Review of The graveyard and other poems
Posted: 26 May 2023, 04:18
[Following is a volunteer review of "The graveyard and other poems" by Mae Bea Sayes.]
The Graveyard and other poems by Mae Bea Sayes is a book of poems about childhood memories, death and the afterlife.
The cemetery theme is dark and macabre. The graphic visual depictions include moss-covered headstones, grassy tombs, withered corpses and tormented souls. Not for the faint-hearted, you might say, but the author’s free verse writing style invokes deep emotions. It is not your traditional type of poem that utilises a regular pattern of rhythm. This type of poetic writing gained popularity in the 19th century, and the influence of that century’s prose is evident in some of the writer’s language. I admit I struggled to understand some of the poems and had to read them several times for comprehension. Yet, I enjoyed them immensely.
I like how the poems take you on a self-reflective journey. Everyone at one point in life has wondered what happens when our hearts stop beating. Does our consciousness cease to exist? Can we still hear others when we are lying six feet below? Do we still yearn for loved ones? For people with faith, will we go to heaven or hell? These questions must have popped up in our minds at one time or another, and these poems will certainly bring up those thoughts again.
It was almost a relief to read the other poems, which are more nostalgic than morbid. The one about childhood memories, in particular, conjures memories of happier times when we are young, wild and carefree. The times when we all had big dreams about the future, but we also lived furiously in the present.
I enjoyed the book. There is nothing about it that I dislike. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but I like the author's use of classic and modern prose. It reminded me of Shakespeare and other classic poets but with a modern feel.
Overall, I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It is exceptionally well-edited because I did not spot any errors. Sensitive readers should beware of the dark and melancholy theme. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good, thought-provoking poetry with a classic free-verse feel.
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The graveyard and other poems
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Graveyard and other poems by Mae Bea Sayes is a book of poems about childhood memories, death and the afterlife.
The cemetery theme is dark and macabre. The graphic visual depictions include moss-covered headstones, grassy tombs, withered corpses and tormented souls. Not for the faint-hearted, you might say, but the author’s free verse writing style invokes deep emotions. It is not your traditional type of poem that utilises a regular pattern of rhythm. This type of poetic writing gained popularity in the 19th century, and the influence of that century’s prose is evident in some of the writer’s language. I admit I struggled to understand some of the poems and had to read them several times for comprehension. Yet, I enjoyed them immensely.
I like how the poems take you on a self-reflective journey. Everyone at one point in life has wondered what happens when our hearts stop beating. Does our consciousness cease to exist? Can we still hear others when we are lying six feet below? Do we still yearn for loved ones? For people with faith, will we go to heaven or hell? These questions must have popped up in our minds at one time or another, and these poems will certainly bring up those thoughts again.
It was almost a relief to read the other poems, which are more nostalgic than morbid. The one about childhood memories, in particular, conjures memories of happier times when we are young, wild and carefree. The times when we all had big dreams about the future, but we also lived furiously in the present.
I enjoyed the book. There is nothing about it that I dislike. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but I like the author's use of classic and modern prose. It reminded me of Shakespeare and other classic poets but with a modern feel.
Overall, I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It is exceptionally well-edited because I did not spot any errors. Sensitive readers should beware of the dark and melancholy theme. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good, thought-provoking poetry with a classic free-verse feel.
******
The graveyard and other poems
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon