In an era where fleeting digital moments often overshadow deep reflection, poet and veteran Victor Stringer's debut collection, Lingering Light: 80 Poems, stands as a testament to the enduring nature of human emotion. Published by American Publishers Empire on July 19, 2026, the book is now available worldwide on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions. The collection's title encapsulates its core philosophy: some feelings do not dissipate when the moment passes; they linger, resurface, and shape our lives.
Stringer, whose life experiences range from military service to fatherhood and spiritual exploration, weaves these threads into a tapestry of verse that defies simple categorization. The book is organized into seven sections, each delving into a different facet of the human condition. The opening section, 'Love & Romance,' includes poems like 'Being With You,' which traverses Central Park, the Eiffel Tower, and a sunset in Montego Bay to capture the essence of complete belonging. In contrast, the 'Loss, Heartbreak & Emotional Darkness' section confronts the aftermath of love, as seen in 'Two Sides of a Broken Heart,' where a man revisits a beach shared with a lost partner, clutching a broken heart charm.
The collection also celebrates the innocence of childhood through poems inspired by Stringer's own children, including 'Daddy, Will You Blow My Chicken,' which captures the unfiltered questions and requests of a three-year-old. These moments of levity are balanced by more somber reflections in sections like 'War, Struggle & Warrior Energy,' where poems like 'A Young Warrior's Request!' address the weight of political decisions borne by soldiers. Stringer's voice remains consistent throughout, marked by an unflinching honesty that prioritizes emotional truth over poetic embellishment.
According to Stringer, the unifying element of the collection is not a single subject but a persistent voice that seeks something true across varied life experiences. This voice moves between the confessional and the philosophical, finding significance in both the mundane and the monumental. The book's title reflects its closing themes, suggesting that unresolved feelings linger in our bodies and memories until we are ready to confront them.
Published by American Publishers Empire, the collection is available for purchase on Amazon worldwide. With its blend of personal reflection and universal themes, Lingering Light offers readers an opportunity to engage with poetry that speaks to the enduring human spirit, making it a significant addition to contemporary literature.
