What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Cats Don't Meow - Don't waste the ninth life
Dead Cats Don’t Meow urges its readers not to waste their ninth life… the author of the collection of poetic wisdom for the discerning adds his third compendium of poems to the bookshelves alongside Dead Lions Don’t Roar and Dead Dogs Don’t Bark.Tolu A. Akinyemi, renowned poet, author and performer, brings to us Dead Cats Don’t Meow, a metrical masterpiece, which invokes love and respect for life with every word. Each poem examines a part of life, a sensation, a reaction or an emotion. Beautifully written… individually, the verses breathe their own beat, whilst the collection knits together perfectly to present an idyllic anthology. A creative thinker and an author extraordinaire, Tolu A. Akinyemi shares his gift of writing with people far and wide, mentoring, hosting workshops, performing at events and supporting various charitable causes. Tolu recently received an endorsement as a writer with Exceptional talent from the Arts Council England. Tolu’ also penned a modern-day life manual on how to “Unravel your Hidden Gems” propelling the reader to attain innate potential.“Don’t waste the ninth life!”“Don’t miss the chance to add this rare compendium of poetic wisdom to your bookshelf today!“Grab your copy now!
- GenresPoetry
128 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2019
4 people want to read
About the author
Tolu' A. Akinyemi
24 books23 followersTolu' A. Akinyemi
(also known as Tolutoludo) is a multiple award-winning Nigerian British writer of twenty-four books in the genres of poetry, short stories, children's literature, and essays.
His works include Dead Lions Don't Roar (poetry, 2017); Unravel Your Hidden Gems (essays, 2018); Dead Dogs Don't Bark (poetry, 2018); Dead Cats Don't Meow (poetry, 2019); Never Play Games With the Devil (poetry, 2019); Inferno of Silence (short stories, 2020); A Booktiful Love (poetry, 2020); Black ≠ Inferior (poetry, 2021); Never Marry a Writer (poetry, 2021); Everybody Don Kolomental (poetry, 2021); I Wear Self-Confidence Like a Second Skin (children's literature, 2021); I Am Not a Troublemaker (children's literature, 2021); Born in Lockdown (poetry, 2021); A god in a Human Body (poetry, 2022); If You Have To Be Anything, Be Kind (children's literature, 2022); City of Lost Memories, (poetry, 2022); Awaken Your Inner Lion, (essays, 2022); On The Train To Hell, (poetry, 2022); You Need More Than Dreams (poetry, 2023); The Morning Cloud is Empty (poetry, 2023); Architects of a Cleaner Financial System (poetry, 2023); Voyage (poetry, 2024); Home in Motion (poetry, 2025); and Amanda The Bookworm (children's literature, 2026).
In 2020, he won the Best Indie Book Award for his poetry collection, A Booktiful Love. His collection of short stories, Inferno of Silence, won the 2021 IRDA Discovery Award for short stories and Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2021) for Best Cover Design (Fiction).
A former headline act at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival, Great Northern Slam, Crossing The Tyne Festival, Feltonbury Arts and Music Festival, Havering Literary Festival, Gateshead Central Library Black History Month event, and the Woolwich Centre Library National Poetry Day event. He was also a guest poet at the Havering Libraries Black History Month event.
His artistic practice covers public speaking, performance poetry, leading workshops, facilitation, and participatory arts practice for young people and adults. He was a participant in the New Writing North Inkubator annual development programme for writers and freelancers who want to develop skills in facilitation and participatory arts practice with children, young people, and adults. He has delivered workshops locally and nationally. Examples include at the Cramlington Writers’ Group, Gem Arts, and Havering Literary Festival, among others.
His works and poems have been featured on BBC Sounds, Spark Sunderland, 57th issue (Volume 15, No. 1) of the Wilderness House Literary Review; The Writers Cafe Magazine Issue 18; Lion and Lilac; Agape Review; Black Moon Magazine; Calla Press; African Writer Magazine; Football in Poetry 2 Anthology; and elsewhere.
His poems have been translated into Greek.
He is the founder of The Roaring Lion Newcastle, a UK-based book publisher, and sits on the board of many organisations.
(also known as Tolutoludo) is a multiple award-winning Nigerian British writer of twenty-four books in the genres of poetry, short stories, children's literature, and essays.
His works include Dead Lions Don't Roar (poetry, 2017); Unravel Your Hidden Gems (essays, 2018); Dead Dogs Don't Bark (poetry, 2018); Dead Cats Don't Meow (poetry, 2019); Never Play Games With the Devil (poetry, 2019); Inferno of Silence (short stories, 2020); A Booktiful Love (poetry, 2020); Black ≠ Inferior (poetry, 2021); Never Marry a Writer (poetry, 2021); Everybody Don Kolomental (poetry, 2021); I Wear Self-Confidence Like a Second Skin (children's literature, 2021); I Am Not a Troublemaker (children's literature, 2021); Born in Lockdown (poetry, 2021); A god in a Human Body (poetry, 2022); If You Have To Be Anything, Be Kind (children's literature, 2022); City of Lost Memories, (poetry, 2022); Awaken Your Inner Lion, (essays, 2022); On The Train To Hell, (poetry, 2022); You Need More Than Dreams (poetry, 2023); The Morning Cloud is Empty (poetry, 2023); Architects of a Cleaner Financial System (poetry, 2023); Voyage (poetry, 2024); Home in Motion (poetry, 2025); and Amanda The Bookworm (children's literature, 2026).
In 2020, he won the Best Indie Book Award for his poetry collection, A Booktiful Love. His collection of short stories, Inferno of Silence, won the 2021 IRDA Discovery Award for short stories and Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2021) for Best Cover Design (Fiction).
A former headline act at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival, Great Northern Slam, Crossing The Tyne Festival, Feltonbury Arts and Music Festival, Havering Literary Festival, Gateshead Central Library Black History Month event, and the Woolwich Centre Library National Poetry Day event. He was also a guest poet at the Havering Libraries Black History Month event.
His artistic practice covers public speaking, performance poetry, leading workshops, facilitation, and participatory arts practice for young people and adults. He was a participant in the New Writing North Inkubator annual development programme for writers and freelancers who want to develop skills in facilitation and participatory arts practice with children, young people, and adults. He has delivered workshops locally and nationally. Examples include at the Cramlington Writers’ Group, Gem Arts, and Havering Literary Festival, among others.
His works and poems have been featured on BBC Sounds, Spark Sunderland, 57th issue (Volume 15, No. 1) of the Wilderness House Literary Review; The Writers Cafe Magazine Issue 18; Lion and Lilac; Agape Review; Black Moon Magazine; Calla Press; African Writer Magazine; Football in Poetry 2 Anthology; and elsewhere.
His poems have been translated into Greek.
He is the founder of The Roaring Lion Newcastle, a UK-based book publisher, and sits on the board of many organisations.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 16, 2019
Dead Cats Don't Meow by Tolu Akinyemi is a 'brilliant stuff; amazingly 'booktiful' as used by the poet.
It contains poems that challenge you to be a better version of yourself, odes to individuals who inspired the poet at one point or the other in his life, satirical poems and many more.
Need I mention that the collection is humorous as well and worth the reader's time. Good for leisure reading.
Tolu Akinyemi (Tolutoludo) has come to stay.
It contains poems that challenge you to be a better version of yourself, odes to individuals who inspired the poet at one point or the other in his life, satirical poems and many more.
Need I mention that the collection is humorous as well and worth the reader's time. Good for leisure reading.
Tolu Akinyemi (Tolutoludo) has come to stay.
April 4, 2019
“Expand your knowledge base
Flip through
Read it
Get soaked in
Be booktiful”
I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. I felt there was poems here and there that didn’t go with the overall theme of the rest of the poems, but overall was a great poetic read.
Flip through
Read it
Get soaked in
Be booktiful”
I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. I felt there was poems here and there that didn’t go with the overall theme of the rest of the poems, but overall was a great poetic read.
April 8, 2019
HaroldWrites: A Review of Tolu’ Akinyemi’s Poetry Collection – Dead Cats Don’t Meow
In all, this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” generally emphasizes the theme of self-belief and taking action. It reminds me of the saying “if you think you are too little to make an impact, try staying in a room with a mosquito.”
Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things.” – Thomas Stearns Eliot.
I found myself ruminating on the above statement by T.S Eliot after I read Tolu’ A. Akinyemi’s latest collection of poems, “Dead Cats Don’t Meow”. The phrase, “poetry…is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality” stuck to my brain like gum to paper. In “Dead Cats Don’t Meow”, Tolu fought hard to extricate himself and his personal experiences from his art, but his perfectly-crafted words betrayed him, as they sounded like the words of a man possessed by the gods for good cause. His words were perfectly weighted, bringing to the front-burner, difficult, topical issues that society would rather sweep under the carpet than discuss.
The first thing that struck me about this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” was, of course, the title of the book. I was fascinated by the simplicity, yet, ingenuity of it. I shouldn’t be. I know I shouldn’t, because I have read Tolu’s previous collections of poems: “Dead Lions Don’t Roar”– his first; and “Dead Dogs Don’t Bark” – his second. So, I know Tolu has a bias for sticking with unique – and I dare say – poetic titles for his poetry collections (pun intended).
In this review, I will try as much as possible, to refrain from explaining the poems in this collection, because I am reminded of Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s evergreen words: “if you want to annoy a poet, explain his poetry”. So, I won’t explain Tolu’s poems; I will examine them.
“Dead Cats Don’t Meow” opens with a poem titled “My Story”. Here, the poet appears to give an insight into his tall defiance of life challenges in a foreign land. For those who don’t know, Tolu A. Akinyemi was born in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, but he currently lives in the United Kingdom. A very powerful line in this poem reads thus: “tell them I came in the form of a man but a lion in disguise”. This poem would resonate with just about anyone who finds himself in a new territory, a new work place, a new residential area, a new project etc. Tolu makes no pretences that, in life, everyone would face challenges; everyone would come across mountains, but this poem is quick to remind us that mountains are meant to be climbed.
In “Hungry”, the typical dastardly reaction of the bourgeoisie in the society upon being accosted by the proletariat – or members of the society who are considered lesser than the proletariats – seems to be the meat of the poem. The poem closes with the line “I am hungry Not angry”, a reminder to the man seated at the back of a car when approached by a beggar. I can imagine Tolu trying to pass across the message: do not wince in disgust when a beggar asks for alms. Help if you can. He is only hungry; he is not angry at you.
In “Don’t Call Her Mummy” and “August Fourteen”, the poet appears to leverage on the current long-overdue societal trend, which calls for the empowerment of women. Here, Tolu pays respect to women, saying “To me she is first lady” and “words are not enough to define your worth”. In “Fire”, “Things We Say For Love” and “Valentine”, Tolu explores the deep mystery of love. He identifies what it ought to be and what it appears to have become. In “King”, the poet pays homage to men who take responsibilities, while in “Deadbeat Father”, the poet boldly calls out men (fathers) who don’t.
In “Black and Exceptional” and “Colour Brave” Tolu tackles the topical issue of race, saying “I am proud to be black” and “Don’t treat me as an outcast”. In “Mistakes” Tolu focuses on a deep-rooted issue in every friendship and why such issue should not be allowed to define something so beautiful. In “Resolution”, the poet reminds everyone to give themselves a second chance. “I am Booktiful” comes across as a diss against people who are proud of their non-reading lifestyle, while, “You are Booktiful” encourages self-belief. Another poem which slightly touches on the theme of “You are Booktiful” is “Global” which preaches the beauty of individual uniqueness. In “An Ode to the Poet” and “Realistic Poet”, Tolu pays tribute to poets and empathises with them for being underappreciated sometimes. In “Children of Nowadays” and “Youthful Exuberance”, the poet recognises the modern child. Tolu pays tribute to his country of birth, Nigeria with poems like “Ojota Park”, “Computer Village”, “Oshodi”, “Lagos Traffic” and “Nigeria”.
This collection of poem may not have been complete without poems like “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” and “Dead Lions Don’t Roar 2”. In both poems, the poet re-echoes the importance of self-belief and the need to take action, no matter the condition one finds himself.
In all, this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” generally emphasizes the theme of self-belief and taking action. It reminds me of the saying “if you think you are too little to make an impact, try staying in a room with a mosquito.”
As much as I love “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” for the above-mentioned themes it portrays, I strongly believe these themes are also the Achilles heel of the work. I say this in the light of the fact that, some of the poems do not possess or portray these themes. For instance, there appears to be no correlation between what poems like “Lagos Traffic”, “Ojota Park” and “Oshodi” address, and what the general theme of the book is. The messages in those poems appear lost in the body of work. The foregoing point may, however, be interpreted as a deliberate metaphor by the poet to suggest that, there would be no success without struggle. A metaphor for hope? I derive inspiration for the foregoing conclusion from the closing lines of “Oshodi” where the poet says,
“With one king and several pawns emerging like a game of chess
Oshodi was the aberration of what a community should be
Now finding its way back to reckoning”
As a corollary to the above, I believe if the poems in this collection were arranged/grouped in distinct, explained Parts (e.g each Part would contain a number of poems that express a certain emotion or message), this may have helped in guiding the reader’s thoughts. Thankfully, Don Marquis once likened writing a book of poetry to “dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.” In this context, it makes sense that, Tolu’s poetry collection is left as it is, as this affords the reader an opportunity to experience and interpret the different, flowing emotions buried in each page of the book.
In conclusion, Tolu deserves commendation for his choice of simple, comprehensible writing style and language. This makes “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” attractive to both the young and the old. You can contact the poet here and here. Check out more about the book here.
In all, this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” generally emphasizes the theme of self-belief and taking action. It reminds me of the saying “if you think you are too little to make an impact, try staying in a room with a mosquito.”
Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things.” – Thomas Stearns Eliot.
I found myself ruminating on the above statement by T.S Eliot after I read Tolu’ A. Akinyemi’s latest collection of poems, “Dead Cats Don’t Meow”. The phrase, “poetry…is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality” stuck to my brain like gum to paper. In “Dead Cats Don’t Meow”, Tolu fought hard to extricate himself and his personal experiences from his art, but his perfectly-crafted words betrayed him, as they sounded like the words of a man possessed by the gods for good cause. His words were perfectly weighted, bringing to the front-burner, difficult, topical issues that society would rather sweep under the carpet than discuss.
The first thing that struck me about this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” was, of course, the title of the book. I was fascinated by the simplicity, yet, ingenuity of it. I shouldn’t be. I know I shouldn’t, because I have read Tolu’s previous collections of poems: “Dead Lions Don’t Roar”– his first; and “Dead Dogs Don’t Bark” – his second. So, I know Tolu has a bias for sticking with unique – and I dare say – poetic titles for his poetry collections (pun intended).
In this review, I will try as much as possible, to refrain from explaining the poems in this collection, because I am reminded of Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s evergreen words: “if you want to annoy a poet, explain his poetry”. So, I won’t explain Tolu’s poems; I will examine them.
“Dead Cats Don’t Meow” opens with a poem titled “My Story”. Here, the poet appears to give an insight into his tall defiance of life challenges in a foreign land. For those who don’t know, Tolu A. Akinyemi was born in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, but he currently lives in the United Kingdom. A very powerful line in this poem reads thus: “tell them I came in the form of a man but a lion in disguise”. This poem would resonate with just about anyone who finds himself in a new territory, a new work place, a new residential area, a new project etc. Tolu makes no pretences that, in life, everyone would face challenges; everyone would come across mountains, but this poem is quick to remind us that mountains are meant to be climbed.
In “Hungry”, the typical dastardly reaction of the bourgeoisie in the society upon being accosted by the proletariat – or members of the society who are considered lesser than the proletariats – seems to be the meat of the poem. The poem closes with the line “I am hungry Not angry”, a reminder to the man seated at the back of a car when approached by a beggar. I can imagine Tolu trying to pass across the message: do not wince in disgust when a beggar asks for alms. Help if you can. He is only hungry; he is not angry at you.
In “Don’t Call Her Mummy” and “August Fourteen”, the poet appears to leverage on the current long-overdue societal trend, which calls for the empowerment of women. Here, Tolu pays respect to women, saying “To me she is first lady” and “words are not enough to define your worth”. In “Fire”, “Things We Say For Love” and “Valentine”, Tolu explores the deep mystery of love. He identifies what it ought to be and what it appears to have become. In “King”, the poet pays homage to men who take responsibilities, while in “Deadbeat Father”, the poet boldly calls out men (fathers) who don’t.
In “Black and Exceptional” and “Colour Brave” Tolu tackles the topical issue of race, saying “I am proud to be black” and “Don’t treat me as an outcast”. In “Mistakes” Tolu focuses on a deep-rooted issue in every friendship and why such issue should not be allowed to define something so beautiful. In “Resolution”, the poet reminds everyone to give themselves a second chance. “I am Booktiful” comes across as a diss against people who are proud of their non-reading lifestyle, while, “You are Booktiful” encourages self-belief. Another poem which slightly touches on the theme of “You are Booktiful” is “Global” which preaches the beauty of individual uniqueness. In “An Ode to the Poet” and “Realistic Poet”, Tolu pays tribute to poets and empathises with them for being underappreciated sometimes. In “Children of Nowadays” and “Youthful Exuberance”, the poet recognises the modern child. Tolu pays tribute to his country of birth, Nigeria with poems like “Ojota Park”, “Computer Village”, “Oshodi”, “Lagos Traffic” and “Nigeria”.
This collection of poem may not have been complete without poems like “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” and “Dead Lions Don’t Roar 2”. In both poems, the poet re-echoes the importance of self-belief and the need to take action, no matter the condition one finds himself.
In all, this poetry collection “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” generally emphasizes the theme of self-belief and taking action. It reminds me of the saying “if you think you are too little to make an impact, try staying in a room with a mosquito.”
As much as I love “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” for the above-mentioned themes it portrays, I strongly believe these themes are also the Achilles heel of the work. I say this in the light of the fact that, some of the poems do not possess or portray these themes. For instance, there appears to be no correlation between what poems like “Lagos Traffic”, “Ojota Park” and “Oshodi” address, and what the general theme of the book is. The messages in those poems appear lost in the body of work. The foregoing point may, however, be interpreted as a deliberate metaphor by the poet to suggest that, there would be no success without struggle. A metaphor for hope? I derive inspiration for the foregoing conclusion from the closing lines of “Oshodi” where the poet says,
“With one king and several pawns emerging like a game of chess
Oshodi was the aberration of what a community should be
Now finding its way back to reckoning”
As a corollary to the above, I believe if the poems in this collection were arranged/grouped in distinct, explained Parts (e.g each Part would contain a number of poems that express a certain emotion or message), this may have helped in guiding the reader’s thoughts. Thankfully, Don Marquis once likened writing a book of poetry to “dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.” In this context, it makes sense that, Tolu’s poetry collection is left as it is, as this affords the reader an opportunity to experience and interpret the different, flowing emotions buried in each page of the book.
In conclusion, Tolu deserves commendation for his choice of simple, comprehensible writing style and language. This makes “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” attractive to both the young and the old. You can contact the poet here and here. Check out more about the book here.
April 24, 2019
Don’t waste the ninth life - Exceptional Poetry Collection
The last stanza in the poem titled: Musings
There is no manual to go to bed
Neither is there an anecdote for a bitter person
Than to give them some recipe
From the cookbook of love.
Tolu’ Akinyemi has delivered a 5 star book and this collection comes highly recommended. Some poems about Nigeria gives me nostalgic feelings and l’m sure everyone who reads this collection will surely have something to take away. I’m definitely not wasting my ninth life.
The last stanza in the poem titled: Musings
There is no manual to go to bed
Neither is there an anecdote for a bitter person
Than to give them some recipe
From the cookbook of love.
Tolu’ Akinyemi has delivered a 5 star book and this collection comes highly recommended. Some poems about Nigeria gives me nostalgic feelings and l’m sure everyone who reads this collection will surely have something to take away. I’m definitely not wasting my ninth life.
June 6, 2020
Beautiful collection to have. This is a series and it's hilarious to be honest. Definite have if you like poetry and fun altogether
July 1, 2019
“You can take the river to the horse but you cannot force the river to drink the horse”
I have read many poetry books that can simply be summarized into that line. Big words, bogus devices, unnecessary innuendos all leading to a well constructed piece of rubbish. At first your instincts tell you something is wrong somewhere but because of your love for poetry you insist on reading it once more and then it leave you speechless. But that is not the case with “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” by Tolu’ A. Akinyemi. This is a well simplified glorious work of art that explores the grandeur of poetry. I can’t count how many times I kept screaming “Yes!”. That’s how amazing this book is.
As a poet, this is one book that will call to life your poetic viscera. It starts so beautifully with an “About the author” poem that does well to make the reader feel at home with the writer. Just like his previous book, Poet Tolu pays homage to his wife in such a way that could leave any woman blushing, smiling and wishing they were married to a poet. It’s true what they say, "The best person to get married to, is a writer because everyday feels like the first." The secret to a good life is also a good wife *inserts smile emoji*. I must applaud Tolu Akinyemi for putting family and friends first in his books. Dead Cats Don’t Meow feels like a soldier bidding his family goodbye before he goes to war because shortly after, we see the poet take a true battle ready form.
Starting subtly with our morals, like a gladiator at war, the poet starts devouring pressing topics facing the human race. It touched on racism, depression, sports, survival, unity, mistakes, heartbreak, love, immigration, health, election, politics and many more. Oh! How I wish every leader in Nigeria would read this book. You just keep snapping your fingers. Whether you are a poet or not, don’t be surprised to find yourself jotting down lines because that is what this book does. It triggers the poet in you. There is just something for everyone. So many themes brought to light and you tend to have a change of perspective on how you viewed certain issues. I found some poems hilarious too and it was also good to learn about the phobia for flying.
The beauty of “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” is in its simplicity which makes it easy to understand. That doesn’t mean it lacked in English language. Words like besotted, exculpation, avant-garde, innocuous, could leave you begging for a dictionary. There were lines that struck me in particular. My favourite spoke of how we need our banks to be filled with people. That poem left me dreamy. This is a magical book.
However, I did have a problem with the sub notes. Maybe it’s the African in me and the fact that I relate well with the book as an African reader as opposed to a white reader, but I felt some explanations weren’t supposed to be in the book. I would advise the poet to rather add a chapter of glossary at the end of the book for those who might have issues with the book. This enables us enjoy our book without any commercial break. (I know I’m that greedy)
That aside, I really enjoyed Dead Cats Don’t Meow and I have been using this book as a means to improve my writing skills putting into consideration that we write to impact and not to impress. One poem that should be framed and kept in the museum as part of our historical artifacts is, “Raped At Dawn”. I advise everyone to read this book and pass it on to the next generation. Thank you Tolu Akinyemi for this amazing piece of art and thank you for leaving this posterity for the younger generation. I am proud to be booktiful.
Derrick Chidumebi
I have read many poetry books that can simply be summarized into that line. Big words, bogus devices, unnecessary innuendos all leading to a well constructed piece of rubbish. At first your instincts tell you something is wrong somewhere but because of your love for poetry you insist on reading it once more and then it leave you speechless. But that is not the case with “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” by Tolu’ A. Akinyemi. This is a well simplified glorious work of art that explores the grandeur of poetry. I can’t count how many times I kept screaming “Yes!”. That’s how amazing this book is.
As a poet, this is one book that will call to life your poetic viscera. It starts so beautifully with an “About the author” poem that does well to make the reader feel at home with the writer. Just like his previous book, Poet Tolu pays homage to his wife in such a way that could leave any woman blushing, smiling and wishing they were married to a poet. It’s true what they say, "The best person to get married to, is a writer because everyday feels like the first." The secret to a good life is also a good wife *inserts smile emoji*. I must applaud Tolu Akinyemi for putting family and friends first in his books. Dead Cats Don’t Meow feels like a soldier bidding his family goodbye before he goes to war because shortly after, we see the poet take a true battle ready form.
Starting subtly with our morals, like a gladiator at war, the poet starts devouring pressing topics facing the human race. It touched on racism, depression, sports, survival, unity, mistakes, heartbreak, love, immigration, health, election, politics and many more. Oh! How I wish every leader in Nigeria would read this book. You just keep snapping your fingers. Whether you are a poet or not, don’t be surprised to find yourself jotting down lines because that is what this book does. It triggers the poet in you. There is just something for everyone. So many themes brought to light and you tend to have a change of perspective on how you viewed certain issues. I found some poems hilarious too and it was also good to learn about the phobia for flying.
The beauty of “Dead Cats Don’t Meow” is in its simplicity which makes it easy to understand. That doesn’t mean it lacked in English language. Words like besotted, exculpation, avant-garde, innocuous, could leave you begging for a dictionary. There were lines that struck me in particular. My favourite spoke of how we need our banks to be filled with people. That poem left me dreamy. This is a magical book.
However, I did have a problem with the sub notes. Maybe it’s the African in me and the fact that I relate well with the book as an African reader as opposed to a white reader, but I felt some explanations weren’t supposed to be in the book. I would advise the poet to rather add a chapter of glossary at the end of the book for those who might have issues with the book. This enables us enjoy our book without any commercial break. (I know I’m that greedy)
That aside, I really enjoyed Dead Cats Don’t Meow and I have been using this book as a means to improve my writing skills putting into consideration that we write to impact and not to impress. One poem that should be framed and kept in the museum as part of our historical artifacts is, “Raped At Dawn”. I advise everyone to read this book and pass it on to the next generation. Thank you Tolu Akinyemi for this amazing piece of art and thank you for leaving this posterity for the younger generation. I am proud to be booktiful.
Derrick Chidumebi
May 22, 2019
Dead Cats Don't Meow is a Poetry Collection that explores a wide range of topics. Tolu explores family and political themes: themes relevant to our current terrain. He also inspires readers to let go of the mistakes of yesterday and look forward to tomorrow. Easy and light to read, kudos to Tolu on this collection.
November 16, 2019
An exploration of personal and social issues, Akinyemi’s A Collection of Poetic Wisdom for the Discerning Series is both challenging and visionary.
Dead Lion’s Don’t Roar, the first in the series—a collection of symbolic verses that challenges readers to find their unique roar, is divided into four parts—four underlying themes hinged on the title: dead, lion, don’t, and roar as Akinyemi moves easily from personal relationships to social issues. In “Social Media,” Akinyemi sarcastically defines the meaning of love in today’s social media age. In “Beauty is not Enough,” he ponders how the outside beauty is desired over a person’s true self. “Extra Luggage” is an inspirational poem about shedding toxic relationships. “Domestic Violence” urges the protagonist to break off the shackles and leave the abusive relationship. “Destiny” explores the futility of blaming failures on destiny.
The pivotal and deeply motivational “The Roaring Lion,” urges readers not to listen to their insecurities and failures. Some poems will appeal to a limited number of readers because of their conservative subject matter (in “Bucket list,” getting married is at the top of the list for the protagonist; “Dignity Park” with its conventional views about a woman celebrating her sexuality).
Dead Dogs Don't Bark, the second book in the series is a luminous, touching ode to the celebration of self and exploration of many social and general life issues. “The Voice in My Head” carries the powerful message of waging war against failures and insecurities. “Stay True” (about staying true to one’s own self), “You are Beautiful” (celebrate one’s own beauty), “Yes You Can” and “Troubled But Not Alone” are deeply motivational while in “Bullions in Bourdillon”, “The Future Leaders of Tomorrow,” and “Pharisees and Sadducees” Akinyemi’s tone turns political.
The poems in Dead Cats Don’t Meow: the third in the series, dwell majorly on personal issues (In “This is My Story,” “August Fourteen,” and “South Shields” the tone is deeply personal). “Dead Cats Don’t meow,” the title poem is a powerful message of finding one’s own unique voice. “Silver Lining,” “Passion,” “Depression and Suicidal Thoughts,” and “You’re Booktiful” are highly motivational.
The series displays Akinyemi’s technical dexterity as a veteran poet as he explores different themes such as love, relationships, personal issues, mental health topics, politics, and social concerns among others. Akinyemi is a visionary poet with a fearless voice, and his poems provide a deep sense of everyday life seen through an eyewitness’s eyes.
Dead Lion’s Don’t Roar, the first in the series—a collection of symbolic verses that challenges readers to find their unique roar, is divided into four parts—four underlying themes hinged on the title: dead, lion, don’t, and roar as Akinyemi moves easily from personal relationships to social issues. In “Social Media,” Akinyemi sarcastically defines the meaning of love in today’s social media age. In “Beauty is not Enough,” he ponders how the outside beauty is desired over a person’s true self. “Extra Luggage” is an inspirational poem about shedding toxic relationships. “Domestic Violence” urges the protagonist to break off the shackles and leave the abusive relationship. “Destiny” explores the futility of blaming failures on destiny.
The pivotal and deeply motivational “The Roaring Lion,” urges readers not to listen to their insecurities and failures. Some poems will appeal to a limited number of readers because of their conservative subject matter (in “Bucket list,” getting married is at the top of the list for the protagonist; “Dignity Park” with its conventional views about a woman celebrating her sexuality).
Dead Dogs Don't Bark, the second book in the series is a luminous, touching ode to the celebration of self and exploration of many social and general life issues. “The Voice in My Head” carries the powerful message of waging war against failures and insecurities. “Stay True” (about staying true to one’s own self), “You are Beautiful” (celebrate one’s own beauty), “Yes You Can” and “Troubled But Not Alone” are deeply motivational while in “Bullions in Bourdillon”, “The Future Leaders of Tomorrow,” and “Pharisees and Sadducees” Akinyemi’s tone turns political.
The poems in Dead Cats Don’t Meow: the third in the series, dwell majorly on personal issues (In “This is My Story,” “August Fourteen,” and “South Shields” the tone is deeply personal). “Dead Cats Don’t meow,” the title poem is a powerful message of finding one’s own unique voice. “Silver Lining,” “Passion,” “Depression and Suicidal Thoughts,” and “You’re Booktiful” are highly motivational.
The series displays Akinyemi’s technical dexterity as a veteran poet as he explores different themes such as love, relationships, personal issues, mental health topics, politics, and social concerns among others. Akinyemi is a visionary poet with a fearless voice, and his poems provide a deep sense of everyday life seen through an eyewitness’s eyes.
April 23, 2019
I immediately prickled against this book in the introduction-- it was very pretentious as it guaranteed the poems in the collection would inspire me to be my best self. In spite of the occasional beautiful line or image, I couldn't get into the poetry that followed as so much of it lacked any subtlety and, whenever it tried to do something poetic or clever, it then had a footnote explaining what had been done. If the poetry can't work without being explained in a footnote, it doesn't work at all.
August 11, 2020
Many emotions were triggered while reading this collection, but a few come to mind: a mix of disgust and indignation from the poem Elections, love and inclusiveness from the poem Colour brave, reflection from the poem Resolution and strength from the poem Shhhhh. Most of all I felt the sad reality from the poem Things we say for love as some of the things we'd do for love end up lost in the ocean of life. A Goodread indeed and a must share with others.
November 24, 2020
This brilliant piece will drag you beneath the ocean of a myriad emotions. It is just surreal and deserving of all given accolades. Cop it.kkk
May 10, 2019
At a much younger point in my life, I was introduced to poetry. Robert Frost was the author that I remember most.
So when I saw this book, the title intrigued me, That it was poetry made me think it was time to revisit a writing form I have not thought of in years..
I find this book to be just okay for someone like me. I am sure that in the world of poetry, the poems are very good, just not the kind of poetry I remember. Or find interesting.
So when I saw this book, the title intrigued me, That it was poetry made me think it was time to revisit a writing form I have not thought of in years..
I find this book to be just okay for someone like me. I am sure that in the world of poetry, the poems are very good, just not the kind of poetry I remember. Or find interesting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews