Book Review: Poetic Perceptions
Poetic Perceptions
Book Cover Will be Added Soon
by D Phil
Hardcover Unavailable for Sale from AALBC
(Check with Amazon )
Buy the Kindle eBook
Borrow from Library
Publication Date: Jul 02, 1905
List Price: Unavailable
Format: Hardcover, 43 pages
Classification: Poetry
ISBN13: 9780984278305
Imprint: To Be Determined
Publisher: To Be Determined
Parent Company: To Be Determined
Read a Description of Poetic Perceptions
Book Reviewed by Robert Fleming
Some African-American critics yearn for a return to the fire and passion of
the revolutionary fervor of the 1960s Black Arts Movement, but there are
many clear, perceptive voices such as D Phil, who are now concocting wise,
practical poetic cures for today's Black community in this supposedly
post-racial America. His book of poetry, Poetic Perceptions, addresses
head-on the challenges and obstacles of daily life, the inner soul,
parenting, family, and the responsibilities of relationships in this
confused society.
D Phil, aka Daniel Phillip Webster, a former photojournalist with the U.S.
Army, states his debut book of poetry was written "with the intentions of
enlightenment and empowerment for both genders and all generations." These
are lofty aspirations for a book such as this, but the poet sets a high
standard with "A Mighty Good Man," where he touts the strength, values and
integrity of a male who honors his wife, supports his children, and assumes
responsibility for his family. In his heartfelt poem, "When A Man Loves A
Woman," he celebrates the sheer magic of love and romance, with its
countless mood swings, its obsession with pleasing her, and its sublime joy
of being together in times both good and bad.
D Phil's wry observations in "That's My Child" traces the age-old journey
from infancy to the threshold of adulthood. His poetry sums up a stunning
collection of images of growth, development, and maturity, resulting in the
painful moment when the child leaves the nest to begin a new life away from
Mom and Dad. This snippet tells it all:
I have given you guidance on how to take your own
steps
I am content with my efforts and I have no regrets
I hope you understand your choices govern your life
That you're responsible for your success or your strife
In "Generations of Men," he discusses the mutual emotional and spiritual tug-of-war between father and son, cutting through the nonsense of Freudian gibberish to real talk, coming from a person who has experienced both roles. His words are defiant, provocative, and proud in one of his finer works, "Black American History," where he pays tribute to our ancestors and warriors who sacrificed their lives for a full American citizenship. Again, the reader will marvel at his take on the political aftermath of the 9-11 tragedy in "New American Way," especially in his blistering comments on how the public was duped and the tyranny of the American military empire:
We followed a fraud to blame enemies abroad
but it's the enemy within we should not have ignored
Our wealth went to moguls when our economy went global
We don't need a stimulus; we need to buy and sell local
Other poems showcase his keen sense of spiritual knowledge and secular comprehension in "Our Evil Eyes," "The Devil's Pawn," and "The Righteous Ones," highlighting topics as the influence of the Antichrist, temptations, the soul-robbing corporate world, hate and violence, and the need for truth. Some of the stanzas are delivered with the fire-and-brimstone cadence of a Baptist preacher to his flock.
D Phil can be hilarious as he tickles our funny bone in his satirical poem, "Ms. Understanding," choosing each word with the screwball precision of a comedian on a roll in front of an adoring crowd:
Misunderstanding operates with he said she said
She conspires with her sisters, Misconstrue and Misled
By the time they get finished, you get off running with rage
Up in arms and on fire, but not on the right page
Although this is a brief volume, there are other treats to be found, with
poems such as "The Evil That Men Do," "Mr. Opportunity," and "The Time Of
Your Life." The poet has a well-tuned ear, a love of language, a sharp wit,
and a technical precision of form that enhances and embellishes the main
themes. Anyone who enjoys reflective, purposeful poetic commentary should
add D Phil's Poetic Perceptions to your library. (end)