Poem Collection Review
Title: Soulful Meditation
Poet: Abiodun Felix Taiwo
Reviewer: Oluwatomisin Amokeoja
Publisher: OAK Initiative
“A most useful approach to meditation practice is to consider it the most important activity of each day. Schedule it as an important appointment, and unfailingly keep your appointment with the infinite.” – Roy Eugene Davis.
Abiodun Felix Taiwo, in this collection entitled ‘Soulful Meditation’, expressed ways to draw inspiring thoughts through creativity of the power of words. Taiwo used the power of words to help readers connect with their emotions and make sense of them in a way that feels accessible and meaningful. This 2022 publication of OAK initiative, the publishing arm of OAK foundation, a charity organization aims at supporting indigent students, widows and the fatherless in Africa. The collection offers readers 50 poems that plunge the depths of human nature through its beliefs, attitudes and behaviours, courage and desires.
In one of the poems in the collection, ‘Boy and Man to Illusion’, the poet presents his poetic voice to the themes of ‘Truth’, ‘Integrity’, and ‘Finesse’.
The 50 poems which are extraordinarily powerful and inspiring, are as follows: A Beautiful Bird; What the Soul is; A Curious Thing; Inside My Head; When The Day Comes; Direction; The Heart; A God Within Us; About Being; You Can’t; Stuck; Psyched; A Strange Thing; Caged Animal; Never Alone; Energy; But…; Contradictions; A Blank Page; Mirror; You Are; A Mere Shadow; The Self is a Myth; Being Yourself; I am the Ego; Wide Awake; Can you see?; You are not there; Gasp for Air; Butterfly Wings; Dreams; The Idea of Life Cycle; Contemplation; In the Dark; It Beats; Memories…Gone Forever; Fantasy is Just a Dream; What could have been; Into the sky; Clouds; What Pleasure is; Innocence; Reflecting; More than Labels; Life is a journey; A strange Place; The view of Feelings; Torn Heart; Rainbow in the Sky; Time Passes Slowly.
‘What the Soul is’, compares the soul to a mirror where we see what we expect it to be. Either bad or good comes from what we want our soul to be. “It’s a mirror/ That reflects only/ What you want to see/ If you want it to be good/ If you want it to be bad/ Then it is.”
Another poem in the collection titled, ‘Being yourself’ sees Taiwo emphasizing the need to be original and embrace individual differences. There are many different things we can call home in this space. But one thing matters, being yourself even though you are in a tough or easy situation or place.
‘Time passes slowly’ serves as an eye-opener on how time passes slowly, recommending judicious use of time to achieve our goals. As time passes slowly, events unfold and happen in the space of time to be displayed in all its glory.
The 50 beautiful poems in this collection are arranged tenderly and creatively, captivating in a manner that explores the depth of the human heart. The book is like a journey to the soul.
Division of each poem into short stanzas, other genres of poetry aside from free verse can be used to captivate the minds of the readers more. The poet can consider the suggestion in subsequent collections.
The powerful, strong voice and choice of words of the poet are commendable. ‘Soulful Meditation’ is a recommended poem collection for everyone as it is important to spend some quality time each day on meditation to look inward for what lies therein. It is an invite to explore your inner world and find peace within yourself.