Reviewed by: Michael Ernest Sweet
Concordia University

Souls Arriving by Kevin Taylor is a little book of poetry with potential. From the moment one eyes this collection it is soothing in appearance; the cover is particularly attractive and unique. The book has a clean and professional feel. The collection’s poems are eclectic with political and space’ish undertones. Although I appreciate the eclectic feeling of the book, I do wonder if perhaps an introduction tying things together through the poet’s voice would not have been advantageous; it is as if we are thrust into the unknown when we begin to read. This problem is compounded by the lack of voice in this collection – my main complaint. I suspect many of the poems in Souls Arriving are practice pieces written by a poet experimenting with form. This of course need not signal a poorly written collection of poetry provided there is some explanation as to why the poet feels the work worthy of being praised with two covers.

My favorite poem in the collection is Pretend. Pretend is a light-hearted and imaginative piece to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is an example of the poet’s potential as a successful writer who can be distinct yet recognizable and accessible. At once the reader is transported to a mystical land of excitement and adventure. The poem, in précis, is a classic adventure story capable of whipping us off our feet and taking us around the world in forty lines.

…
Pretend the poem
tells a tale
of wooden ships
and painted sails.
Pretend the sky
the salty breeze
the creak of decks
the swelling seas
the cutlass singing
past your ear!
Quick! Pretend us out of here!…

(from, Pretend, np.)

In the end, Souls Arriving is a book that should have seen an editor before press. Such additions as a table of contents and page numbers would have been mandated and most probably the glossary, somewhat pretentious in a book of poetry, would have been eliminated. Additionally, I would suggest the elimination of two-colour printing in the interior as it seems to add very little to the book aside from being most likely wholly responsible for the hefty cover price of 19.95 (US, soft cover).  Soft cover books of poetry of around 40 pages will be difficult to sell at this price – even if you happen to be Leonard Cohen.

Kevin Taylor’s work is not altogether without merit. In fact, aside from the over-use of annoying rhyming couplets, his poetry is refreshing in many respects. I especially admire the subtle use of political voice throughout many pieces, such as Apartheid, which successfully affect us without having a ‘preaching’ tone – often responsible for overpowering the message. I would like to see Taylor refine his voice and publish a collection of unified poetry complete with an introduction. Take a look at our world Kevin and use your gifted subtlety to paint us a picture of an alternate reality – a picture of what could be – a better world.

Souls Arriving is available at Amazon.com by clicking here.

Michael Ernest Sweet lives, writes and teaches English literature in Montreal, Quebec. He is the founding director of The Learning for a Cause Institute which promotes the arts in public education especially by way of publishing students and their creative works.