Poems and Musings is a collection of poems which chronicles the author’s rapid descent into clinical depression, and her slow but steady and triumphant climb through acceptance and peace into serenity and contentment. A lighthouse, on the shores of Charlevoix’s Lake Michigan beach, is her beacon in the night. “Diane Marie-Louise presents the reader and hearer with words that trouble the soul and stir the heart. Her works are blunt reminders that out of suffering, alienation, and even personal horror, there is a beacon of hope – though it may be on a craggy rock in the midst of thick fog upon an endless sea.” – The Publisher "This collection of poems exemplifies a deeply brutal and honest look at issues in life that plague us all. Diane's poems make the reader journey through every human emotion moving from the darkness into the light." – Tammy Vick, author of Retribution “Whether painfully searching for answers, or giving voice to a deep longing for connection, meaning and understanding; Diane’s poetry gently draws you in and bids you follow along on an inner and outer journey of what it means to be human. Honest, vulnerable, authentic, and true… you will find yourself nodding your head in identification as you meditate on these beautiful poems.” – M. Grace Bernardin, author of Odd Numbers “Diane Marie-Louise dares to dive deeply into the daunting depths of depression with both feet while holding her arms stretched toward the hope that shines like a lighthouse for those trying to find their way. May her poems be a beacon for the lost ones stuck in their dark night.” – Tim Heerdink, author of Red Flag and Other Poems