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| Name:Introductions |
| Author:Kenneth Pobo |
| About Book:Fantastic Realities
Do these timeless fables we all know and love have underlying meanings that can be applied to our day and age? Do I still want to believe in this fairy-tale romance or am I just trying to escape the grim reality? I’m not trying to rebel against tradition, but what choice do I have when the alternative is to wait on an ancient myth that may not exist anymore? I found myself questioning love and my perception of it, having read a copy of Kenneth Pobo’s book, Introductions. The book seemed appropriately titled, as this was my first encounter with his masterful technique, eloquent language, and thought-provoking storylines. I soon found myself relating my own love woes with that of Rapunzel, an isolated soul and the subject of Pobo’s first seven poems. His retelling of the tale picks up where a distressed young girl wrestles with the age-old traditions and her heart’s relentless desire. She remains shut-off from the world, leaving her only her dreams of a future far away from her true environment.
In this way, she is much like the character Pobo’s next twelve poems, which serve as a sequel to the tale of Red Riding Hood—in which, she is growing into a lonesome bird herself. After years of defying those expectations of her character (she paints her basket lavender and burns the red cape), she is still not free to explore that world that tugs at her spirit. Her grandmother is trying to mold her into something she doesn’t want to be and she becomes a cynical divorcee who grows old waiting on her chance at that forbidden fantasy she secretly carried with her all these years. Pobo truly captures the idea of love in modern day society—where women can be forced to isolate themselves from the real world (and real love) or can sometimes cloak themselves from it, living there only in the confines of their imagination. Because our reality is in a time where Prince Charming is on the down low, Snow White is self-medicating to cope, and Barbie still can’t seem to connect with Ken, who still masks his regrets with silence.
Throughout Introductions, poetic spirits from around the globe seem to pop their heads into Pobo’s mental study, teasing him, advising him, or just simply visiting. From England’s epics to Greek mythology, from Chinese and Japanese masters to Italian divine comedies, Pobo invites you to experience poetry from his viewpoint as an insider. He pays homage to these predecessors, weaving a story around their characteristics and, as a tribute, exercising the same poetic license. His readers are invited to experience the richness of life through the eyes of poets, musicians, actors, and singers—Pobo relates these artists’ stories with a flavor all his own. A worldly view and an attention to the most intimate detail leave his audience left hoping that these spirits continue to haunt the immensely talented Kenneth Pobo.
K. Dayo |
| Price:11.99 |
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