1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A new poet on the rise!, November 28, 2001
This review is from: Motion Sickness (Paperback)
"As we take this life long trip
The motions at times can make us sick
Love and Hate
And the thin line that may break
Can sometimes make us lose our faith"
The passage above comes from the opening of Terry O'Neal's new book titled, MOTION SICKNESS. Not only does it give meaning to what this collection of poems entails, but it sums up what happens to us emotionally when the complexities of life overwhelms us and cause us to lose our sense of direction and hope. Throughout this book, Ms. O'Neal takes us through the ups and downs associated with motion sickness with verses that deal with the misunderstanding men and women have about their roles in relationships, to what it really means to be and look black in America. The question why do bad things always happen to good people is what readers will recognize immediately about the private ponderings of the persona in the poem, "A Disguise." A sense of pride is felt for the stepmother in, "Bond With Me," as she vows to be the best parent she can be to her stepchild. While sympathy is given for the stepmother who feels threatened and helpless by the presence of an ever-controlling maternal mother in the poem, "No Win." But in spite of all the chaos and problems we encounter in life, Ms. O'Neal also reminds us that there are some traditions and expectations we have in our lives such as momma's good down-home cookin' outlined in the poem, "Back Home" that brings comfort and joy which sustains us.
Overall, Ms. O'Neal presents a collection of poems, which addresses life's trials and tribulations in hopes that it brings enlightenment and more understanding to human life. MOTION SICKNESS is a smooth easy read. Still, knowing that motion sickness can be a jolting experience for most, I was expecting this collection to match its title and be more compelling in terms of form, rhythm and timbre. I simply feel the title of this book carries more impact than the poems themselves.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Collection, November 18, 2001
This review is from: Motion Sickness (Paperback)
Terry O'Neal shares her collection of poetry in her first book
entitled Motion Sickness. It is a compilation of poems that range in
topics including relationships between black men and women, how to be
comfortable being yourself, and instilling self-esteem in your
children while they're young. It also covers the arenas of loving
and losing someone to death, being true to yourself, and having faith
in yourself and in God.
To discuss each of the poems in the book would take away from the
book, but not to mention some of my favorites would do an injustice
to this nice collection of poetry centered on everyday emotions and
feelings. Some of those that I was fond of and that "stuck" with me
are below along with my interpretation of them.
The Honor - teaches us to love black men despite the things they do
that we may not like or agree with.
Common Thoughts/World War Ways - these poems teach us that we
shouldn't focus on living up to the standards of others or on being
better than someone else. We should simply be ourselves and not
worry about what others think.
Kind Words - reminds us to be cordial and friendly with those we
encounter on a day-to-day basis. I REALLY enjoyed this one because
it reminds me of people you pass in hallways, stores, and other
places that walk by you without any sign of greeting.
Little Black Child - a mother's plea for her child's self-esteem. I
really enjoyed this poem because I believe it's important to instill
a sense of self-esteem in children while they're young.
Motion Sickness - speaks of a desire to move on with life without
repeating previous pain and trials of the past.
Back Home - talks of the good ole cooking you get back home and how
it feels to go back after being away for a while. This is another of
my favorites of the book because everyone knows there is nothing like
good home cooking!
Boomerang - teaches us to do good things even though they may not be
reciprocated or appreciated. The main lesson is to continue them
because in the end you will be rewarded and reap the benefits of your
kindness.
Faith in You - a parent's message to their child letting them know
that they can do anything with faith in God. Also, it tells of the
parent's faith that the child can do anything they set their minds to
do.
Those are only a few of the poems that are in this collection and I'm
sure every reader will find quite a few that personally touch them
and reflect their feelings about the same topics. Ms. O'Neal closes
the book with Lesson's Learned; short passages of lesson's she's
learned throughout her life. Of those listed, my favorite and one I
try to live by myself is: "never put all of my faith into one
person. It is too much pressure on them and a big disappointment to
you."
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other poetry lovers and
also to those who like to reflect on life. I look forward to future
works by Ms. O'Neal and commend her on a job well done.
Reviewed by Tee C. Royal for AALBC.com
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