CITIZEN’S ARREST

In tightly woven lines, we are led into a world of nothingness, of inequality, of political instability and chaos and a poet’s response to them. The poet tries to forge a way in this hollowness, to find a voice above the mayhem. To live, to be. This rare courage makes this collection stand out. In ‘This Bedroom Is a Nuclear-Free Zone’ the poet cries out:

“come here to me, we all get depressed, slighted understanding, a fear to find force”

With tough metaphors and brilliant technique, the poet achieves an excellent penmanship. We’re led into an inadequate space; we’re reminded of how disproportionately the world is arranged. By looking out to the world around him with a lot of honesty, the poet shines a light inward too, through which we see a personal response to an inner mayhem, which is somehow connected to the external destruction. Through this, an important need in poetry is fulfilled, which is an evocation of deep-seated empathy. There is a certain stillness and silent uprising in this collection which, I feel, may also be a starting point for a revolution of any kind, anywhere, for a poet, any poet, is a citizen of the world.

Perhaps, drawing their muse from a personal journey, the poet sings:

“the loss of an intern sleeping in his car, minutes after working, a glory easily taken, underlying condition engage on his merit.”

The rugged metaphors are flawless. The poet re-imagines the act of eating sandwiches as a rebuttal and eating on one’s own terms, a bizarre sinking cause. There is wisdom in these lines. Excruciating brilliance and utter beauty resurface in poem after poem, culminating in a redefinition of poetic excellence. The poet follows a rich literary tradition in theme, skill and technique, and scores a bulls eye, as a result.

– Chisom Okafor
Poet & Editor

In tightly woven lines, we are led into a world of nothingness, of inequality, of political instability and chaos and a poet’s response to them. The poet tries to forge a way in this hollowness, to find a voice above the mayhem. To live, to be. This rare courage makes this collection stand out. In ‘This Bedroom Is a Nuclear-Free Zone’ the poet cries out:

“come here to me, we all get depressed, slighted understanding, a fear to find force”

With tough metaphors and brilliant technique, the poet achieves an excellent penmanship. We’re led into an inadequate space; we’re reminded of how disproportionately the world is arranged. By looking out to the world around him with a lot of honesty, the poet shines a light inward too, through which we see a personal response to an inner mayhem, which is somehow connected to the external destruction. Through this, an important need in poetry is fulfilled, which is an evocation of deep-seated empathy. There is a certain stillness and silent uprising in this collection which, I feel, may also be a starting point for a revolution of any kind, anywhere, for a poet, any poet, is a citizen of the world.

Perhaps, drawing their muse from a personal journey, the poet sings:

“the loss of an intern sleeping in his car, minutes after working, a glory easily taken, underlying condition engage on his merit.”

The rugged metaphors are flawless. The poet re-imagines the act of eating sandwiches as a rebuttal and eating on one’s own terms, a bizarre sinking cause. There is wisdom in these lines. Excruciating brilliance and utter beauty resurface in poem after poem, culminating in a redefinition of poetic excellence. The poet follows a rich literary tradition in theme, skill and technique, and scores a bulls eye, as a result.

– Chisom Okafor
Poet & Editor