| Category: | Poetry |
|---|---|
| Author: | Tolu' A. Akinyemi |
| Publisher: | The Roaring Lion Newcastle |
| Publication Date: | September 8, 2022 |
| Number of Pages: | 76 |
| ISBN-10: | 1913636429 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-1913636425 |
| ASIN: | B0B8L4KPSS |
In On the Train to Hell, Tolu A. Akinyemi delivers a
collection that is as gorgeous as it is exquisite, expertly exploring grief,
loss, and existential despair. The collection features fifty-three poems, most
of which treat very dark themes and are infused with pathos and compelling
imagery. From the outset, Akinyemi's lyrical utterances and rich imagery draw
readers into a visceral exploration of universally resonating issues. The poet castigates
beliefs that lead to violence and terrorism, revealing a haunted psyche struggling
with the catastrophic loss of a loved one. Lines such as “Your gruesome demise
on the burning train was a bitter pill to swallow” illustrate the heartbreak of
bereavement while also offering a powerful indictment of a society beset by
brutality.
Akinyemi's exploration of grief is multifaceted, often
deconstructing societal responses to loss. In the opening poem, ''Dust to
Dust,'' the narrator expresses anguish over the cold finality of death with
resonant lines: “Colder than ice / we wear our pain until our hearts become a
sorrow bed.” Here, the author reflects on how grief permeates individual and
collective consciousness. Yet, while Akinyemi highlights despair, he also
invites readers to engage with the absurdities and contradictions of life. In “Mountain
of Fire,” the poet employs humor to critique the performative nature of certain
religious rituals and humanity's complex relationship with the supernatural.
The ''frenetic mode of the spirits'' summarizes the dissonance between
belief and reality, challenging readers to question what lies behind the veneer
of piety.
Equally stirring is the poem ''Eerie Silence,''
where Akinyemi addresses the chilling consequences of religious intolerance, as
seen in the murder of a young Christian girl who is burned, her body becoming: “an
effigy of ashes...” The same somber tone is observed in “Black Friday,” in
which the author captures the imagination of readers with disturbing imagery of
“smoke plumes, / black bodies / burnt —” While these poems are universal, Tolu
A. Akinyemi infuses them with something intimate, personal, and gripping, an
emotion that carries readers from one poem to the next. It is filled with bursts
of insights like when the persona exclaims, tragically: “I no longer have a
heart — / It has been swallowed by a mighty / groundswell of evil.” This collection
is unique, a compendium of different styles — observant, narrative, and lyrical.
On the Train to Hell features compelling metaphors, and the imagery is
intelligently used to excite readers' minds.
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