Review of The graveyard and other poems

[Andrada Madalina]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The graveyard and other poems" by Mae Bea Sayes.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The graveyard and other poems by Mae Bea Sayes is a collection of poems about spiritual transgression and rebirth. It presents themes such as death, solitude, time, and redemption.

Briefly, the 25 poems in this non-fiction book focus on the antithesis between life and death, light and darkness. Mae Bea Sayes illustrates the pose of the grieving lover and her somber attitude towards her lost love. Also, the poet shares some memories from her childhood, her daydreams, and her hopes.

There was nothing I disliked about this anthology. I loved how the poet captured every emotion and inner state, from guilt and sadness to madness and resignation. I liked the descriptive imagery of the funeral setting that changed from one poem to another. For instance, I appreciated the correlation of various symbols of death, from religious elements such as the cross to the presence of animals such as the crow, all of which had the cemetery as a background. Also, my favorite poem was "Early Childhood Memories" because it was a narrative one, and I liked that the poet illustrated the lilac garden as a symbol of love and life.

Another positive aspect of the book is its numerous metaphors. I appreciate that the poems focus on the metaphor of the seasons and that the three main sections of the book capture the cycle of love from a temporal point of view. For example, the first section presents poems that refer to spring, the symbol of rebirth associated with life and love; the second section illustrates the end of autumn and the beginning of winter associated with death; and the third section makes the transition to spring again. Thus, the cycle repeats itself and highlights a spiritual renewal.

I rate this collection of poems 5 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed the abundance of figurative language and recurring symbols. I loved the rhetorical questions about a poet's art and appreciated how Mae Bea Sayes captured the natural scenes in her verses. Also, The graveyard and other poems was exceptionally well edited. I discovered no single error while reading it.

I gladly recommend this book to fans of morbid poetry, especially those who like free verse and narrative poems. It is perfect for people who enjoy topics like lost love or traveling into the unknown. Also, The graveyard and other poems is suitable for a large audience because it has no profanity or erotic content.

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The graveyard and other poems
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[Kavita Shah]

Thank you for pleasant and wonderful analysis. You see, I'm pretty new in understanding poems but after I read your review, I can clearly relate the different occurrences of animal, season, and religious elements, symbolizing death.
Amazing!