Official Review: Dark and Light Verse by Allen Lee Ireland
Posted: 14 May 2021, 13:43
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dark and Light Verse" by Allen Lee Ireland.]
The beauty of poetry is in deciphering the deeper meaning of words, and Dark and Light Verse by Allen Lee Ireland is a true beauty. It is a whole new world waiting to be discovered, and "WOW!" is the least emotion you will get. There are no mysteries to poems. It is the world around us and beyond — its wonders and mysteries, funny and tragic gifts, beauty and evils, all draped in finery, rhythm, and wordplay. The poetic suggestions are modern, mesmerizing, and sometimes heavy with themes centering on light, boyhood memories, loves lost and found, nature, dreams and wishes, the tragedies around us, and hope. The language is simple yet profound, the rhythm flows beautifully, and the imagery is powerful and relatable — a melange of things dark and light.
I know some people (including me) are hesitant about poetry. We worry about comprehension. However, it was love at first read with this book. The language, the flow, the rhythm, and the depth can all be summarized as beautiful and mesmerizing. I love it. Every poem is a delight (some do have tragic themes, though). If anything, it spurs the reader to make a change in attitude or perception. One of the lines I love is in the poem "May Day." I'd quote: "The wind is like a wave, And all the flowers are tossing in its sea." The imagery here is as powerful as it is beautiful. I also love the rhymes in some poems, e.g., "At the Public Library," and the rhythm in others; the flow is natural and graceful.
Some of the poems are personal to the author, and he will be better positioned to interpret them more deeply. However, these poems still speak to the reader in that universal way the poems do. The message is not lost, and we get to see the poet's life journey, and in it, we recognize ourselves — our journies, thoughts, and hopes. The poem "Stargazing" is an apt example. I also love the conversational technique employed in some of the poems, almost like prose; it says a lot in a few words.
Poetry works are usually devoid of errors, and this collection is not an exception. It's safe to say that the book is exceptionally edited. The poems are well organized, and they aren't wordy or bulky, thus making it an easy read. A point to note is the use of 'lion' instead of 'lioness' in the poem "Analogy." I feel 'lioness' will be apt since the author refers to a female of the species. However, this might be intentional, and the reason is open to interpretation. Apart from this, there's no complaint I have against this book.
I will recommend this collection to lovers of poetry, especially readers starting to explore the world of poetry. Seasoned poetry lovers would find this collection meaningful as well. It is modern, versatile, and dreamy. Of course, I'm giving it 4 out of 4 stars. Readers are guaranteed to come away with a sense of satisfaction and purpose.
******
Dark and Light Verse
View: on Bookshelves
The beauty of poetry is in deciphering the deeper meaning of words, and Dark and Light Verse by Allen Lee Ireland is a true beauty. It is a whole new world waiting to be discovered, and "WOW!" is the least emotion you will get. There are no mysteries to poems. It is the world around us and beyond — its wonders and mysteries, funny and tragic gifts, beauty and evils, all draped in finery, rhythm, and wordplay. The poetic suggestions are modern, mesmerizing, and sometimes heavy with themes centering on light, boyhood memories, loves lost and found, nature, dreams and wishes, the tragedies around us, and hope. The language is simple yet profound, the rhythm flows beautifully, and the imagery is powerful and relatable — a melange of things dark and light.
I know some people (including me) are hesitant about poetry. We worry about comprehension. However, it was love at first read with this book. The language, the flow, the rhythm, and the depth can all be summarized as beautiful and mesmerizing. I love it. Every poem is a delight (some do have tragic themes, though). If anything, it spurs the reader to make a change in attitude or perception. One of the lines I love is in the poem "May Day." I'd quote: "The wind is like a wave, And all the flowers are tossing in its sea." The imagery here is as powerful as it is beautiful. I also love the rhymes in some poems, e.g., "At the Public Library," and the rhythm in others; the flow is natural and graceful.
Some of the poems are personal to the author, and he will be better positioned to interpret them more deeply. However, these poems still speak to the reader in that universal way the poems do. The message is not lost, and we get to see the poet's life journey, and in it, we recognize ourselves — our journies, thoughts, and hopes. The poem "Stargazing" is an apt example. I also love the conversational technique employed in some of the poems, almost like prose; it says a lot in a few words.
Poetry works are usually devoid of errors, and this collection is not an exception. It's safe to say that the book is exceptionally edited. The poems are well organized, and they aren't wordy or bulky, thus making it an easy read. A point to note is the use of 'lion' instead of 'lioness' in the poem "Analogy." I feel 'lioness' will be apt since the author refers to a female of the species. However, this might be intentional, and the reason is open to interpretation. Apart from this, there's no complaint I have against this book.
I will recommend this collection to lovers of poetry, especially readers starting to explore the world of poetry. Seasoned poetry lovers would find this collection meaningful as well. It is modern, versatile, and dreamy. Of course, I'm giving it 4 out of 4 stars. Readers are guaranteed to come away with a sense of satisfaction and purpose.
******
Dark and Light Verse
View: on Bookshelves
