Steve Unwin

I was given this book free in exchange for a review.

Poetry is not my favourite form of literature but I like to tackle it occasionally.

My first impression was that I liked the rhyme and rhythm of the poems.

The subtitle of the collection is “Poems for the Consumer Age”; and I didn’t really find this theme appealing. Consumerism is not my weakness since I’m more focused on using my wherewithal on personal development, and the fact that other people have this fault is not something that bothers me.

The author’s main objective seems to be to make us understand that we all have a personal responsibility to live our lives in a meaningful way in order to create a better world.

I won’t say that I really appreciated all the poems, and was somewhat irritated by the numerous typos and apostrophe mistakes; however, I absolutely agree with the author’s main theses, which seem to be living a more meaningful life, avoiding consumerism and letting go of control.

In “If you’re not the one” he seems to be drawing our attention to the sad state of the world and the many poor dying of starvation and other horrors, and asking us to take responsibility for doing something about it in whatever way we can.

“If you’re not the one to shine light onto darkness,
But busy upgrading your phone to the next,
If you’re not the one to offer a kindness,
But can’t be distracted from sending a text.

If you’re not the one to see only one mankind,
But splits the world cleanly, into us and not us,
If you’re not the one to share what you have,
But always in search of some fun and a buzz.

If you’re not the one, then who will it be?
Who will see madness and want it to end?

….

If you’re not the one to bring fairness and hope,
But let Darwin assure you, it’s all nature’s way.
Then one day a king of the Earth you will be,
Presiding over nothing but rot and decay.”

In “Dominion” the author questions what we’re doing to our world, the Earth.

“I’ve sailed across the oceans, seen the dolphins ride the bow,
Yet others just see deep deposits, and of extraction wonder how.

I’ve seen stars up in the heavens, and wondered how they shine.
Yet others just see places, which are still for us to mine.

….

It seems this word dominion, we should caution how it’s used.
Stewardship not ownership, if it’s not to be abused.
For should we ever let forget, that we are but one part,
We’ll find the magic spell of life, begins to fall apart.”

And, finally, “Jigsaw Puzzle”:

“Impossible it is true,
To control every puzzle piece,
But control of our destiny,
is the thing we must now release.

…

A willingness to let go control
is how we will be freed,
So when we change a piece,
We allow the others to change with need.

….

Instead a willingness to let unfold,
To allow ourselves to grow.

The difference I’ve described,
Two different worlds of course does show.

The logic of control,
And the art of letting go.”

This wise poet is drawing our attention to the folly of our controlled ways and the need to let go and allow the Universe to prevail in order for our world to thrive/survive.

I would recommend this small collection to all those open to poetry who care both about their own development and the future of mankind.… (meer)