4 out of 4 stars
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A World Diverse III: In Need of Help by David Edmond is a book of poetry divided into three distinct sections that work together to paint a picture of the current state of society and where the world is headed. The first section explicitly points out the responsibility people have toward one another and develops the idea that life is largely what you make of it. In the second section, Edmond further delves into the notion that life is finite by addressing the feelings people have after losing someone they love. This part of the book brings to light the emotions behind grief and the notion of what one leaves behind after death. The final section of poems discusses the loss of human interaction in today’s world—largely due to the development of technology—and charges everyone with the task of rebuilding peace and respect among all people.
While ideas such as diversity, loss and community certainly have the ability to appeal to everyone, there were many secondary discussions that I imagine will resonate with different people. For my part, I especially appreciated the call to reach across racial, religious and political lines that have been unjustly drawn. Having grown up in the early 90s, I also enjoyed the discussion of technological advancement which is something that really skyrocketed when I was a kid.
This book is the third in a series of volumes of poetry, and while I haven’t read the first two I can speak favorably of this third installment. The collection of poetry was well-organized and clearly carefully selected as all poems fit quite well with one another, and there was an evident progression throughout the book. The poems were also thoroughly edited—I only found one small typo.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, as I feel that the author’s attention to detail and his honest, provocative poems deserve a perfect score. Personally, I like poems with a bit more complex and ambiguous language, but I don’t feel it would be fair to deduct a star for personal preference in style. For those of you who do lean towards sincere, easy-to-understand poetry, then this collection is for you. The language is not difficult to follow, and the metaphors used are simple so that anyone can understand them. Many of the poems are quite didactic in nature, and others are open expressions of first-hand emotions, so keep all of that in mind when considering whether this type of poetry appeals to you. Again, I appreciate a less direct tone, but I can see how others would prefer this sort of writing.
Whatever your stylistic inclinations, A World Diverse III: In Need of Help is sure to raise interesting discussions and provoke thought with any reader. The topics therein are worth considering, and it is certainly evident to see that Edmond is writing from the heart.
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A World Diverse 111
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