Rurality: Poetry From Beyond The City Lights A Gentle Call To Pause, Reflect, And Reconnect With Life's Quiet Truths

At a time when the world often feels dominated by urgency, noise, and endless distraction, debut poet J.R. Cleckler delivers a refreshing and necessary voice. His first collection, Rurality: Poetry From Beyond the City Lights, is a heartfelt journey into stillness, reflection, and the overlooked beauty of ordinary life.

Cleckler's poetry resists the pressure to shout for attention. Instead, it speaks softly, creating a space where readers can slow down and breathe. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing in the rural South, he crafts poems rooted in the textures of nature, the subtleties of everyday interactions, and the intimacy of unspoken emotions. The result is a collection that feels both personal and universal-an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with life's quiet truths.

“I don't write to overwhelm,” Cleckler explains.“I write to create a space where readers can breathe, think, and feel in their own time.”

Rurality is filled with moments that are as sincere as they are profound. In Before Dawn, the hushed chorus of birds and owls mirrors the author's meditative thoughts before sunrise. In Mountaintop, joy and fear intermingle on the heights of love and loss. In Just the Sound, Cleckler captures the intimate comfort of hearing a loved one's voice in the midst of ordinary life. Each poem is a reminder that meaning can be found not in the spectacular, but in the small details that often go unnoticed.

The strength of Rurality lies in its accessibility. While deeply thoughtful, the poems are written in clean, approachable language. There is no demand for complex interpretation. Instead, Cleckler offers words that settle naturally with the reader, leaving room for personal reflection. Whether enjoyed in solitary quiet or shared aloud in conversation, the poems carry a steady rhythm that reassures, comforts, and gently challenges.

About the Author

J.R. Cleckler is a writer and educator who believes in the power of language to encourage presence and awareness. Born and raised in the rural South, he studied history, English, and political science at the University of Alabama. Although a career in academia seemed inevitable, Cleckler spent years in retail before rediscovering his passion for writing during the global pandemic. His work reflects his values: humility, emotional honesty, and the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced world.

Outside of writing, Cleckler is a devoted husband and father of two daughters. He values meaningful conversation, family connection, and the quiet satisfaction of a mindful life. His poetry is not only written to be read but to be returned to-companions that grow more familiar and comforting with time.

Availability

Rurality: Poetry From Beyond the City Lights is now available through multiple platforms, including:

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