Cassius Page loves words, but even more his fiancée whom, in the long tradition of poets, he introduces to readers through his debut collection, Food For Hurt. Page summons the an innocent's voice throughout the 21-piece collection. Readers who endure the occasional gaffs in spelling, diction and punctuation will gain insight into the youthful mind and heart as the author wrestles with many questions that haunt those yet uninitiated into life’s circle. In short, The poems trace his trip find a better self inspired by the woman he loves. The poem, “In Time”, shows:
One day I may run out of words to describe you,
for how graceful, how blissful, amazing you are
but today
Well, today, surely isn't that day
and you are bewitching in every way.
That stanza and many others twice read prior to a review almost led me to dismiss the author’s ideas and skills as puerile. In a third read, I could see an insightful voice that needs an editor, but holds a strong message of hope important for teens and young adults.
A study of the Table of Contents charts Page’s trek toward a more mature perspective. His words in free verse and varied forms echo the complex anxieties that inhabit many youths’ minds. For example, “Children’s Heart,” a lament about loss at an early age:
Tons of tiny pieces fly, as death lets out its evil cry.
Tearing (sic) time, and children's eyes.
Bringing sadness by, and by,
as helpless children's parents die.
Hatred screams, and loving dies.
Replacing all of hope with lies,
Demeaning all their precious lives.
The passage stir readers’ memories of their once-held hopes and dreams. Page cites the tears in “children’s eyes”, that slowly convert the innocent and lead some adults to where “loving dies” because of the “tons of tiny pieces” ripped their lives.
The openness, optimism and self-examination in Food For Hurt make the brief introduction to Page’s wordplay a pleasure. It might prove a good conversation starter. At the same time, honesty makes me hope the writer will hire a professional proofreader to “up his game”. That will yield future collections with less editorial distractions for the reader.
