{"title":"Francine Marie Tolf","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"how-still-the-riddle-paperback","title":"How Still the Riddle - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrancine Tolf began writing poems when she was 20--at first rhyming poems, fledgling sonnets and ballads, and later through several decades developed her craft in various forms without losing her love and gift for rhythm, sound, and music: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"My golden hair is turning gray, \/ my sins are sinned, my wild oats flung. \/ Now's the time to pen a book \/ of rhymes for children old and young.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe importance and appeal of nature, relationships, language, and the mysteries of our intricate connections with each other recur in these poems: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"For now there's neither eye nor voice nor sun \/ to question what you are, or feel, or see. \/ In kindness, I grant anonymity, \/ a gift no dawn can ever give. So come \/ and know some peace a while, be part of me.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese poems are comforting while mindful of the uncertainties that challenge our lives: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"There is no one to cry my secret to. \/ A deaf wind whispers, Even if there were, \/ your lover could not share it if he knew. \/ He could not pierce the secret to its core \/ and share it with you even if he knew.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrancine's late sister, Gale Tolf, created the beautiful ink and watercolor drawings. Gale found inspiration in myth, legend, and fairytale, a perfect complement to these thoughtful, loving, and life-fulfilling poems.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50925741179103,"sku":"9781936671489","price":24.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/VndctMXgRq9781936671489.webp?v=1785985563"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/francine-marie-tolf.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}