Rhymes Of The Times
Harold Nash
BookSurge
ISBN: 9781419687662
Reviewed By Wendy Paulson

Official Apex Reviews Rating: 


Rhymes Of The Times is a thought-provoking collection of poems designed to spur original thought and stir deep emotion. In it, Harold Nash provides the reader with an unflinching look at the world from a soul borne of pain and skepticism. The view is all at once jaded, cynical, resounding, and optimistic, and the poet's perspective is one of seasoned wisdom.

Consider, for example, this passage from "I Pray":

"I do not pray for luxury – nor for a pay increase.
I only pray for noble things – I pray for love and peace.

I pray that this is reasonable – that God would take my breath;
and take away two vicious things – crack cocaine and meth."


And this passage from "Love":

"Love has many synonyms, like happiness and joy. It
sometimes makes an elderly man feel like a little boy.

It will enhance your social life – if you just believe. But first
you have to give some love before you can retrieve."


Such sentiments undoubtedly reflect the hearts and minds of dozens of individuals the world over, and they obviously emanate from the well of common experience deep within Nash, which facilitates his ability to express them so effectively.

More than just a collection of poignant introspection, though, Rhymes Of The Times has a sharp political undercurrent that ebbs & flows throughout the opus. Nash is particularly critical of the current American president, whom he flays in passages such as this one from "W Stands for Wrong":

"Lord knows why we let this man become The Executive Chief.
Rich men get much richer. And the poor men reap much grief.

He's stubborn as a mule. he [sic] ain't nothing nice. The only
person he listens to is Condoleezza Rice."


And this one from "Shattered Dreams":

"Here I am upon this day, oh Lord I come to you and pray.
All I see is much damnation, that plagues the most of your
creation.

Most of us are down and out. Democrats just lost a bout.
Half the country feels dejected. George Bush was re-elected."


Clearly, Nash doesn't mind expressing how he truly feels about the policies and legacy of George W. Bush, thus giving poetic voice to the silent chorus of numerous others who also hold the president in the same regard.

Rhymes Of The Times is further bolstered by the inclusion of a few pieces by guest poet Charla Hultmann, who lends a tender touch with passages such as this one from the poem "Visions":

"Visions of joy, visions of peace.
Guidance God has given me.

Life is what I choose freely.
Whether it be good or bad – it is mine."


And this one from "Light":

"I praise the Alpha, Omega for allowing
me to see
This beautiful rich light that all can
wish to be.
It brings me to my knees seeing you
change your life for me.
Thank you Jesus, praise be.
Thank you ever so much for loving me."


The lightness of Hultmann's approach adds a complementary counterbalance to Nash's straight-ahead polemics, which does much to round out Rhymes, giving it an harmonic overall tone.

Rhymes Of The Times is a short, but effective tool of poetic enlightenment. Through it, Harold Nash and Charla Hultmann compel the reader to see the world from an invaluable perspective that he/she may not have previously considered, and, with such a feat being the ultimate goal of all literature – mission accomplished.