Review of Short Poems, Long Tales

[Bethany Kroeger]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Short Poems, Long Tales" by Rashid Osmani.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Poetry can be rather complex. It uses details and imagery to make the reader feel a particular emotion or feeling that appeals to or challenges the mind. Instead of intricate poems that can sometimes overwhelm many readers, even poetry enthusiasts, Rashid Osmani presents his poems with simple language and imagery that anyone can enjoy. In Short Poems, Long Tales, he includes 101 poems that express intense emotions or feelings that speak to your heart, body, and mind. The poem's themes focus on ideas about love, happiness, life, death, and the afterlife.

I found myself relating to Osmani's poems more often than not. Most of them ask questions I have pondered for years, with the answers changing depending on what's happening in my life. That is the beauty of poetry; it can be interpreted and applied in so many ways. Searching On, which focuses on searching for meaning in life and how a person changes, is one of the poems I relate to the most. Another poem I like is Habitual Addiction, which puts the struggle of addiction in perspective. Addiction is debilitating and life-altering, and a poem like this can help others who are not addicts better understand those who are.

I also appreciate the rhythm and flow of his poetry. There is not one poem that does not flow well, and the mood of each of the poems is easy to grasp. What I like most about them is how he presents them. True to the title, they are short, while each stanza contains only a few lines. I am no poetry rookie, but it's been years since I've read so many poems I relate to in one book.

There is nothing I dislike about Osmani's short but meaningful poems. Short Poems, Long Tales is exceptionally well-edited, and there are no errors that I could find. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would not change anything about it, so I feel I must give it a rating of five out of five stars. I recommend it to those who love poetry involving deeper topics and maybe even those interested in reading poetry but who typically find it too daunting. The poems are simple enough for novice poetry readers who want to expand to more elaborate poetry eventually. Osmani is a fabulous writer, and I will read more of his poems in the future.

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Short Poems, Long Tales
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