By Ikenna Obioha
Adetiloye Adesida’s The Dance of Shadows, an anthology of 24 unique poems, weaves alluring narratives that resonate with the depth of the reader’s emotions.
Intricately, the poet spins words that effectively communicate his themes, leaving the reader to subjectively interpret his verses. After all, they were warned by his caveat that reads: “Enter a realm where words weave their spell.”
The poet traverses a myriad of emotions and delves into various subjects of socio-political and socio-economic import, as well as noting his eccentric appreciation of nature. Each chapter showcases a different style that allows the author to express his thoughts and emotions.
The titular poem and anthology opener mirrors the Libra philosophy of balance by remarking that, taking into account extreme qualities, is only a fool’s game to play. Instead, that one must find a balance in the quest for perfection.
No pure good, nor absolute evil can be found
For balance orchestrates life’s resounding sound
The author’s play on words depicts harmony as done with the use of the orchestral symphonies where different musical parts create a whole. A place where no one instrument was superior to the other. This creates a visceral experience for the reader. This technique stays consistent throughout the poem, with Adesida depicting shadows as adversities, but ones that make the stars shimmer, hence its importance.
Elixir of Ecstasy brilliantly tackles the issues of sex protection. Short and simple, the poet subtly passes on the message, sparing the reader of the lewd details. In Avarice Abyss, he pictures the relentless pursuit of happiness that is tethered to material possessions fuelled by greed.
Boundless Horizon takes on the workplace dynamics through a dystopian lens, although he proffers solutions, the poem draws attention with its plausible narrative. But as far as universal themes go, love was not skipped or skimped on.
In Whispers of Betrayal, an aching tale of unrequited love is knitted. It reads in part:
My heart’s now a prisoner of love’s great pain
As I am haunted by thoughts of what could have been
Although, most of the works rely heavily on forging descriptive words to sketch an emotion, Adesida occasionally deviates from technique and resorts to applying a more direct tone, as seen in Betrayal at the Box, where he chronicles the events of a recent election. He, however, reverts to status quo in the follow-up, Hollow Union that reads partly:
In the land of my birth,
Where the sun shines with mirth
A land built on lies and deceit
By the hands of the colonial elite
The ode to the genus Cannabis, the two-part The Wonders of Nature’s Bounty see the poet pen a heartfelt love letter to the herb.
The Wonders of Nature’s Bounty is not the only ode contained in this body of work, though. There is one gifted to self: Journey of Self-Discovery.
In the depths of my soul, I sought to find,
The fragments of my being, intertwined
Through the Labyrinthine paths of doubts and fears,
I found myself, resolute and clear, an excerpt reads.
While words alone can weave the tapestry of The Dance of Shadows, Adesida takes creative control of the narrative by employing descriptive art in his writing. This enriches the subjects he addresses at each point, leaving the reader with a vivid visual imprint long after they’ve put down the thrilling 111-page anthology.
As the final curtain falls on The Dance of Shadows, the readers find themselves at the crossroads of his poetic journey. Within these pages, words have been spun into emotions, and verses have summoned vivid imagery. Adesida’s artistry has not merely painted emotions, but has equally woven the very fabric of the human experience.