A very rhythmic and rhyming style poetic journey about the modern times of America.
This book covers a wide range of subjects; including love, hate, war, politics, freedom, and much more. The Author walks you through the highs and lows of living in urban America.
Excerpt
As for my ehtnicity, I say this very loud. I'm African American, and I am very proud. It doesn't matter what you are, just hold your head up high. If you believe in yourself, your dreams will really fly. Just don't over work yourself, and relax a bit. Never ever get off track, and then decide to quit. Stay away from selfish folks...they'll give you the blues. And turn away from all those folks with pessimistic views. Remember that the finish line - is just down the road. Always pack your gloves and boots, 'cause this race is cold.
Professional Reviews
Rhymes of the Times is a very good book,March 24, 2008 by BookReview.com
I particularly liked the first few pages of this book where the poet acknowledges those who have helped him and tells us something about his life. Too often writing is a lonely task and poetry so personal that it excludes others until they read the final result. But both poets and audiences are intimately involved in the process. Readers are not consumers looking for a pair of shoes, but people trying to discover something about how they feel, as well as understand the emotions of the person writing the poem. This spirit of openness and participation is right here from the start in this collection.
Harold is one of nine children, raised by his mother. In the Introduction he tells us about public moments that have shaped his life (Martin Luther King’s ”I Have a Dream” speech, Muhammad Ali’s “I can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”) as well as very private ones like attending the wedding of a girl he was still very much in love with. This not only gives us an insight into the person behind these poems, it helps us understand their inspiration and connection to things outside of the words. “The Bee in the Web” draws on the “butterfly”/”bee” of Ali’s boast, yet expands on it to a message of racial harmony as opposed to one of militant aggression and separatism.
There are some great titles (“The Martian and the Wino,” “W Stands for Wrong", ”Fasten Your Seatbelt”) and lines that make us think (“Sometimes I feel that life’s a curse, has front-wheel drive and no reverse” and the very poignant “I hate in order to protect yourself—you pack a gun or mace. So why don’t I say what the hell and hate the human race.”) There are also some bad lines: “Her skin is cream, her body is slim. Looking at her makes the average saint sin.”—perhaps, but what or who is “the average saint”? The book ends with a sweet poem by Charla Angeline Hultmann (and I really like the candor of her bio) called “Gift” and “giving” is the real spirit of this book of poetry.
I will be honest, I am not a fan of rhyme. There is a delight in adjacent sounds rubbing together—vowels held and savored, consonants clicking in a row—but “easy” rhymes (“head”/“dead”; “love”/”dove”; “moon”/”prune”) tend to overshadow poetic subtleties, determine word choice and the words themselves lose their meaning, becoming clichés. But this is the music of this poet’s generation, and there is no denying that poetry is more alive, more meaningful and more accessible than it has ever been at any other time during my life. PS I do love the “Osama” “mama” rhyme. In general I think it would benefit Harold Nash’s development to read more of the published contemporary Black poets.
But form aside, this is an honest (courageous and unflinching) look at life today—one we need to share together for the survival of us all. That is “Rhymes of the Times” message. And it is a good one.
Reviewed by: John Lehman
Rating: 4 stars
John Lehman is the founder and original publisher of Rosebud, a national magazine of short stories, poetry and art. He is also poetry editor of the Wisconsin People & Ideas, as well as managing partner of Zelda Wilde Publishing and editor of the web-zine, www.CoolPlums.com. His books include: Shrine of the Tooth Fairy, Dogs Dream of Running, America's Greatest Unknown Poet: Lorine Niedecker, Shorts: 101 Poems of Wonder and Surprise and Everything is Changing: How to Gain Loyal Clients and Customers Quickly.
Rhymes Of The Times is a thought-provoking collection of poems designed to spur original thought and stir deep emotion, September 7th, 2008 by Apex Reviews
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, resoundiing, and optimistical, and the poets perspective is one of seasoned wisdom.
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, Rhymes Of The Times has a sharp political undercurrent that ebbs and flows throughout the opus. Rhymes Of The Times is further bolstered by the inclusion of a few pieces by guest poet Charla Hultmann. 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 a harmonic overall tone.
Rhymes Of The Times is a short, but effective tool of poetic enlighttenment. 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!!!
Reviewed by: Wendy Paulson
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 4 stars
Jennifer Larson: talented author, meaningful book!
Harold Nash and Charla Hultmann are both talented poets with lots of interesting life experiences. This gives their poetry an honest authentic tone that will inspire the reader to think about life in new ways. I especially enjoyed reading the personal stories the authors put in the book, which gave me perspective from which to read the poetry. I also had the priviledge of hearing Harold Nash read his poetry, and if you get the opportunity, I would highly recommend it! He brings the words to life in a unique and special way.
Rating: 5 stars
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Reviews for "Rhymes Of The Times by Harold Matthew Nash"
We are all humans caught up in the diversity of origins. We are people who live, love, die. You are right, we just need to keep going forward , no matter what.. Enjoyed this write! Hope the book sells well....M
This book is about Poetry. Many different kinds of fables, short stories about life experiences, laughter, drama, children, humor, love, inspiration and some urban styles of poetry.
Essays dedicated to the new media, doing business on the web, digital content, its creation and distribution, e-publishing, e-books, digital reference, DRM technology, and other related issues.
With the new and exciting world of Kindles and Print-on-Demand (POD), Independent Publishing is becoming an enticing choice and a viable alternative to traditional publishing.
