Oluwaseun Olayiwola's 'Strange Beach' Audiobook Review: A Poetic Debut
The first poetry collection from Nigerian American dancer and poet Oluwaseun Olayiwola, titled Strange Beach, has been released as an audiobook, offering a unique auditory experience. This debut work delves into profound themes such as race, family, queer identity, hedonism, and the human body, presenting a rich tapestry of emotions and imagery.
Themes and Inspiration
Strange Beach takes its title from Claudia Rankine's poem Citizen: An American Lyric, which poetically describes each body as "a strange beach" where the Atlantic Ocean breaks on our heads. This concept of the shoreline serves as a recurring image throughout Olayiwola's poems, symbolizing a threshold where conflicting forces collide and landscapes perpetually shift shape.
Olayiwola's verse navigates between abstract and philosophical realms, sometimes abandoning narrative threads, which can make meaning elusive in written form. However, clarity emerges when the poems are heard aloud. His narration infuses the collection with warmth and passion, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in vivid imagery, atmospheric settings, and the speaker's intricate inner world.
Key Poems and Imagery
In the title poem, the physical body is depicted as being blown "like a conch shell where the echo of emotion in extremis floods the chamber," evoking a sense of turmoil and resonance. Another notable piece, Crustacean, explores perception and love through the metaphor of a crustacean attaching to a fingertip, prompting reflections on visibility and affection.
The poem concludes with a burst of childlike abandon, describing a scene where "at a hilltop, you knot your hands behind your back, not with a string but with a mind / The grass pelts your face as you roll down the hillside, the velocity of recklessness." This imagery highlights the collection's blend of introspection and visceral experience.
Audiobook Details and Further Listening
Available via Fitzcarraldo Editions, the audiobook runs for 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it a concise yet impactful listen. For those interested in similar literary works, additional audiobook recommendations include The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee, narrated by Ellen Burstyn and Hillary Huber, and Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie, read by the author.
Olayiwola's Strange Beach stands out as a debut that dances with passion, offering listeners a chance to explore complex identities and emotions through the power of spoken word. Its audiobook format enhances the poetic experience, bringing clarity and emotional depth to the forefront.
