read through it. Waldorf employs various forms, such as sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas, lending his poetry both traditional and modern elements.
Waldorf blends classic and modern emotions in his poetry. His voice is sincere, sensitive, and thoughtful, yet also personal. He writes about both loss and love, moving between wistful and playful tones. His use of rhyme and meter gives the poems a graceful rhythm, and his use of couplets adds balance.
Get ready to explore affection, loss, desire, and redemption in William Waldorf’s “101 Stories of Love.” Waldorf invites readers to explore various forms of love, from quiet moments to profound longing, from laughter to the sorrow of loss. Using multiple poetic forms, he transforms everyday experiences into poignant reflections. This collection celebrates life, memory, and lasting connections, showing how love shapes us all.
