“Sunday Afternoons” by E. Gene Givens invites readers into a world where love is both a sanctuary and a battleground. This third collection of love poems serves as an emotional symphony, resonating with the timeless ache, joy, and vulnerability that only love can provoke. Proudly published by Citi of Books, this is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retail platforms.
E. Gene Givens was born in Broxton, Georgia and raised in Cincinnati’s “West End” and educated in public schools. He entered the U.S. Coast Guard at age 17, where he first began writing poetry. After ten years’ service, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard as Yeoman (Petty Officer 1st Class).
He entered college, and graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio with a BSBA in Management and a minor in English. In August 1981, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and on 1 February 1995, after twenty-three years of distinguished military service, around the world, he retired from the U. S. Army as Major, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Acquisition).
Givens has participated in numerous poetry readings and poetry workshops, and his poetry has appeared in many regional and national literary publications. He has previously published two Chapbooks of poetry – Blacker The Berry… and Journeys. His recent publications are Listen To My Heart, and BROTHERS. His current projects include In Between The Inspiration, and The West End Traveler: Poems, Short Stories, and Essays. E. Gene Givens is currently living and writing poetry in Abingdon, Maryland.
“Sunday Afternoons” masterfully captures the subtle nuances of the heart, creating a space for those who have ever longed, loved, or lost. Each poem acts as a window into the soul of a romantic spirit, searching for an “old school” kind of love while grappling with the scars left by modern heartbreak. Through his eloquent verses, Givens chronicles the spectrum of love’s experience, from the eager hope of a first glance to the deep sorrow of missed chances, making the emotional terrain feel intimately familiar.
What sets this collection apart is Givens’ remarkable ability to transform personal reflections into universal truths. His words resonate with anyone who has ever felt the pangs of love or the weight of loss. The poems is a tapestry woven with intimate moments—Sunday afternoons spent in quiet contemplation, tender touches that linger in memory, and chance meetings that spark a flame. Givens explores the beauty and fragility of love, illustrating how infatuation can blossom into deep emotional connections, while also acknowledging the heart-wrenching reality of fading intimacy and lost opportunities. Each poem serves as a reminder that love, in all its forms, is a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
As the “Sunday Afternoons” unfolds, readers are taken on a reflective journey through the seasons of love, where nature serves as a powerful metaphor for emotional cycles of growth, waiting, and renewal. Givens’ tone shifts seamlessly between sensual, tender, nostalgic, and bittersweet, culminating in an epilogue that likens life to a novel—each chapter shaped by changing characters yet rooted in the same inner journey. This book is not just a personal diary of love’s seasons; it is a universal meditation on connection and the resilience of the heart.
For poetry lovers and anyone who has ever felt undone—and remade—by love, this collection is a heartfelt tribute to the beauty and complexity of romantic relationships, making it a must-read for those seeking solace in the written word.
“Sunday Afternoons” by E. Gene Givens is now available for purchase through the links provided below:
- Citi of Books: https://citiofbooks.com/bookstore/new-release/sunday-afternoons/
- AbeBooks: https://www.abebooks.com/Sunday-Afternoons-Givens-Gene-Citiofbooks/32222565290/bd
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sunday-Afternoons-Gene-Givens/dp/B0FCQ5GJNM/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AfdT-adEvzGX6-v4R_nRfQ.aoBs4yuEqVbNa6hf0LNlQRyUopwwAU_3f2627PL6BRQ&qid=1755021477&sr=1-1
- Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunday-afternoons-e-gene-givens/1143875415?ean=9798893916980
- Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunday-Afternoons-Paperback-9798893916980/16828359486?classType=REGULAR&from=/search