Review of The graveyard and other poems

Shem Murundu · Post by **Shem Murundu** » 19 Jun 2023, 05:26

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

5 out of 5 stars

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The Graveyard and other poems is a collection of poems by Mae Bea Sayes. A somber mood dominates much of the book as the author talks about corpses, dead souls (ghosts and spirits), cemeteries, and graveyards. As it nears its end, the author gives us previews and sneak peeks of her other books. The book consists of 26 distinct pieces of poetry, with a bonus of two poems.

In the collection, five poems stood out for me. These were Soul Transgressions, which talks about the departed souls of two lovers meeting after their demise, Cathy and Heathcliff, The Ocean, Patent Leather Shoes, and Early Childhood Memories. I also liked a quote from the poem titled Keat’s Muse that read: "Beauty is amidst the soul, the reverie of poets. It binds, bends a bounteous testament to romance, a tier of the gods.” I thought this was beautiful.

Deeply and profoundly, Mae Bea manages to convey her thoughts about various subjects. She masterfully uses similes, metaphors, and symbolism to paint clear pictures of the messages she wishes to pass across. I loved all these, not forgetting Sayes’ skillful use of the stylistic device of onomatopoeia. Another feature that greatly pleased me about this anthology was the images the author included in some of the poems; they added an extra layer of uniqueness to the book, in addition to enhancing the somber mood of the book.

I did not find any single error while reading, which confirms that the book was exceptionally well-edited. There was nothing I disliked about this piece of art. All the poems had a good flow, and Sayes exercised her artistic freedom perfectly. Since the book was flawless, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this outstanding poetry piece to all fans of poetry, especially those who love the dark theme of death.

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The graveyard and other poems
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Hazel Mae Bagarinao · Post by **Hazel Mae Bagarinao** » 02 Jul 2023, 08:08

I'm certain based on your examples above, Blackstenius, that the language used in the poems is a bit challenging for me. But poems that talks about dead souls, cemeteries, and graveyards are rare. What a compelling review of you, Blackstenius!

Shem Murundu · Post by **Shem Murundu** » 04 Jul 2023, 02:01

Hazel Mae Bagarinao wrote: ↑02 Jul 2023, 08:08 I'm certain based on your examples above, Blackstenius, that the language used in the poems is a bit challenging for me. But poems that talks about dead souls, cemeteries, and graveyards are rare. What a compelling review of you, Blackstenius!

Yes, poems with the theme of death are so rare. I wonder what intrigued the author so much as to dedicate the whole book to that dark theme but they were still some amazing pieces. Thank you so much for commenting, Hazel!

King Nyebuchi · Post by **King Nyebuchi** » 09 Jul 2023, 04:40

Nice review. However, personally, I tend to prefer poems that explore different themes and subjects, rather than those centered around topics such as deceased souls, cemeteries, and graveyards. Such poems are relatively uncommon and do not align with my personal preferences.

Shem Murundu · Post by **Shem Murundu** » 09 Jul 2023, 07:33

King Nyebuchi wrote: ↑09 Jul 2023, 04:40 Nice review. However, personally, I tend to prefer poems that explore different themes and subjects, rather than those centered around topics such as deceased souls, cemeteries, and graveyards. Such poems are relatively uncommon and do not align with my personal preferences.

That's very understandable. I think very few people are that intrigued by that dark theme of death and graves and cemeteries. And yes, such types of poems are uncommon. Thank you very much for your time and thoughts.