Title: The Peril of a Saint: Poems and Tales
Author: Kenneth “Cutrite” Oaitse Moeng
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 9781524683313
Pages: 110
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Pacific Book Review
This book is an intriguing mix of spiritual and sensual poems by Kenneth Moeng. The poetry and short story collection is a thought-provoking book sure to make readers pause to think. The Peril of a Saint is a collection of poems about a variety of topics. He writes about his native home in the southern African nation of Botswana in the poem, “Re Batswana”. Moeng’s narrator in the poem speaks about the contradictions of the promise and failures in the country: “In my country/terrors of humankind/blossom in a docile state of mind/In my country my mind is the home/of my material optimism.” The Peril of a Saint also has spiritual poems like “ Love of God” and “ The Peril of a Saint” that explore the complexity of faith through the narrator’s optimism: “ The Love of God is inscribed on our hearts/Can you read the scroll?”
The Peril of a Saint also details the complications of love in poems such as “A Loveless Tale” in which the narrator’s missed connection with a woman that ends tragically at the end of the poem. “When We Made Love” is also a provocative and emotional poem about lovers who encounter obstacles in their relationship. The visual imagery in The Peril of a Saint is also so vivid in Moeng’s descriptions of settings in the poems. His descriptions are so evocative that readers can easily imagine the riverbeds of Botswana or the hills of San Francisco.
Moeng’s writing is a fascinating mix of sacred and sexually explicit prose. His writing exemplifies the true range of human emotions, from religious joy to unadulterated lust. The Peril of a Saint is captured perfectly by the name of one of the sections of the book: “Hope and Despair.” Moeng’s poetry would be perfect for fans of poems about lost love, like Saul Williams’s “She”. It would also be great for fans of African poets who write about the differences between their homelands and America, such as Warsan Shire.
The Peril of a Saint would be a welcome addition to any poetry collection in a school or library. Moeng’s writing would also be best for poetry groups or in college courses about modern poetry. The poetry collection is one that readers will enjoy as a short, but impactful read. The Peril of a Saint is a book that will leave an indelible impression on readers.
