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Reviews for
Boy Kant You Read
Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle
Boy, Kant You Read! is a compelling book of poetry by Aubrey E Drummond, expressed in free-form verses and labeled with titles and dates that correspond to the period in which the piece was written or copyrighted. The author includes some observations during his life, speaking out about his experiences with racism and his hope for unity in America. Other topics in his work consider missed chances, grief, and loss. Drummond includes the dialect of his area in many poems and several selections about a romance are written in lovely detail. Drummond dedicated the book to his late wife, and some verses seem to be about her. Emotions spill across the pages as Aubrey E Drummond expresses his views. Some verses echo notes of practical advice, while others shed light on the effects of racism and the mentality of a man who has seen decades of it in different forms. Even though the lines don't rhyme, they have a definite rhythm, and the author toys with acrostic placement and a fantasy piece in a couple of his poems. In the introduction, Drummond mentions he was influenced by Langston Hughes and dedicates a poem to him. In some pieces, like Spirit Death, the author uses deep imagery and lures the reader in with lines like "bashing it about the cold iron cells of unending lies." Drummond's work is powerful, relevant, and easy to read. Readers who like realistic poetry in free verse will enjoy Boy, Kant You Read!
Reviewed by Foluso Falaye
Boy, Kant You Read! is a collection of succinct and thoughtful poems that reflect Aubrey E Drummond's mindset and thoughts on a variety of experiences. A poem titled President depicts a "colored child" who laughs at a teacher's statement about working hard enough to become president in 1968 and depicts a joyful celebration in 2008. In Money, Drummond shares his views on the destructive effect of money on the human spirit. The poem ends with some words of advice on when to spend money and when not. Bitter False Twin Dreams is about a dreadful moment involving loss and guilt. A mother grieves while the protagonist expresses seeing the representation of a painful act on his hands. In Holy, the reader is transported into a church scene involving the bang of tambourines. Aubrey's riveting collection contains poems about different topics, including education, prejudice, politics, money, home ownership, loss, church, and more. Aubrey E Drummond speaks straight from the heart and doesn't bother with complex words that might alienate part of his audience. The poems are usually made up of short lines that tell intriguing stories and deep, meaningful messages. One particular poem, which mostly consists of one or two words in each line, brings attention to the frustration associated with lengthened obligations. It reminded me of the chores that seemed endless in childhood. From poems that evoke vivid images in the mind to words that describe intriguing memories and smart comments on social issues, Boy, Kant You Read! is a skillfully written collection that will appeal to a broad audience. Both poetry enthusiasts and individuals who are not core fans of poetry will love this book with its concise and carefully selected words and stories!
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
Aubrey E. Drummond draws on his life experiences to present a moving collection of poems with Boy, Kant You Read! Written in an authentic style using free verse, these poems tell the story of a life filled with the good and the bad, love and hate, layered with bittersweet moments one never forgets. The titular poem "Boy, Kant You Read!" recounts the experiences of a black child facing the ramifications of segregation. "Cancer" is a heartbreaking poem about losing a loved one to the disease. "I Should Be Afraid" calls out one particularly divisive leader in America. "One Nation" is a moving poem calling for unity under one flag regardless of race, religion, or gender. "When I Look at You" is a beautiful ode to someone the narrator cares about. Boy, Kant You Read! is a deeply personal and intimate collection of poems. Aubrey E. Drummond pours his heart into these mesmerizing verses that offer readers a glimpse into a fully lived life. Through his poetry, the author also touches upon some vital social issues that are still relevant today. Drummond displays a distinctive lyrical flair that is unique and very immersive to the reader. This type of confessional poetry makes you contemplate your own place in this world. There is a relatable quality to Drummond's poetic storytelling that you can't help but love. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems and found it very inspiring and illuminating. If you love reading poetry, especially confessional poetry, this is what you're looking for.
Reviews for
Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool
Reviewed by K. C. Finn
Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool is a work of collected poetry in the grief, slice of life, and expressive writing subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Aubrey E. Drummond, this interesting work is a soul-stirring poetry collection delving into themes of love, life, grief, and death through the lens of a black man's perspective, offering poignant reflections and emotional depth. Drummond uses a unique perspective and charismatic writing style to craft an immersive journey into the raw emotions and intricate complexities of life. Each verse pulsates with vivid imagery and profound introspection, inviting readers to explore the depths of human experience through some stunning wordplay and symbolic imagery. Drummond's ability to blend reality and fantasy creates a rich tapestry that resonates long after the final pages are turned, conjuring visions in readers’ minds of populated scenes where emotions are on full display. Some of my particular favorites included the optimism and awakening in the simple but highly effective ‘Fresh Paint’ and the deeply empowering ‘Half Wing’ which speaks strongly of supporting others. As I delved deeper into the collection, I was captivated by the honesty and vulnerability of the author’s words, which spoke directly to the heart. Overall, Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool is a poetry collection that is ideal for readers seeking a visceral and honest exploration of the human condition, and it offers solace, insight, and catharsis to anyone willing to embark on this unforgettable literary journey.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
Aubrey E. Drummond brings readers another enthralling collection of poems. Following his debut collection Boy, Kant You Read!, Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool is an absorbing and eclectic collection of poems. The book opens with 'Yellow Sandy Hair,' a nostalgic poem celebrating the memory of a loved one. In 'The Voice,' the narrator looks into aspects of the self that got left behind over time. Not all things can be replaced by the new -- beautifully expressed in 'Old Shoes.' 'Coming Home' is a short yet touching poem about a family member returning home from war. The narrator expresses his deepest desires in 'What I Hunger For.' The spark of creativity and innovation strikes in unforeseen ways, wonderfully demonstrated through the poem 'Inspiration.' One of the many things I enjoy about Aubrey E. Drummond's poetry is his honest and bold approach to the verses. Structurally and even tonally, Drummond's poems may differ, yet the larger narrative always feels well-defined and traverses the broad spectrum of observational and confessional poetry. The author crafts stanzas about seemingly mundane things in life and makes them emotionally effective and relatable to the reader. This is clearly evident in the poem 'Old Shoes.' Aside from his intimate slice-of-life poetry, Drummond doesn't hesitate to shed light on relevant social issues through his poems. The titular poem finishes the collection with a dose of humor and heart and almost feels like a gentle message to the reader about enjoying the little things in life. In conclusion, Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool is another gem of a poetry collection by Aubrey E. Drummond and one that I will heartily recommend.
Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila
Aubrey E Drummond's collection of poems, Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool, is a deeply emotional and reflective work inspired by his late wife Kathleen Ann Drummond. The poems explore a range of themes, from love and sacrifice to overcoming adversity and appreciating life's moments. It features imagery of a ballerina who is unappreciated by her lover, as well as a journey through different stages of life. These provide a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience, highlighting the importance of gratitude and resilience. The author delves into the struggles of the oppressed who seek freedom, the fulfillment of childhood dreams, and the challenges of maturity. The book includes sad poems about bidding farewell to loved ones and reaching the end of the road. Readers will also find poems about hunger for love and passion, and a lesson from Grandma on the importance of food and praising the Lord. Eating 'Round the Toilet Stool provides a touching and poignant exploration of Aubrey E Drummond’s relationship with Kathleen and the impact she had on his life. It is his second collection, and it evokes a spectrum of emotions. Through heartfelt reflections and well-crafted storytelling, readers are taken on a profound journey through the intricacies of life, allowing them to resonate with its raw and emotional essence. The poems beautifully encapsulate the ups and downs of life, urging readers to embrace every moment, whether it brings happiness or sadness. They will be moved by the emotional depth and wisdom woven throughout this poetry collection, leaving a lasting impact on them. Overall, I enjoyed this collection because it is relatable and unique.
Reviewed by Stephen Dudas
Must read 🏆 A stunning, lyrical collection long in the making by an exceptional poetic talent. Aubrey E. Drummond’s Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool is a collection long in the making. It is perhaps a book that has been biding its time, waiting for the right moment to emerge. But just as likely, it is the collection readers have been unwittingly waiting for, needing. Largely written almost 30 years ago, Drummond’s poems are sharp, smart, perceptive pieces of a master craftsman at work. In love poems, allegorical narratives, and memoiristic recollections, Drummond displays a powerful talent for pushing plainspoken language into lyrical realms. Lines throughout Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool are tight, wasting nothing as they render distinct ideas, music, and images across the individual poems. Drummond is inviting the reader to witness both small moments—fragments of sensory, emotional, and intellectual experience—and scenes that feel richly imbued with memory and significance from the poet’s history of personal experience. Especially in the construction of the short lyric (“Old Shoe” and “Red Apple” stand out, for example), Drummond’s skill is enviable. A curious trait of collection is the attention it draws to time through the inclusion of copyright dates for each individual poem. Most of the poems are dated in 1998, but a number also include a date for a rewrite or revision of the text. Why Drummond has included a copyright date for each poem rather than relying on the protection of the copyright date for the entire collection is open to speculation. The poems could just have easily been marked with a date beneath the poem (as poets or editors of collected editions often do—“May 1998,” for instance). Regardless of the reason for the meticulous inclusion of copyright dates, Drummond’s announcement of a poem’s original moment of composition is important. The reader can see that many of the poems were written around the same time, some especially close to one another. These pieces emerge from a very specific moment in the poet’s writing career, and this paratextual detail adds weight to Drummond’s obvious complexity as a poet whose mind was (and, likely, has always been) in number of places at once. To publish the results of a period of high productivity decades later suggests that Drummond’s creative practice is very much in sync with something at the conceptual core of this collection—poetry’s capacity to reach and affect us through and across time. Drummond’s Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool is nothing short of remarkable. It is an essential read. Though it has taken a long time to reveal itself, the book enters our contemporary moment as a powerful rendering of its author’s unique perspective.
Reviews for
How Hot It Be in Hell
Reviewed by K. C. Finn
How Hot It Be in Hell by Aubrey E. Drummond is a poignant collection of 39 poems that traverse the spectrum of human emotions, from the depths of personal despair to moments of love, happiness, and existential reflection. Through raw and visceral language, Drummond explores themes such as life, death, and internal strife, often focusing on the darker aspects of the human condition. This poetry collection provides a powerful and unflinching look at the complexities of existence, concluding in a haunting meditation on mortality and the search for meaning through torment. Drummond's ability to convey raw and intense emotion is remarkable, and I loved the simplicity of his wordplay that evoked such strong images with so few words. Each poetic moment taps into the reader’s innermost feelings, making complex emotions like sadness, rage, and regret palpable through stark language and sudden references that wake you up to some of the feelings that we’re all constantly pushing away from ourselves. Aubrey E. Drummond skillfully employs symbolism throughout the collection to create moments that stick deep in your mind; for example in ‘Broken,’ one of my favorites, where shattered objects represent fractured human relationships. This ability to weave deeper meanings into everyday experiences makes readers notice those mundane moments with a lot more meaning. The exploration of heavy themes like death, madness, and existential dread never feels forced. Instead, it builds an emotional resonance that lingers long after reading; for example in the rhythmic feel of ‘Drink the Drink,’ another poem that stuck with me, where repetition mirrors the cycle of destructive habits. Overall, How Hot It Be in Hell is an unmissable collection for fans of accomplished and emotionally bold poetry.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka
Treat yourself to an eclectic collection of poems with Aubrey E. Drummond's How Hot It Be In Hell. The poem "Lady Dee" tells the story of a woman who had it all until she stabbed her lover to death. "Black Lines" takes readers through the art of writing poetry from scratch and shows how it derives meaning. "The Color of Love" is a beautiful poem that plays around the adage of love being blind. In "Down Home Girl," a predator watches the mesmerizing dance of a young bohemian woman. "Drink the Drink" follows the misadventures of a drunkard looking for a fight. Two lovers share their feelings for each other in "Having Fun With the Please Please." "Hobo" presents the story of a homeless man who reveals how he lost everything he holds dear. Aubrey E. Drummond has some unique and illuminating insights about the human condition that he expresses through his poetry, and the poems in this collection are no different. In How Hot It Be In Hell, the author presents a diverse collection of poems that focus on different facets of the human experience. Using lyrical stanzas and clever wordplay, Drummond tells stories that are heartwarming, surreal, horrifying, dark, and sometimes even thrilling. Drummond incorporates different genres into his poetic storytelling, including romance, horror, and mystery. This collection feels a bit more experimental thematically than the author's other poetry that I've read so far. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. For anyone who loves poetry as an art form, this book is a must-read. As always, I will continue to recommend Drummond's poetry books.
Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle
Aubrey E Drummond wrote and rewrote the pieces in How Hot It Be in Hell from 1979 to 2000. As readers turn the pages, they will see verses about the beauty and pain in nature, a whimsical poem about Willie losing a girl, and trying to catch a person's sadness unsuccessfully. The words convey the stories of a grief-stricken child who doled out vigilante justice, the tale of an uneager lover who rid herself of her nightly commitment, and the fingers of melancholy gripping you as you try to bring cheer to another person. Readers may find titles like "Balloon Death" and "Flower" could mean so much more than the words suggest. Do you feel angry, melancholy, or aching for a drink? After you stare at the thought-provoking cover, walk with Aubrey E Drummond and tour the eerie remnants of a war-worn fortress, view different perspectives of love, watch heartache in a winter backdrop, glimpse a voyeur who lusts after innocence, follow along with a man who is angry with his woman and gets into a bar fight, and witness the cycle of junk many put into their bodies daily. At first glance, the words may seem simple, but if you stop to think about them, the perspective becomes more layered and complex. My advice is to read the entire work and then read it again. I found valuable gems in almost every piece, and I would have missed some of them if I hadn't taken the time to reflect on Drummond's verses. The poet is an author whose lines resonate deeply even when he writes a "meaningless dance of dark charcoal on cotton fields." Just remember as you absorb the lines How Hot It Be in Hell.
BookLife Review
In his third poetry collection, following “Boy Kant You Read!” and “Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool,” Drummond’s muse is the world at its worst, the mind most tainted, and humanity’s horrors in the absence of hope. “Mother, // I’ve been bad before // but never this bad,” he writes in “Final Goodbye,” which explores the speaker’s suicidal mental state, but also the role society has in creating toxic conditions: “You wonder who it was // who stuck the gun in my hand // and showed me how to wave.” Though Drummond’s poems speak to narratives of separate individuals, like the “Down Home Girl” too young to know the connection between her spirited dancing and what the “‘Men-folk’ crave,” they together illuminate a broader shared experience. While the provocative cover suggests content of a fantastical evil, Drummond’s poetry is rooted in the sociological issues that continue to roil our world, like toxic masculinity, misogyny, racism, and poverty. “Down Home Girl” and “Lady Dee” for example, express the loss of sanity and innocence women experience as a result of sexual violence, while “Cotton Snow Flying” and “Black Lines” offer insightful commentary on the damaging effects of racism: “Black marks filling // White paper // no meaning, really [...] The meaningless dance of dark charcoal // on cotton fields.” Besides the various forms of social oppression, making art is also a source of pain, both existential and personal. The collection’s first poem questions poetry’s validity as a form of art, and in “Foggy,” the speaker remarks “the corners of my mind // folds upon itself and // drifts away // and the world spins on.” Though despairing, Drummond’s verses also offer comfort and catharsis. The injustices, violence, and grief he identifies are those various readers suffer from, and many readers will recognize the pain on the page as their own—or learn from them. Though many of these selections sting, Drummond also offers the relief and freedom of urgent truth telling.
Reviewed by Stephen Dudas
Loved it! 😍 Drummond’s latest collection is a stunning, lyrical addition to our ongoing introduction to his poetic talents. Drummond’s How Hot it Be In Hell is a strong showing from the poet behind the collections Boy, Kant You Read and Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool. In this new collection of poems largely composed and revised in the mid and late-90s, Drummond returns to signature treatments of memory, pain, love, and humor. Though the previous collections may exhibit a greater consistency of strength across the poet’s diverse range of formal and conceptual interests, How Hot it Be In Hell is a stunning read from this unique poetic voice. Drummond’s talents are most visible in the short, lyric poems of this collection. The poet has tremendous skill at crafting tight, richly imagistic, sometimes playful poems around singular-yet-complex observations and emotions. A tear falling through fingers to the ground. Emptiness, like a blank page, and the anticipation of feeling fulfilled. These are elegantly assembled moments which, in their brevity and conciseness of poetic language, send a lightning bolt of affect through the reader. Drummond succeeds in a difficult balancing act in the short poems—the appearance of having easily jotted down a brief note that is, in truth, a revelatory grappling with a time and place in experience. The longer narrative poems, though wide-ranging in their subjects and shapes, are perhaps less-consistently successful. Next to the power of the short lyrics, the narratives do not always land with the emotional impact that Drummond is capable of. However, these longer poems do exercise other talents that are not as visible in the short poems. With more space, Drummond takes the opportunity to experiment formally and musically. In several places, Drummond makes use of dialect in ways that add rich depth to the speaker-character. And a number of these poems seem to have obvious sonic relationships with blues patterns. Captivating in their creation of speakers and characters in difficult situations and in their play with musical prosodies, the longer poems may not always rattle the reader as effectively as the short pieces, but they do leave a distinct impression that Drummond is a poet of multifaceted skill sets. Drummond’s How Hot it Be In Hell is an exciting read. And much like with previous collections, the reader is constantly aware of the special relationship this book has with temporality. Each marked with its dates of drafting and revision, these poems are over twenty years in the making. They speak to us from a point of origin much earlier than their publication. And yet, the relevance and sincerity of their messages to our current moment speaks to the timelessness of Drummond’s words and vision. A reader and fan cannot help but wonder how much more Drummond will have to offer us—surely, we have still only seen a small sample from a deep well of artistry.
Reviews for
Blackbird
Reviewed by Emily-Jane
Hills Orford
Life can be quite simple, but it can also be very complex. I prefer the simplicity of life, the idea that perhaps it will go on forever, as we once thought when we were young. In the simple, yet sincere words of Aubrey E Drummond in his book of poetry, Blackbird, readers can explore the beauty of first love, the joys and sorrows that life dishes out, the evil that lurks, and the unending quandary of what it all means. “Tell me, how long is for-ever-more/ When you stay standing, waiting, by open door/ Hoping in time, it will show you more.” But will it show any of us more and more of what? Aubrey E Drummond’s book of poetry, Blackbird, is a distinctive collection that explores the multiple complexities of a life well lived. The poet has dedicated this book to his wife in honor of their love and the life they spent together. He displays a simple form of poetry, one that uses short lines of words, nothing complex or overwhelming. It’s a form that will appeal to a wide audience of readers with his succinctly thoughtful reflections. In his poem titled, “Blackbird,” like the book title, he explores a nocturnal creature of the sky and how it measures those it flies above. “They will never/ see you/ fly/ But when you lose/ the ability/ They will/ say…/ You never tried.” That’s what life is all about, after all: trying. A very personal and enthralling look at life.
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu
Blackbird by Aubrey E. Drummond is a collection of thought-provoking poems that explore the intricacies of life. The poems are organized into five categories: Love, Life, Song, Dark Man, and Darkness. In the Love category, the poems delve into the extremes to which people will go for love, highlighting the often painful complexities of relationships. They explore themes of gratitude, beauty, longing, and heartache. The Life category addresses human struggles, the flow of life, conformity, the loss of dreams and innocence, and feelings of hopelessness. The Song category encompasses poems that convey pain, heartbreak, and the loss of love, as well as themes of spirituality and the beauty of heaven, celebrating life in its entirety. The Dark Man poems examine societal perceptions of people of color, masculinity, and identity. Lastly, the Darkness category captures feelings of despair and torment, exploring fear and the presence of evil that lurks both within and outside. In Blackbird, Drummond presents readers with poems that articulate the profound and complex nature of human experiences. The emotions conveyed by each poem are familiar and will resonate deeply with readers from different backgrounds. Using simple topics, such as a bird losing its partner, the author crafts stories of pain and sorrow. Each poem invites readers to experience everyday life and different moments from multiple perspectives, fostering compassion and understanding for others’ struggles. This reflective quality encourages readers to contemplate their own experiences. With vivid imagery and compelling narratives, Aubrey E. Drummond transports readers to beautiful places, like heaven, as well as to dark moments of helplessness and entrapment. The collection's balance of emotions, from love and joy to hate and pain, perfectly encapsulates the highs and lows of living in this fractured yet beautiful world. The poems are accessible and convey clear themes and messages through simple storytelling. I appreciated the structure of the book, which helps readers navigate the diverse emotions evoked by each category of poems. This is an excellent collection, and I recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of life and emotions.
Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila
Aubrey E Drummond’s Blackbird is a compelling collection of poems categorized into Love, Life, Song, Dark Man, and Darkness. It explores different forms of love, from toxic marriages where you feel trapped and the pain of longing, to strong devotion and youthful passion. They discuss daily living, trying every day to get by and going with the flow, riding on life's wind, forgetting dreams, and feeling hopeless. The author talks about the pain of feeling used and seeking freedom, celebrating the beautiful moments of life and nature. The book addresses the struggles that black men face and the dark and twisted grip of societal pressures, systemic inequalities, and personal battles. Finally, the author captures the haunting essence of darkness, portraying tortured souls wrestling with inner demons and external evils. Blackbird is a deeply moving and relatable collection of poems that perfectly encapsulates the emotional depth of human existence. This is the second work by Aubrey E Drummond that I have read, and it further solidifies his ability to convey complex emotions with nuance and grace. Each poem resonates with authenticity, demonstrating his keen insight into the dualities of love and pain, joy and despair. The categorization of the poems makes this book stand out from other poetry books that often blend themes without a clear structure. The author's intentional divisions allow readers to process different emotions individually and appreciate the layered experiences presented in each section. Drummond continues to advocate for black people's rights, giving powerful commentary on broader societal issues. I applaud this as it encourages discussion and awareness around these critical social themes. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a profound exploration of love, struggle, and resilience.