A Pure Exhibit of Ancient Art Part 1 The Forms

the long version

Pondering enigmas of life's encounters and of mortality, poet Wayde Kenji Brown takes an often elegiac tone. At times his verse, collected here under the title: A Pure Exhibit of Ancient Art, Part One: The Poems, seems to contain echoes of Edgar Allan Poe. However, Mr. Brown has his own particular voice, ruminating on losses and at times affirming the confusion of the darker side of life, while at other times celebrating the events and beauties of nature in the form of haiku. "Nepenthe and the Necromancy" tells of the poet's pain and confusion endured as a certain female demon comes to call. "Mourn the Dead" is a dirge for a departed love. "To the Lost Maiden" relates the poet's hope of being reclaimed from the despair of false beliefs while "To Jennifer N---" is a touching tribute to young love, and "So Long Ago" narrates a tale of love and regret. "Screaming Repulsion," an encounter between a lady and a demon, presents a terse confrontation between hope and damnation. These are poems about relationships and the distillation of life experience. Loss and despair are frequently the themes, but sometimes the theme is redemption. Introspective verses that allow readers a glimpse into the poetic mind, they are most evocative, born of rich imagination, sensitivity, and serious thought.