Book Review: Punctured Silence by Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom

Punctured Silence is the much-anticipated follow up collection of poetry to Kolade’s second solo work, The Light Bearer.

A young poet, Freedom’s work has gone from strength to strength in this collection. His compositions have evolved and grown, the structures more sophisticated and the imagery more delicately expressed, such as in the verse ‘I fall no more’. What has not changed is the motive for his writing. What speaks to readers in Freedom’s poetry is the raw emotion he expresses, and the irrepressible hope that shines through each piece.

Readers of Christian poetry will enjoy this collection, but it is by no means exclusive. Freedom’s verses speak on a universal humanitarian level with their constant call for peace and co-existence. He draws on the violence in the world around him, and poems such as ‘It could have been you’ describe the terrible violence inflicted on Africa by groups such as Boko Haram. Through his words, he illustrates the scars have been inflicted upon his country and that will remain for many years to come. And yet, ever the optimist, the author shows his dreams for a better future through poems such as ‘Arise O Africa’.

One of the best aspects of this collection are the snippets of African language and culture that permeate the poetry. In poems such as ‘Healing the world with words’, the reader is treated to short explanations in the footnotes relating to Nigerian flora and fauna, as well as cultural figures and Gods. This really enlivens the work and adds another dimension to the pieces.

Overall, Punctured Silence is a wonderful read and a breath of fresh air.

Reviewer

S J Menary (Warwickshire, England)

S J Menary is an up and coming author and poet; writing Gothic horror, fantasy adventure, and chilling tales of the macabre. Recently published in an international short story collaboration of fantasy authors, Winds of Change, S J Menary is making a name for herself as a fresh new talent. Her terrifying tales are soon to be available in the Cumbrian Chthulu publication (forthcoming 2016) and her poetry has been published with the National Association of Writer’s Group and with Rugby Festival of Culture's poem a day initiative (out June 2015). She is currently working on her debut novel, The Blood Gate. A winner of the 2014 Sampad International Writing Completion, she is also a performance poet with the internationally successful Rugby Writer’s Group. Their work includes the intergenerational underground poetry movement, Open Resistance, and the local campaign for a Poet Laureate in Rugby as a tribute to the long history of great poets from the area. S J Menary is also the Junior Editor for Orders of the Day, the society magazine for the English Civil War re-enactment group, The Sealed Knot. As an IT consultant, she also works with the Alexander Kollontai Film Company. She lives in Warwickshire with her tabby cat, Artemis.