REVIEW: A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES II( the creation story)

INTRODUCTION

“A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES II (the creation story)” is a narrative poem by J.Y.Frimpong. The poem is noted by its simplicity and also by its semi cosmic atmosphere. The poem tells of how Nyame created the world and the jealousies of his brother, Bonsam.

“A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES II” is the 2^nd of 3 poem which constitutes the “A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES trilogy, the first one titled “The Myth of the Rainmaker” and the last one also titled “The End of the World.” The poem is inspired by J.Y.Frimpong’s favourite poem “The Raven” which was written by “Edgar Allan Poe”, the Greek mythology and also by “Tales from the Arabian Night” and as such borrow much of its theme and direction from the works mentioned above.

SYNOPSIS

 The poem follows an unnamed narrator and an unnamed nephew on a night where both parties discusses myth and tales from “A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES.” This myth and tale is about the poet’s rendition of how the world was created.

In the beginning, the poem makes us aware of a God called “Chaos” who undergoes mitosis to birth to Nyame and Bonsam. As these two were born, the latent perspective of good and evil are also introduced to the world. The poem also makes us aware that during Chaos’ reign, the world was without form and was void. After Nyame and Bonsam were born, things began to change. Nyame wanted to create something of his own kind but then Bonsam being greedy wanted to remain special and was against the whole principle of (re)creation.

Nyame does not get perturbed by his brother’s jealousy. He however visit Asaase Yaa and tells her His quest of creating a world. Asaase Yaa agrees and allow God to build her world inside her. After the world had been created, Bonsam sees his brother’s handwork, gets jealous and vows to destroy and rule over his brother’s creation. The poem however ends on a sudden note and the reader is left in the middle of the sea as to what will happen next; as whether Bonsam was going to succeed in his dubious agenda or not.

POETIC STRUCTURE

 The poem is made up of 7 stanzas of 8 lines each. The poem has no rhyming schemes. It however borrows heavily from the Greek mythodology, the Biblical creation story and the Asante traditional folklore. 

RATING : 65%

Emma K. Smith = 8 (A+)

Amma Konadu = 5 (C) 

Average = 6.5



I DEDICATE THIS POEM TO 2 PEOPLE "IMMANUELLA NYARKO" AND ALSO TO THE ONE THAT NEVER DIES (GOD)

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Snippet of "A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES II: the creation story"

Then one day, Nyame asked his brother finally,
"Bonsam, let's create something in our own kind?"
He rejected quickly stating categorically that
Humans might grow and overthrow him.
And therefore wouldn't be a part of that venture
So Nyame had no option than to visit Asaase Yaa
Who received Nyame very warmly and kindly
And agreed to let Nyame build His planet inside her.

First he began by creating a husband for Yaa, Ewiam
Who happened to be the sky that we see everyday
He separated the water from Asaase Yaa's belly



Full poem out on 2nd December, 2013

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#Up_Next: A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES 2 (The Creation Story)

The sequel to "A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES 1(the myth of the rainmaker), "The creation story" will be released on the 2nd day of December, 2013.

It follows the format of it's predecessor but this time round takes on a weirder theme and subject.

More soon..

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A BOOK THAT NEVER DIES I (THE MYTH OF THE RAINMAKER)

Once upon a midnight,
Whilst I sat down pensively
My nephew asked me a question
"Why does God live so far?"
I did not know how to answer him
But then I remembered vividly
"The Myth of the Rain-maker."

I began by recounting tales;
Tales as told in "A book that never dies"
Begins with love but ends in tragedy.
Once, God had a wife.
She was the beauty words could not describe,
She really loved God,
And God loved her back.

As the Tower of Babel was being built,
She sat on the right hand side of God.
And the scene that was produced
Was just breath-taking.
But then, as God was admiring the Tower,
He saw the light inside her wife die.
With sadness, He destroyed the Tower of Babel.

At first, the world felt the lose of energy
And human beings became the joy inside him
And He loved to see and feel the touch of our skin
Although a day or two, He would remember His wife
Who He had buried in a golden casket kept under His bed
And had kept a spell around her body
To prevent it from decay and make it never die

Everyday when He feels lonely
He would remove it from under His bed
Upon seeing her, He would burst into tears
And then on Earth it rained simultaneously.
When He sneezes in his mourning
Thunder flashes across the skies
This really troubled man

That one day, they decide to make a wager
That God should show compassion on them
 And with much difficulty God accepted
A wager which suggested that
God can view her dead wife's remains seasonally
A thin line: rainy and dry season was drawn
That was the myth I told my nephew.

But my nephew being so intemperate
Cut me short "How does this answer my question."
I rather answered very calmly
"The Myth of the Clouds" is proceed by this story
And of which I can tell you yet another day
With much protest and coaxing,
Our conversation was scheduled for yet another day.

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