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Flashes of Emotion
Flashes of Emotion is a book of romantic poetry, a selection that allows the reader to tap into the poet's insights into a wide variety of topics from life and love to death and drudgery - a collection that showcases Augustine Sam's lively, refreshing and innovative style. A 'must have' for anyone who has ever experienced love, pain, defeat, or joy.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2015
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6 people want to read
About the author
Augustine Sam
7 books15 followersAugustine Sam is a journalist by profession, a novelist by choice, and a poet by chance. A bilingual writer and an award-winning poet, he writes, not only hard news but literary works as well.
Before becoming a multi-genre author, he fell in love with poetry the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. He was the winner of the Editors’ Choice Award in the North America Open Poetry Contest. His poems have been published in international anthologies, including "Measures of the Heart" & "Sounds of Silence."
His poetry collection: "Flashes of Emotion" was the 2015 finalist in the International Book Award Contest.
To learn more about the author visit his website or join him on Facebook & Twitter
Before becoming a multi-genre author, he fell in love with poetry the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. He was the winner of the Editors’ Choice Award in the North America Open Poetry Contest. His poems have been published in international anthologies, including "Measures of the Heart" & "Sounds of Silence."
His poetry collection: "Flashes of Emotion" was the 2015 finalist in the International Book Award Contest.
To learn more about the author visit his website or join him on Facebook & Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 14, 2015
This book made me realize many things, but the first is that it's been too long since I've allowed great poetry to grace the folds of my mind. It does something to our subconscious. Takes hold of us in powerful ways. And Sam's work will have this effect on readers. Poetry is often written without the type of consideration for flow that Sam uses in his creations. I really found myself lost as I read through the passages. And now after finishing this book I feel a huge surge of inspiration. That's what great poetry does. It inspires. It makes it so you look at a sunset differently. You look at everything differently. With more focus and more of an introspective approach.
A few of the hundreds of great lines:
"The fury of his existence was like a veritable derision of life itself yet life clung to him."
"She lives in the water where fishermen abhor the fish."
"Never encountering bigotry on her way, for she loved to live on the fringes of paltry chauvinism."
A few of the hundreds of great lines:
"The fury of his existence was like a veritable derision of life itself yet life clung to him."
"She lives in the water where fishermen abhor the fish."
"Never encountering bigotry on her way, for she loved to live on the fringes of paltry chauvinism."
July 22, 2017
I enjoyed this collection of poems that looked deeply at different aspects of life. They were very sobering, exploring many different emotions, from happy to sad, and in between. My favorite poem was Sonnet to a Dame Over 50. I haven't quite reached that age yet, but it still made me smile! I recommend this book of poems to people who like to think deeply about things, and read poetry that help them do that.
January 1, 2017
Beautifully crafted poetry fill pages with sensual love. The first part of the book shows us the anguish of longing. The masculine psyche experiences the power of the feminine and storms against it. What is the use of love (lust) unsatisfied? Life circles, with its karmic package, its religious judgments against love/lust that cannot be denied. This isn't entirely a man thing, as women can experience lust, but understanding isn't what bridges the gap. And so the quest for satisfaction explores the unusual.
As we advance through the book, love takes on a more mature view. Understanding does reach across the male/female divide. Love takes on satisfaction in small or large measure. We sense the love in marriage, ripened to near perfection. At times we sense a love, perhaps frustrated by separation or divorce, or even death.
These poems may speak of masculine sensuality, but they also can find identity in the feminine. They touch circumstances in various erotic or not so erotic settings. There is nothing vulgar in these love/lust poems. They are a dirge or a celebration of love, in its ugliness or its beauty. Among these pages, you may pick a few favorites.
As we advance through the book, love takes on a more mature view. Understanding does reach across the male/female divide. Love takes on satisfaction in small or large measure. We sense the love in marriage, ripened to near perfection. At times we sense a love, perhaps frustrated by separation or divorce, or even death.
These poems may speak of masculine sensuality, but they also can find identity in the feminine. They touch circumstances in various erotic or not so erotic settings. There is nothing vulgar in these love/lust poems. They are a dirge or a celebration of love, in its ugliness or its beauty. Among these pages, you may pick a few favorites.
July 22, 2017
Poetry is arguably the genre of writing where reader responses are most likely to vary. The large number of five star reviews of this collection may suggest that my rather different response may say as much about me as it does about the poems. The positive reviews prompted me to stay with the collection rather longer than I might otherwise have done, and to reach a poem that led me to re-evaluate.
I was more than half way through the collection when I reached ‘The Greatest Gift’, an absolute gem. It appears to be about a visit to Florence with a lover who, though still young, is terminally ill. It beautifully balances the bittersweet pleasures of the here and now, with the foreknowledge of what must soon happen, while vividly evoking the beautiful city in which it is set. The use of the changing seasons as a metaphor for the stages of life has many antecedents, but the cliché is cleverly used here, the repetition of ‘It is autumn in Florence’ giving a sonorous frame like the tolling of a passing bell for one who paradoxically seems doomed to die without reaching the autumn of her own life.
There are a number of other pieces in the collection that also work very well – I particularly enjoyed ‘Prejudice’, about a white woman who gets on the wrong train and finds herself in an all-black carriage, an interesting reversal of the usual stereotypical race relations poem.
However, I found many of the poems in the first half of the collection quite hard going. I don’t know what was going on in the author’s life when he wrote them, but they appear to me to be the work of a rather depressed man. Although other people appear in the poems, they leave little impression because they are always refracted through the author’s self -obsession. That leaves us with far too many pages of the author’s thoughts about himself, unleavened by any trace of humour, or much empathy with the lived experience of others. I found the level of narcissism hard to take, which may reflect a cultural difference. The writing may have been therapeutic for the author, but this British reviewer felt that what he really needed were a few cheerful mates to take him down the pub and stop him spending so much time writing gloomy poetry. The poems that he did then write would perhaps have been better.
Other reviews have praised the craftsmanship of the poems. A large and diverse vocabulary gives the author a vivid palette with which to draw his word pictures, there are certainly some arresting images, and some of the poems are cleverly structured, with intelligent use of repeated refrains and occasional rhymes to give a sense of rhythm and structure. However, there are also examples of tired language (‘speaking volumes’) and of images that don’t quite work (‘visions swarmed like grape seeds’), and of statements that appear profound at first hearing but which become meaningless (‘karmic rage’, ‘his mind was their judgement seat’) or banal(‘the more you think you know him, the less you really know him’) or just plain wrong when you subject them to a bit of thought (‘the brave yearns to die’ –not just wrong, but dangerously so in this age of terrorists in love with martyrdom).
Some of the earliest poems are the weakest, melodramas about cuckolded lovers killing themselves (the wine writer), or exacting gruesome revenge (the human shock absorber). They are untypical of much of the rest of the collection, less subtle and less well crafted. Placing them together at the start of the anthology certainly influenced me unfavourably and perhaps made me less receptive to what followed.
I love Coleridge’s definition of the difference between poetry and prose: ‘prose – words in their best order; poetry –the best words in their best order.’ In his best pieces, Sam’s poems come close to this exacting ideal, but there are too many pieces that read like careless streams of consciousness that should have been discarded or re-worked before appearing here. This is a large anthology for a work by a single poet. It contains within it a slim volume of poems to treasure, but the reader has to wade through a lot of others to reach them, and I fear that many will not persevere – which is a pity.
I was more than half way through the collection when I reached ‘The Greatest Gift’, an absolute gem. It appears to be about a visit to Florence with a lover who, though still young, is terminally ill. It beautifully balances the bittersweet pleasures of the here and now, with the foreknowledge of what must soon happen, while vividly evoking the beautiful city in which it is set. The use of the changing seasons as a metaphor for the stages of life has many antecedents, but the cliché is cleverly used here, the repetition of ‘It is autumn in Florence’ giving a sonorous frame like the tolling of a passing bell for one who paradoxically seems doomed to die without reaching the autumn of her own life.
There are a number of other pieces in the collection that also work very well – I particularly enjoyed ‘Prejudice’, about a white woman who gets on the wrong train and finds herself in an all-black carriage, an interesting reversal of the usual stereotypical race relations poem.
However, I found many of the poems in the first half of the collection quite hard going. I don’t know what was going on in the author’s life when he wrote them, but they appear to me to be the work of a rather depressed man. Although other people appear in the poems, they leave little impression because they are always refracted through the author’s self -obsession. That leaves us with far too many pages of the author’s thoughts about himself, unleavened by any trace of humour, or much empathy with the lived experience of others. I found the level of narcissism hard to take, which may reflect a cultural difference. The writing may have been therapeutic for the author, but this British reviewer felt that what he really needed were a few cheerful mates to take him down the pub and stop him spending so much time writing gloomy poetry. The poems that he did then write would perhaps have been better.
Other reviews have praised the craftsmanship of the poems. A large and diverse vocabulary gives the author a vivid palette with which to draw his word pictures, there are certainly some arresting images, and some of the poems are cleverly structured, with intelligent use of repeated refrains and occasional rhymes to give a sense of rhythm and structure. However, there are also examples of tired language (‘speaking volumes’) and of images that don’t quite work (‘visions swarmed like grape seeds’), and of statements that appear profound at first hearing but which become meaningless (‘karmic rage’, ‘his mind was their judgement seat’) or banal(‘the more you think you know him, the less you really know him’) or just plain wrong when you subject them to a bit of thought (‘the brave yearns to die’ –not just wrong, but dangerously so in this age of terrorists in love with martyrdom).
Some of the earliest poems are the weakest, melodramas about cuckolded lovers killing themselves (the wine writer), or exacting gruesome revenge (the human shock absorber). They are untypical of much of the rest of the collection, less subtle and less well crafted. Placing them together at the start of the anthology certainly influenced me unfavourably and perhaps made me less receptive to what followed.
I love Coleridge’s definition of the difference between poetry and prose: ‘prose – words in their best order; poetry –the best words in their best order.’ In his best pieces, Sam’s poems come close to this exacting ideal, but there are too many pieces that read like careless streams of consciousness that should have been discarded or re-worked before appearing here. This is a large anthology for a work by a single poet. It contains within it a slim volume of poems to treasure, but the reader has to wade through a lot of others to reach them, and I fear that many will not persevere – which is a pity.
July 22, 2017
The best word to describe the poetry in Flashes of Emotion is edgy. The second best word is obfuscation. Third would be sobering. Poetry is hard to write well and this collection, like most collections, was uneven. The good ones were very good and the not so good were not so good. Overall I liked the collection. Many poems said what should be said and did so artfully; can’t ask more than that.
My reaction to many poems was disbelief in how lives could go so wrong; as if the poet’s world is peopled by borderline personalities (those who think in black and white and can turn on you for hiccupping wrong) and evil forces. Not much nuance, more of a blunt instrument.
Then there is the obfuscation. “It was obvious from the beginning this vision was different/Its sheer force stripped myths of their mythical refinements/Like a satire pillaging the embellishments of tyranny,” was not obvious to me. Too often, too much work to uncover edification.
If you are a poetry fan, you may love this collection. If not, maybe not.
My reaction to many poems was disbelief in how lives could go so wrong; as if the poet’s world is peopled by borderline personalities (those who think in black and white and can turn on you for hiccupping wrong) and evil forces. Not much nuance, more of a blunt instrument.
Then there is the obfuscation. “It was obvious from the beginning this vision was different/Its sheer force stripped myths of their mythical refinements/Like a satire pillaging the embellishments of tyranny,” was not obvious to me. Too often, too much work to uncover edification.
If you are a poetry fan, you may love this collection. If not, maybe not.
August 24, 2017
Flashes of Emotion, by Augustine Sam, is an eclectic collection of poems that will make readers feel, think and reflect on the nature and meaning of a human life. Separated into 4 sections, each set of poems within the book touches on the writer's different experiences in the world, and many deal with the complexities of love. Sam had some fun with the text as well, with words being scattered in different forms throughout the page, which will shape readers experience with the poems in a unique way.
The language within the poems themselves is highly intellectual, the metaphors rich and the descriptions sensual. I particularly enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd sections, titled 'Musings' and 'Palpitation'; the poems in them have a dreamy, romantic quality that allows a reader to imagine beyond the page. Within Sam's poetic musings there are also many moments of solitude, and it is from these that I found the most space for reflection, as in his poems 'a solitary observer' and 'my last chance.' both of which are beautifully written. Perhaps my favorite poems in the collection directly follow these two - 'poetic waltz' and 'passions & words', both highly romantic, sensual and musical poems celebrating dreams, love, connection, & beauty in the arts.
Flashes of Emotion is a collection of poetry that will appeal to many poetry readers, but will also be enjoyable to readers of other genres - romantic and literary fiction, or those interested in philosophy, psychology and art. In essence, it does what poetry should do -it makes us feel and wonder at our own unique humanity, and gives readers an experience guided by both sense and experience.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The language within the poems themselves is highly intellectual, the metaphors rich and the descriptions sensual. I particularly enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd sections, titled 'Musings' and 'Palpitation'; the poems in them have a dreamy, romantic quality that allows a reader to imagine beyond the page. Within Sam's poetic musings there are also many moments of solitude, and it is from these that I found the most space for reflection, as in his poems 'a solitary observer' and 'my last chance.' both of which are beautifully written. Perhaps my favorite poems in the collection directly follow these two - 'poetic waltz' and 'passions & words', both highly romantic, sensual and musical poems celebrating dreams, love, connection, & beauty in the arts.
Flashes of Emotion is a collection of poetry that will appeal to many poetry readers, but will also be enjoyable to readers of other genres - romantic and literary fiction, or those interested in philosophy, psychology and art. In essence, it does what poetry should do -it makes us feel and wonder at our own unique humanity, and gives readers an experience guided by both sense and experience.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2016
Flashes of Emotion is a poetry collection which explores emotions such as love and hate, isolation and prejudice. The writer takes us on both an emotional and physical journey around the world to cities including Florence, London and New York.
The precise use of language and metaphor immerses the reader in the drama of the moment. A well-crafted poem, like a good screenplay uses as few words as possible to convey meaning and this is a notion that this writer has clearly understood. The poem, Images, perfectly demonstrates this, (as well as an understanding of poetic structure), using words sparingly for maximum impact.
It was difficult to choose the stand-out poems as they are all beautifully written. But if I had to, it would be Elegy for the Captive and Poetry in Motion. The first, because it perfectly revealed the isolation of imprisonment and the latter, as it is a beguiling love poem.
I received a free copy of this book.
The precise use of language and metaphor immerses the reader in the drama of the moment. A well-crafted poem, like a good screenplay uses as few words as possible to convey meaning and this is a notion that this writer has clearly understood. The poem, Images, perfectly demonstrates this, (as well as an understanding of poetic structure), using words sparingly for maximum impact.
It was difficult to choose the stand-out poems as they are all beautifully written. But if I had to, it would be Elegy for the Captive and Poetry in Motion. The first, because it perfectly revealed the isolation of imprisonment and the latter, as it is a beguiling love poem.
I received a free copy of this book.
December 20, 2016
I'm not a great reader of poetry but in my humble opinion this is an exceptional collection which I recommend to all readers, especially poetry readers and lovers of romance.
The imagery is so fresh and vivid it paints pictures in the mind and as a reader I was able to recognise those fleeting emotions that are so hard to capture. I started to note my favourites as I read, but the list became too long. I did particularly like the Hermitage and 'cough cough' I feel a need to mention Sonnet to a Dame Over Fifty.
I'm afraid I don't know the technical terms but the poems had the structure and rhythm of the poetry I was tortured by at school, only with fresh, modern sentiments I was able to relate to them in a way I couldn't during my school days. I hope it is okay to include a short segment from one of them. (Any errors are my own as I was unable to copy & paste from my kindle).
"I stand in captivating solitude and watch
As life, in its omnipotence, swirls around me
Daring its audience to decipher it magnificence and its doom
In the amphitheatre of life"
Very enjoyable, a collection to savour and re-visit.
The imagery is so fresh and vivid it paints pictures in the mind and as a reader I was able to recognise those fleeting emotions that are so hard to capture. I started to note my favourites as I read, but the list became too long. I did particularly like the Hermitage and 'cough cough' I feel a need to mention Sonnet to a Dame Over Fifty.
I'm afraid I don't know the technical terms but the poems had the structure and rhythm of the poetry I was tortured by at school, only with fresh, modern sentiments I was able to relate to them in a way I couldn't during my school days. I hope it is okay to include a short segment from one of them. (Any errors are my own as I was unable to copy & paste from my kindle).
"I stand in captivating solitude and watch
As life, in its omnipotence, swirls around me
Daring its audience to decipher it magnificence and its doom
In the amphitheatre of life"
Very enjoyable, a collection to savour and re-visit.
September 16, 2015
At first, I didn't like the poems as much until I reach The Misunderstood Lunatic and I completely relate to it in someway. And then The Human Shock Absorber just continues the flow. It just keeps on getting better. For a long time I didn't read poems that make me feel so much emotions all at once, dealing with various themes and in the end, I find myself with a profound introspection. That's when you know it is good poetry. Augustine Sam delivers a great writing filled with challenging themes and emotions. In fall time, reading this over a some hot chocolate, in a big sofa with a beautiful view outside is the perfect picture for me. This collection encourages us to reflect, takes time to admire the flow and rhythm that each word, each meaning has to offer.
May 24, 2016
Book Readers Review
Flashes of Emotion is a book of poems written to reflect life, love, death, pain, joy and many kinds of emotion. The author is eloquent and has a subtle use of language. The poems are reasonably short and easy to read conveying meanings that may be interpreted by the reader. It is definitely a book of poems to be savored and returned to on many occasions.
Augustine has captured the essence of an emotion and relayed this in beautiful language. If you are a poetry lover you will cherish this book and experience. I have read most of the poems twice and still marvel at the range of feelings elicited by these wonderful words.
The author provided me with a copy in return for an unbiased review. My rating is a five plus stars and recommend those who love poetry to have a copy in their library. If you are not a frequent reader of poetry Augustine’s poems will change your view. This is a rare collection.
http://bookread-mumswritings.blogspot...
Flashes of Emotion is a book of poems written to reflect life, love, death, pain, joy and many kinds of emotion. The author is eloquent and has a subtle use of language. The poems are reasonably short and easy to read conveying meanings that may be interpreted by the reader. It is definitely a book of poems to be savored and returned to on many occasions.
Augustine has captured the essence of an emotion and relayed this in beautiful language. If you are a poetry lover you will cherish this book and experience. I have read most of the poems twice and still marvel at the range of feelings elicited by these wonderful words.
The author provided me with a copy in return for an unbiased review. My rating is a five plus stars and recommend those who love poetry to have a copy in their library. If you are not a frequent reader of poetry Augustine’s poems will change your view. This is a rare collection.
http://bookread-mumswritings.blogspot...
January 2, 2017
Flashes of Emotion: Poems by Augustine Sam is a collection of poems by a writer who has lived, loved, and observed human nature. They are delightful wry insights into the human condition and they are written by an observer who has empathy and compassion for his subjects, and is a lover who persists inspite of his and the subjects frailities, excentricities, and other conditions. His use of language is sophisticated and excellent explaining to the reader the writer’s views.
I give this collection of poems a five out of a possible five star rating. I enjoyed it very much. It is well presented to the reader in an attractive format, and I appreciate that.
I give this collection of poems a five out of a possible five star rating. I enjoyed it very much. It is well presented to the reader in an attractive format, and I appreciate that.
February 9, 2016
Flashes of Emotion by Augustine Sam has a classical edge, yet feels current in its raw energy. Poetry simply put is not like this anymore, which makes it all together unique and refreshing. I enjoyed the deep description and rhythm as they are quite different from my own writing. You won’t find words or thoughts like these at slams, or online, therefore it is well worth your time.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
February 27, 2015
Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite
"Augustine Sam's Flashes of Emotion: A Collections of Poems is romantic poetry that looks into a vast array of subjects: love, pain, death and other life matters that evoke our sentiments. Having read his previous work, Take Back the Memory, a contemporary women’s fiction, I was curious to get to know him as a poet. I wasn't disappointed. His poems are written in a vivid and refreshing style. This makes the collection easy to relate to even by the casual readers of poetry like me. Sam's compilation is pleasurable to read and to reread.
The book opens with the thought-provoking poems under the segment Lips and Wits. My favorite, however, is A Solitary Observer under the segment Musings.
I stand in pensive solitude and watch
As life, in its omnipotence, swirls around me
Sucking me into a kaleidoscope of its timeless grace
Dazzling me with contrasting colors
Sam knows how to put across emotions and thoughts, and they resonate from every poem. Personally, the collection as a whole seems to be mostly tinged with a certain somberness or, if I may say, a metaphoric darkness for me. Other readers, however, might have different interpretations.
In Sam’s own words, this book is definitely “a little anthem to celebrate the human spirit.” For poetry lovers, Flashes of Emotion is certainly a collection of poems that they want to sink their teeth into. The depth of sentiment and reflection explored in each poem is more than enough for anyone to contemplate in a long time."
*************************************************
"Journalists can be a pretty soul-less bunch at times, and while they are great at communicating hard facts they are generally less adept at expressing their feelings and their sensitivities. That’s not true of all journalists, of course, and it certainly isn't true of Augustine Sam who has somehow managed to combine a career in mainstream journalism with an equally successful career as a creative writer and poet extraordinaire, picking up awards and accolades left, right and center for his amazing poems. This anthology allows us to tap into Augustine's insights on a wide variety of topics from life and love to death and drudgery - a collection that showcases this journo-poet's lively, refreshing, and innovative style."
- Andy Smith FRGS FCIJ
Editor, The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, U.K.
******************************************
"This collection deserved to be published. Its well composed verses are a prime example of thought-provoking poetry—a marriage of Old World charm and modern day romance. A 'must have' for anyone who has ever experienced love, pain, defeat, or joy."
- Anna Marie Fritz
Author of The Dream Garden & Anna-Versery poetry series.
******************************************
"Gems in an elegant setting."
- John Zimmerman, Poet
******************************************
"Creative, intriguing, and impressive."
- Gwen Dickerson, Poet & writer
******************************************
"Augustine Sam's Flashes of Emotion: A Collections of Poems is romantic poetry that looks into a vast array of subjects: love, pain, death and other life matters that evoke our sentiments. Having read his previous work, Take Back the Memory, a contemporary women’s fiction, I was curious to get to know him as a poet. I wasn't disappointed. His poems are written in a vivid and refreshing style. This makes the collection easy to relate to even by the casual readers of poetry like me. Sam's compilation is pleasurable to read and to reread.
The book opens with the thought-provoking poems under the segment Lips and Wits. My favorite, however, is A Solitary Observer under the segment Musings.
I stand in pensive solitude and watch
As life, in its omnipotence, swirls around me
Sucking me into a kaleidoscope of its timeless grace
Dazzling me with contrasting colors
Sam knows how to put across emotions and thoughts, and they resonate from every poem. Personally, the collection as a whole seems to be mostly tinged with a certain somberness or, if I may say, a metaphoric darkness for me. Other readers, however, might have different interpretations.
In Sam’s own words, this book is definitely “a little anthem to celebrate the human spirit.” For poetry lovers, Flashes of Emotion is certainly a collection of poems that they want to sink their teeth into. The depth of sentiment and reflection explored in each poem is more than enough for anyone to contemplate in a long time."
*************************************************
"Journalists can be a pretty soul-less bunch at times, and while they are great at communicating hard facts they are generally less adept at expressing their feelings and their sensitivities. That’s not true of all journalists, of course, and it certainly isn't true of Augustine Sam who has somehow managed to combine a career in mainstream journalism with an equally successful career as a creative writer and poet extraordinaire, picking up awards and accolades left, right and center for his amazing poems. This anthology allows us to tap into Augustine's insights on a wide variety of topics from life and love to death and drudgery - a collection that showcases this journo-poet's lively, refreshing, and innovative style."
- Andy Smith FRGS FCIJ
Editor, The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, U.K.
******************************************
"This collection deserved to be published. Its well composed verses are a prime example of thought-provoking poetry—a marriage of Old World charm and modern day romance. A 'must have' for anyone who has ever experienced love, pain, defeat, or joy."
- Anna Marie Fritz
Author of The Dream Garden & Anna-Versery poetry series.
******************************************
"Gems in an elegant setting."
- John Zimmerman, Poet
******************************************
"Creative, intriguing, and impressive."
- Gwen Dickerson, Poet & writer
******************************************
July 7, 2016
Augustine Sam’s flashes of emotion is a collection of poetry absolutely beguiling. Split into four halves, this is a vast land of poems to enjoy and enjoy them I did. I feel that the language of the poems are formal and yet the format informal, which had quite an effect on this reader! It is not always a good effect, sometimes jarring. The word thee is used and also everyday words, such as conked. Modern and traditional.
Flashes of emotion is playful and, as I said, the formatting is informal. The sentences can be scattered casually onto the page. Makes this quite fun. You have apple carts, London bridges, image, age, skin colour and a cemetery ‘left ajar, this rusted metal gate, like the heady souls lying behind’ as well as poems of love in this collection. The poems of love, I’m sure all of us have read one or two love poems in our time, are excellent with a raw edge.
I have to point out an observation that there may well be too many comparisons and metaphors in flashes of emotion. Which stuck out for me as I was reading, perhaps because of their similarity in language. These occur particularly in the first half, titled Lips and wits.
The second half, titled Musings, offers many romantic poems, which are appealing and I would recommend skipping straight to reading these. Third half, Palpitation, is more sensual and the poems have much depth to them. Fourth half, Mantra, begun with a beautiful poem that I had to read for a second time. Unrequited love is a theme in this book, but I think of all the poems ode to a beautiful stranger sums this sentiment up the best. I think that are many poems of love in Flashes of emotion and not enough of those that tell the stories of other people, as Prejudice gives a tantalising glimpse at the skills Augustine Sam has of describing different situations and societies. There are details that I feel are personal to the writer threaded into these poems and they endear us to him and his work all the more.
My favourite poems are ‘The human shock absorber’,‘Spell of desire’ and ‘Poetry in motion’
Overall flashes of emotion is an electric and dizzying collection of poetry.
Flashes of emotion is playful and, as I said, the formatting is informal. The sentences can be scattered casually onto the page. Makes this quite fun. You have apple carts, London bridges, image, age, skin colour and a cemetery ‘left ajar, this rusted metal gate, like the heady souls lying behind’ as well as poems of love in this collection. The poems of love, I’m sure all of us have read one or two love poems in our time, are excellent with a raw edge.
I have to point out an observation that there may well be too many comparisons and metaphors in flashes of emotion. Which stuck out for me as I was reading, perhaps because of their similarity in language. These occur particularly in the first half, titled Lips and wits.
The second half, titled Musings, offers many romantic poems, which are appealing and I would recommend skipping straight to reading these. Third half, Palpitation, is more sensual and the poems have much depth to them. Fourth half, Mantra, begun with a beautiful poem that I had to read for a second time. Unrequited love is a theme in this book, but I think of all the poems ode to a beautiful stranger sums this sentiment up the best. I think that are many poems of love in Flashes of emotion and not enough of those that tell the stories of other people, as Prejudice gives a tantalising glimpse at the skills Augustine Sam has of describing different situations and societies. There are details that I feel are personal to the writer threaded into these poems and they endear us to him and his work all the more.
My favourite poems are ‘The human shock absorber’,‘Spell of desire’ and ‘Poetry in motion’
Overall flashes of emotion is an electric and dizzying collection of poetry.
March 9, 2015
Flashes of Emotion by Augustine Sam is the kind of poetry collection which leaves a poet spread eagle and vulnerable. I feel I know Augustine Sam. It is a singular joy to know an artist through their art. Sam is open and fragile. He is a poet of whom I want to know more. Through the course of the poetry I can say I have seen and come to a fledgeling understanding of the male mysteries and coming from a confirmed feminist, that itself is gracefully high praise. The use of language and allusions to cultural norms is masterful, while his tone plays the chasing dawn of a morning sun we're unwilling to wait and see. Flashes of Emotion affected me. It tugged at my frosted heart and guided me to a sympathetic cognizance of the masculine Dilemma, highlighted more now with the rise of global movements empowering the female. Where are the men in all this? Tumbled, left like the Speaker is left as a lonesome voyeur while the young, or the coupled or the surreal continue on their way.
If I were to criticize the collection, I would say some of the poems feel a bit oxymoronic, with a few of the lines less balanced than others. A few of the poems were forgettable as soon as halfway through, but those poems Augustine Sam rocked were outstanding. I recommend Flashes of Emotion to every poetry lover who wants love songs and outside angles from a tender, elder masculine perspective.
It's very much worth the read.
February 16, 2015
A variety of challenging themes are explored; love, religion, race and mental illness to name a few; yet it is presented so beautifully it is not difficult to read about these issues. These poems are like any good piece of art; shedding like on their subject, but not forcing the viewer to look at it, just allowing it to be seen as it truly is.
At times the poems are structured unorthodoxly in order to better convey their message, the meaning of the poetry literally reshaping what is on the page. They display an ambitious use of language, containing an array of emotions which are communicated brilliantly. The works demonstrate clearly the author's literacy skill and I look forward to any future offerings from them.
I had intended to read these poems less quickly, allowing time to read a few and then contemplate them, however this collection is so mesmerising I found myself reading it in just two sittings. The flow and rhythm of the poetry is enticing and almost addictive. However this is the kind of work you can read over and over again and still find new meaning and I have no fear that I won't have a lot to ponder after reading this, the material in this book is enough to keep your mind occupied and your emotions whirling for a long time after you finish it.
At times the poems are structured unorthodoxly in order to better convey their message, the meaning of the poetry literally reshaping what is on the page. They display an ambitious use of language, containing an array of emotions which are communicated brilliantly. The works demonstrate clearly the author's literacy skill and I look forward to any future offerings from them.
I had intended to read these poems less quickly, allowing time to read a few and then contemplate them, however this collection is so mesmerising I found myself reading it in just two sittings. The flow and rhythm of the poetry is enticing and almost addictive. However this is the kind of work you can read over and over again and still find new meaning and I have no fear that I won't have a lot to ponder after reading this, the material in this book is enough to keep your mind occupied and your emotions whirling for a long time after you finish it.
February 22, 2015
This is a wonderful collection of poems dealing with a variety of subjects--the title is definitely very suitable because it does deal with flashes of (all different sorts) of emotions. It was very pleasant and relaxing to read, and many of the pieces are just absolutely beautiful. Augustine Sam's writing style really shows how well he is at conveying emotions and thoughts... as well as how well of a grasp he has on manipulating the English language to get his ideas across in a beautiful way. If you are a poetry lover, you will have to read this book--you will be pleased with what you will find.
September 20, 2015
This was a great collection of poems for me. I love poetry it is one of my first loves! This book is a great collection and a great representation of poems. I loved it! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
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