Review of 100 Poems for 100 Voices by Lester Eugene Mayers
We can appreciate the dark mystery of Edgar Allan Poe. His gothic twist on suspense and horror are renowned for his style choices in using point of view, word choice, imagery, tone, sentence structure, and overall ambiance of death and love. This author's world of words never fails to deliver, and he still is amassing followers as new generations read his work and are affected by the powerful psychology and foreshadowing his work presents.
John Keats has been heralded as a great contributor to the British Romantic literary movement. During his lifetime, he never would have seen himself as such an author, but those who read his poems might beg to disagree. His use of the five senses throughout his language, tone, and word choices are more than apparent. His "visions" of earth beyond the mortal body, the representation of a new lesson embodied, the chronicled assurance of death, the aesthetic appeal of love lost and beauty retained, even after it has passed on from the reader, often take those reading his work to a new world.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is known for his philosophical expertise throughout his work, and although he is often considered a part of the Romantic period, his work was actually pre-Romantic. His works were often based in nature and have been known to be likened unto Wordsworth's. This poet was also novelist, dramatist, scientist, visual artist, and civil servant. His most known poem is the epic poem Faust. However, Die schöne Nacht is one of my personal favorites.
Even I have created my own reflections in poetry form. Beginnings, formerly known as Random Poetry, and is a collection based on nature, love, family, and spiritual inspiration. Even though I'm in no way equal to the names I've listed above, I mention my own work in connection to how many authors reach for this style of representing our world and the way we see life. Newer poets are being heralded as "visionary," "beautiful," and "purposeful." Several of these poets are also sharing a style known as "confessional poetry." I could see some of my own work fitting into this style, and that's how I see poet Eugene Lester Mayers.
Reading his poetry book, 100 Poems for 100 Voices, was nothing short of eye-opening. It's themes of voices seen through a LGBT and African-American perspective were intense, forceful, and unapologetic. His reflections of Maya Angelou's poetry throughout are motivational, and the reader can get a sense of his respect and admiration for this author and poetess. Let's take the time to break down this poetry book and its overall review.
1: didn't like it
2: it was okay
3. liked it
4. really liked it
5. it was amazing
1. Writing Style: 5/5
Wow. This author is potent, impressive, and formidable. His voice is unabashed in its unvarnished appeal to his own world's truth. It's insightful into the author himself, and it's harsh, abrupt, and hard-hitting in the revelation of his truth. I think that Mayer's writing is a reflection of his inner soul. This leads me to feel connected, separated, and overwhelmed by his poetic journey.
Breaking his poems down into four distinct sections, Eugene reflects on his journey as part of The Rock, The Tree, The River, and The Spirit. Throughout the first portion, the Rock, is seen through his interpretation of what he deems "The Territory of a Black Man." Here, he delivers his most provocative line in the poem "Pathology" when he says, "In exchange for currency/with Hopes of dodging slavery/When in reality/He traded in his history." This line brought tears to my eyes and gave me a vivid visual of how mankind can often perpetuate their own loss. This entire segment was about looking back and working through the history of what happened during the time of slavery.
"The Tree" is representative of courage. He reasons and shows how stepping out and showing those you love who you are is an intoxicating and sometimes violent venture. In order to be the person you are, you need to be able to "wash away your mask" ("Waking Up is Painful," ebook).
"The River" are the moments or the "medicine" for when you need it. It was part hope, part wake-up call. Definitely an inner struggle is carrying on here about how he feels toward himself and humanity in general.
"The Spirit" is his "poetry for the soul." One of my favorite poems in this section was "Somebody." I love the last line where he says, "This poem has been brought to you by Somebody/Who struggles to love themselves daily/but found enough courage to love you, too" ("Somebody," ebook). It is a heady rush as this author shares his path to seeking himself. His way of identifying leaves me with a smile: "I. Am. Poetry" (ebook).
Mayer's voice is equal parts brutal honesty, uncharted sadness, and prodigious lyricism. I have to say his writing style is effortless, evocative, and carved into my mind. He indulges in the use of imagery, tone, word choice, and sentence structure like those poets we know and love. The beautiful word paintings he reveals within his whole writing is music itself.
2. Overall Content: 2/5
You might be shocked by my rating here on overall content after the praise I gave on writing style. Let me attempt to explain in an earnest, heartfelt way. Mayer is an exceptional writer. He is a transformative poet. His poetry is lyrical.
I'm awed and humbled by his graphic content, but to be honest, I don't know if this is a poetry book I would pick up on my own again. Part of it is subject material I would be invested in learning more about through his wondrous prose, but the other half (despite his excellent way of putting life into his words) were not poems I could relate to and adopt unto myself. When I read something, I have to find ways to relate, understand, feel, and evaluate what's being shared. Here is my cross-dilemma, I'm enchanted by so many of his poems, including: "Pathology," "Enough," "If," "If God Ever Listened," "The Doll Test," "Delta," "Black Just Ain't One Thing," "An Ode to the Sounds of Blackness," "But She Doesn't," and "Now Is Not the Time to Quit" just to name a few, but there were so many that I had a difficult time getting through. They were steeped in a pain I couldn't seem to bear, and they bled across the page in an agony that I couldn't soak into, and I couldn't enjoy.
I know that might sound harsh. I don't mean for it to be. I suppose in some ways I look for reading that hits a high note, a positive height, within my soul. I realize there is the negative, and I understand that poetry is personal and comes from the innermost part of your heart. I'm not arguing at the legitimacy of the beauty and pain of these poems, but my own relation and amusement in regard to them.
This poetry is epic in its ability to make you feel, but for me, these weren't the feelings I wanted. At this time, I couldn't delve into this suffering and torment without wanting to sob, and I couldn't dwell within the words without discomfort and despair. It wasn't what I needed to read right now, even if it was something I could always take time to understand.
I hope this in a small way conveys why I just "liked" the overall content and felt it was "okay." It had nothing to do with the actual writing of the author. He's brilliant. It just wasn't poetry I could immerse myself into and come out feeling like a new person. Perhaps, there could be argument for how I didn't like the desolation I felt when reading it. However, I applaud the author for making me feel. That in itself is the very essence and height of mature and superior writing.
3. Hooks/Attention-kept: 3/5
There was definitely enough in several of his verses to keep me engaged. As I mentioned above, more than one poem spoke to me and gave me their message in a very relatable way. The ones I listed above are not the only ones I enjoyed and connected with throughout each section. Some didn't have titles, but they're there, and I felt them within my soul.
4. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the genre: 2/5
This is partly based on the category content and goes back to my rating and review of "overall content." Again, this is not necessarily a reflection of the masterful and talented author. I respect his perspective and imagery and voice very much. Unfortunately, the subject matter was not something I completely related to in certain situations, and I think that affected my overall enjoyment. I certainly feel that anyone who enjoys poetry, immerses themselves in metaphorical verse, and has an appreciation for the hardest moments that represent our lives, then this is a must read.
As I have stated before and will continue to state, this author is transformative. He's a soul-speaker. His poetry is hard-hitting and real. If you need a dose of realism, honesty, and fresh perspective in your life, here it is.
5. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the content: 3/5
I feel as far as the content, this rating is like a half and half sort of situation. There are several poems that I really liked, could grasp with both hands, free it in my soul, and attach myself to, but on the other side of that, were ones that I couldn't connect to without drowning in its sorrow. I gave it my best effort, but sometimes the anguish he shared wasn't the type I could understand fully. As I said, I felt broken reading quite a few of the poems, and it made my spirit hurt.
Mayer's brings the heart, the heat, the uncomfortable, and the astonishing to the page. He's a voice for those who need a voice, and he's a direct speaker of his truth. His words are uninhibitedly powerful.
6. Overall Story Rating: 3/5
It always hurts my heart to put a final rating on a review. I never feel it is 100% accurate or fair when there are so many factors being weighed within a number. I waver between what I felt, what I liked, what I disliked, what I related to, what I didn't feel comfortable with, and what I wanted but didn't get until I can't fully grasp what it is that I really want to say sometimes. This doesn't happen with every book, but it did here.
There's also the consideration to the author that I take into account. I know what it is to put your life's work, your heart and soul, your blood and sweat and tears out on a page and present it to the world. I don't want to be unfair or upsetting to the author because I might think them immensely talented and regard them highly, but I just couldn't get into what they had to offer at the time, and I know that might sting. I don't mean for it to, but I also need to be honest in expressing my sincere reaction and opinion.
The most important part is to represent all thoughts and ideas about how I felt reading this book. I definitely felt. So many of these poems rocked my core and gave me insight and understanding that I might not have had before, and for that, I'm grateful.
Overall, this was a rating that provoked equal parts love and not love. It wasn't in terms of hate or dislike because that never entered into my evaluation. Instead, it centered more on how I related to the poetry, felt with the poetry, and internalized the poetry. As I stated above, throughout my review, there were some poems I couldn't get into and didn't love. They were too hard for me to read as a direct result of the content. The categories weren't ones I could relate to, even though I went into this with an open and excited mind. You might argue that I shouldn't read it if it isn't the subjects I would normally endure, but I argue that I desire to try new works and give all categories a chance without being coerced into one set way of life.
Now, as I come to a close, I'm analyzing my overall experience in reading this poetry book, and I have a slight feeling of unadulterated melancholy. I guess I was looking, not for positive poetry, but perhaps uplifting poetry. Or in other terms, lighthearted or encouraging poetry. Maybe I had no right to hope for such a thing, but it was there at the back of my mind, nonetheless.
In closing, I gave 100 Poems for 100 Voices a 3/5. This comes back to how the poetry made me feel as a whole. It also refers back to my rating of content. It doesn't align with how or if the author can write, he can! But it gives you an indication of how I interacted with the book and came out of it at the end.
All in all, I have to say if you want to read a realistic, explicit, and emotional book of poetry, this is it. You won't find a more matter-of-fact author with veracity to spare than Lester Eugene Mayers. My hope is that he will continue to write and publish his truth. My hope is for this book to serve as a help and safety for those out there who hear Mayer's truths and relate to them. Again, I respect what the author brought to the table: his genuineness and his passion.
Find more about Author and Poet Lester Eugene Mayers here:
As always, thanks for joining me, and until next time, Happy Reading!!
~Rebecca Reddell
Comments
Post a Comment