Palm Lines

Review 1: "A prolific writer endowed with a great mind, wit and ingenuity, Aka Teraka has given poetry lovers and the general reading public, a collection symbolically titled Palm Lines, which indeed is poetry of wits and purpose wrapped in beauty. Rich in figurative language, the thought-provoking poems are not only thematically significant, they are also aesthetically valuable. Split into five parts, the 126-page book contains 55 poems written in unrhymed stanzas with thoughtfully chosen words; the poems have both personal and social relevance. In some of the poems, Teraka writes about his personal experiences, of love, self-discovery and yearning for freedom. The uniqueness of Teraka's poetry flows from many parts. The didactic properties of his poetry cannot be mistaken, and the proverbs he employs put the African touch to his poems. Some may find his diction somewhat complex but will find beauty and meaning in every line with repeated analytical readings. Teraka deserves applause for this creatively crafted work." - Kene Okafor (Nigerian Tribune) read full article: http: //www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/3954-poetry-of-wits-and-purpose - - - - - - - - - - Review 2: "Aka Teraka's collection of poems Palm Lines, is a lyrical delight, an offering that coalesces thoughts about diverse issues into one tidy whole. The volume is moving poetry that takes the reader through the many labyrinths of Teraka's very fertile imagination as he ruminates on the human condition and tries to locate himself within that broad canvas. The five-part poetry collection is at once a journey and a destination both for the author and those fortunate to read it. It also casts a backward and forward glance at his roots and his current shared space in a foreign land and the contradictory intersections that shape the lived experiences. For an artist - musician, poet and linguist - living abroad, in Germany, Teraka's very exploratory and experiential poetry offers an avenue to the human spirit in quest of freedom through the few chinks it can find and the joys awaiting it on the other side. Simply put, Teraka's is an accomplished collection of lyrical poems that dredges the totality of the human condition on its chosen subjects. It's a joyful read " - Anote Ajeluorou (Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria) read full article: http: //www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110726: palm-lines-of-love-home-and-exile&catid=74: arts&Itemid=683