The Odontiad & Other Poems

By: Aaman Lamba

Narrated by: Miguel Conner

A stunning collection of poems on various themes. The Odontiad is a 32-sonnet sequence, initially about the quotidian concept of tooth decay, which expanded to express the nature of decay and collapse in general, and then become a lens through which I could communicate these unusual "shut-in times". The poems express themes from the nature of memory, reality and one's life, with a gnostic perspective.

Sonnet IV was selected for the Virginia Bards Poetry Anthology 2020.

This is Aaman Lamba's second published book, following the best-selling definitive edition of The Complete Illustrated Grand Grimoire. The audio narration by Miguel Conner brings the poems to life.

Excerpts:

Sonnet IV

Nothing ever came from nothing, nothing could / Yet when I feel the serrated gaps, I wish it would. / My life a constant pain, only memories sweet / Seeing so many others smiling in the street. / As I lie shivering 'neath this tarp, / The windy city chills my heart. / Slowly reaching for a coin, / In this bitter and cruel Tenderloin

Surrealist Manifesto #24

I heard the mating call / In the lawn outside the hall / 'Twas the flat-footed sheep / It's mournful dirge a weep / The captain opened his door / "Ahoy!" he called in a scream / Being disturbed from his dream / When he did hear the foghorn roar / "Bricks ahead!' was the replying wail

The Way of Desire & Memory

Pages torn out of history / Tell tales which come again / For what is past is in the mind / The keeper of future is memory

©2020 Aaman Dhody Lamba (P)2021 Aaman Dhody Lamba

Well narrated, interesting poetry collection

The Odontiad work is the star of this collection. The short poems that flesh out The Odontiad rely heavily on a AB rhyming scheme that alternates between facile (say...way) and forced (meant...consonENT - ie. consonant) that I found onerous to listen to. Perhaps they were the poet's early works. The Odontiad has much less of this and it works better and reflects deeper themes. The collection is expertly narrated by Miguel Conner.