In an era where poetry often seeks to capture the fleeting, Victor Stringer's debut collection, Lingering Light: 80 Poems, published by American Publishers Empire, takes a different approach: it celebrates what stays. The book, released on July 19, 2026, is now available worldwide on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover editions. The title reflects a central theme—some feelings do not leave when the moment does; they linger, resurface, and shape who we become.
Stringer, a poet, veteran, and father, has crafted a collection that resists easy categorization. Spanning roughly twenty years, the eighty poems are organized into seven thematic sections, each exploring different facets of the human condition. The unifying thread is not subject matter but honesty—an insistence on writing what actually happened, or what it actually felt like, rather than what would sound impressive on the page. This raw authenticity is what makes the collection resonate with readers seeking genuine emotional connection.
The book opens with poems of love and romance, including 'Being With You,' a journey through Central Park, the Eiffel Tower, and a sunset in Montego Bay, all in pursuit of a single feeling: what it means to belong completely to another person. But love's shadow is never far behind. In 'Two Sides of a Broken Heart,' a man returns to a beach he once shared with someone who is gone, clutching both halves of a broken heart charm, illustrating the lingering pain of loss.
Stringer's role as a father brings a tender, often humorous dimension to the collection. 'Daddy, Will You Blow My Chicken' is built entirely from the real questions and requests of a child who just turned three, from 'Where does the moon hide during the day?' to a serious concern about ducks that might speak Spanish. These poems capture the small, unfiltered moments that make up a life with young children, reminding readers of the innocence and wonder that often fade with age.
The collection also delves into spirituality and reflection. In 'Yogi Time,' a meditation session in the woods becomes an encounter with something larger—a golden light, a sense of presence, a voice that says there is still work left to do. This section slows the book down, inviting readers to pause and consider their own inner landscapes.
Perhaps the most powerful section is 'War, Struggle & Warrior Energy,' where Stringer draws on his military experience. 'A Young Warrior's Request!' is addressed directly to the politicians who send young people to fight, written from the perspective of someone on the ground who has to live with a decision he did not make. This poem, like others in the section, confronts the harsh realities of war and the lingering trauma it leaves behind, making it a poignant commentary on the cost of conflict.
The collection closes with a section of shorter, lighter, and more experimental pieces, including 'Irish Dancer' and 'A Pirate's Life for Me,' proving that even a book built on hard-won honesty has room for play. This balance between weight and whimsy is what sets Lingering Light apart—it acknowledges the darkness but also celebrates the light.
Stringer's work has been described as moving between the confessional and the philosophical, using vivid imagery and emotional honesty to explore themes that are personal in origin and universal in reach. In his own words, 'What unifies this collection is not one subject. It is a voice that keeps chasing the same thing across very different rooms of a life: something true, something that outlasts the moment it was written in.'
Lingering Light is available in Kindle, Paperback (ISBN: 9781971232577), and Hardcover (ISBN: 9781971232584) on Amazon worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other international marketplaces. For more information, visit Victor Stringer's website or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
