Beauty and memories in Petals and Granite: A review
Book Title: Petals & Granite Publishers: Polatsphere Books, Minna Editors: Saddiq Dzukogi & Wale Owoade Reviewer: Ramatu Ali Ohioma
During a quick glance through the book beautifully titled Petals and Granite edited by the duo of Saddiq Dzukogi and Wale Owoade, what captured my attention and compelled me to read the contents was the simple prose in all the poems and very short essays. A product of one of the workshops of the Yasmin El Rufai Foundation (YELF), the book vividly captures the imagination, thoughts and even dreams of children and women about places, people, burning issues, the environment, pet animals in ways that demonstrate the creativity of the contributors.
The book heartily welcomes the reader with the first poem on the first page, simply titled ‘Aspiration,’ a commonly used word by many with one ambition or the other. This piece which was composed by a secondary school student, Tete Glory, expresses the desire for peace to prevail worldwide. Glory writes about a burning issue considering the violence and bloody conflicts that erupt daily in various parts of the world. This wish is lucidly put across thus: I aspire for peace to fill the world/ Until every corner knows bliss/ I want peace to fill the air.
Equally interesting is a poem about relationship on page 8, by Zainab Yusuf titled ‘My Old Silver Pot.’ Here the poet highlights her sentimental attachment to an old pot she inherits from her mother and wishes that it “lives forever.” This feeling of attachment to loved ones runs in us all. The content compels us to tarry awhile and think about our parents. Under the titles ‘My Dog Died’ on page 16 and ‘My Pet Kimi’ composed by Favour and Fatima respectively, both express their love for their pet animals in a manner that would make many remember fondly the antics they indulge in around the house.
I was fascinated by Maryam Sani’s lines on page 7 in her poem ‘My Street’ where she captures life on a typical Nigerian street. The street is described as a place where “everyone” knows each other’s “name”, a place where people meet to “laugh and gossip. She writes:
To help my mother get some food item
The money she gave me wasn’t little But the prices swelled Until it seemed like it could swallow
Everything in the market
The words in all the poems and prose in the book are not only beautifully crafted but lucidly expressed for all to easily understand the issues tackled. In an era that people, including children, hardly have time for mental exercises because of the advent of the internet and social media, projects aimed at developing writing abilities should be supported. Besides, the pieces help to promote literacy, being avenues for the positive engagement of our youth. It is for this reason that the founder of YELF, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, should be encouraged in her efforts to develop our youth. The products of her efforts Petals and Granite is indeed a delight to read.