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Lost in a Quatrain
Lost in a Quatrain is a very relatable, inspiring and thought provoking read on a journey to becoming, a journey of hope and healing.
Written over an 18 year period, Lost in a Quatrain is a select collection of deep, must-read, soul stirring poetry with each poem telling a story that pieces together the puzzle of this crazy, not always romantic, experience we call life...
With just 48 poems that read like short stories, Lost in a Quatrain is a quick, but deeply contemplative read.
'Poetry is intimacy between poet and reader. It's revealing your truth and having safe acceptance in the unveiling'
REVIEWS:
"...I am so deeply touched by your gift and moved by many of your poems. You are a Tiger Butterfly and this grandma has often been sore! Wise words, deep thoughts, lovely images and through it all shines a loving and perceptive woman... I shall return to it with pleasure and sometimes tears." - DR MARGUERITE POLAND - Best Selling and Award Winning Author of Shades, Sins of Omission, and others
"... Adiela clearly loves playing with words that flow and dance upon the reader's tongue. Her skilful crafting includes depth, layering, tone, rhythm, vivid imagery and the presence of lived experience often provoking deeper thought. A very versatile poet whose poems linger long after you have read them." � DR EDRIS KHAMISSA - International Motivational Speaker / Educator and Author
Written over an 18 year period, Lost in a Quatrain is a select collection of deep, must-read, soul stirring poetry with each poem telling a story that pieces together the puzzle of this crazy, not always romantic, experience we call life...
With just 48 poems that read like short stories, Lost in a Quatrain is a quick, but deeply contemplative read.
'Poetry is intimacy between poet and reader. It's revealing your truth and having safe acceptance in the unveiling'
REVIEWS:
"...I am so deeply touched by your gift and moved by many of your poems. You are a Tiger Butterfly and this grandma has often been sore! Wise words, deep thoughts, lovely images and through it all shines a loving and perceptive woman... I shall return to it with pleasure and sometimes tears." - DR MARGUERITE POLAND - Best Selling and Award Winning Author of Shades, Sins of Omission, and others
"... Adiela clearly loves playing with words that flow and dance upon the reader's tongue. Her skilful crafting includes depth, layering, tone, rhythm, vivid imagery and the presence of lived experience often provoking deeper thought. A very versatile poet whose poems linger long after you have read them." � DR EDRIS KHAMISSA - International Motivational Speaker / Educator and Author
- GenresPoetry
60 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Adiela Akoo
6Ìýbooks25ÌýfollowersAdiela Akoo is a poet and writer with a background in banking and comprehensive healing. Her debut poetry memoir, Lost in a Quatrain, was First Runner Up for poetry in the SAIP Awards 2021 and quotes from her book and other writings have been popping up across the globe, much to her astonished delight.
Adiela's poems and essays first appeared in print in the quarterly literary journal, The Moving Finger, a school publication that she co-founded with the help of a friend and the school librarian. The aim was to encourage her peers to write and seek publication, to dream and break free of the restrictive barriers that encompassed them.
She has since been published in a variety of magazines, journals and anthologies across the world, including 25 Years of Freedom, The Penmen Review, Best of Africa, Spirit Fire Review, Grey Thoughts, ILA Magazine, Fidelities, Botsotso, Renaissance, Sufi, Universul Culturii, Best Emerging Poets of 2019, Best New African Poets of 2020-2023, and others. Her poems have been ‘Poem of the Day� on poetry sites and have won competitions. Her debut book, Lost in a Quatrain, described as "Heart Touching" and "Soul Healing" by readers, is being translated into several other languages. She has a new collection forthcoming.
Adiela has been commissioned to represent the Durban UNESCO City of Literature in various collaborations with other cities of literature. She also volunteered and served in the position of Vice Chair of the Literacy Association of South Africa (KZN).
Passionate about poetry and its promotion, and literacy and literature as a whole, Adiela is the Founder and Editor of the new international literary journal, The Quilled Ink Review, which offers writers a select platform to be published and build confidence on the literary stage.
To find out more about Adiela Akoo, read her backstory, and connect, visit:
Adiela's poems and essays first appeared in print in the quarterly literary journal, The Moving Finger, a school publication that she co-founded with the help of a friend and the school librarian. The aim was to encourage her peers to write and seek publication, to dream and break free of the restrictive barriers that encompassed them.
She has since been published in a variety of magazines, journals and anthologies across the world, including 25 Years of Freedom, The Penmen Review, Best of Africa, Spirit Fire Review, Grey Thoughts, ILA Magazine, Fidelities, Botsotso, Renaissance, Sufi, Universul Culturii, Best Emerging Poets of 2019, Best New African Poets of 2020-2023, and others. Her poems have been ‘Poem of the Day� on poetry sites and have won competitions. Her debut book, Lost in a Quatrain, described as "Heart Touching" and "Soul Healing" by readers, is being translated into several other languages. She has a new collection forthcoming.
Adiela has been commissioned to represent the Durban UNESCO City of Literature in various collaborations with other cities of literature. She also volunteered and served in the position of Vice Chair of the Literacy Association of South Africa (KZN).
Passionate about poetry and its promotion, and literacy and literature as a whole, Adiela is the Founder and Editor of the new international literary journal, The Quilled Ink Review, which offers writers a select platform to be published and build confidence on the literary stage.
To find out more about Adiela Akoo, read her backstory, and connect, visit:
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 19, 2019
Lost in a Quatrain by South African author and poet Adiela Akoo is a collection I'm glad to have come across. There are many poems I could relate to and many I'd love to quote, whole.
The 65-page collection begins with the short but inspiring poem "Within" which I felt spoke to me as a writer and poet. "Empty Chairs," whose beginning is the same as its ending, leaves the reader aching. It's a painful poem of memory and loss; it also strikes a chord with me.
Back to Lost in a Quatrain, there were a few political and spiritual pieces, including "Know Thyself".
"Cape Town 1990," which tackles the issue of white versus black skin, is painful to say the least. Similarly, "New Apartheid" is a must read. And while I don't think my country had much of the skin problem, I related to this poem.
"Only to find a new apartheid walking in
That now wants to condemn us
For the way we are praying!"
"@2pm" is an interesting piece on the time 2 pm, where a lot of things are being done by different people. It gives a sense of togetherness and aloneness at the same time. Though a short piece, it's an idea that is definitely worth thinking about.
"What's Up?" is a hilarious story and conversation within a poem. I loved it!
Lost in a Quatrain includes several deep pieces such as "Not Enough," "Broken Winged Bird," "Are YOU Ready?" "As the Rain Pitter-Pattered," "Wrapped Up," just to name few. There are many and I enjoyed them all.
"Hormonal" is a powerful womanly poem about � you probably guessed it � women's monthly period. I appreciated that Akoo wrote about this and included it in her collection.
"Coupling" is poem about writing and I totally relate to it! I felt that Akoo was reiterating my thoughts about words and poetry that come to me in the middle of the night. This is a five-star piece.
One of the poems that I had me thinking a lot was "You Are a Woman, You Must Learn to Live with Being Sore" which Akoo says was a grandmother's advice. The poem tackles a contrast about women having to be strong but in pain in a way. They need to take care of their homes and husbands but at the same time they need to be strong. It's a poem worthy of study and being included in syllabi. I get the idea; I would assume my grandmother thinks the same way. I know I have a few points I'd argue about as would many young and older women nowadays. Still, it's worth reading and thinking about.
The language in Lost in a Quatrain is simple but the imagery and flow were amazing. Some were like songs and others were experimental like the one-sentence poem which I felt should be extended into a full short story. Meanwhile, the poem with the same title as the book, "Lost in a Quatrain," comes late in the collection but I adored its flow. Each quatrain tells of a situation or short story. I felt that if were longer, it would make a beautiful song.
Overall rating for Lost in a Quatrain by Adiela Akoo: 4.5 stars. A must-read and a collection to be remembered. Thank you for bringing to my world, Adiela.
Note: I received a free copy of Lost in a Quatrain from its author Adiela Akoo in exchange for an honest review.
The 65-page collection begins with the short but inspiring poem "Within" which I felt spoke to me as a writer and poet. "Empty Chairs," whose beginning is the same as its ending, leaves the reader aching. It's a painful poem of memory and loss; it also strikes a chord with me.
Back to Lost in a Quatrain, there were a few political and spiritual pieces, including "Know Thyself".
"Cape Town 1990," which tackles the issue of white versus black skin, is painful to say the least. Similarly, "New Apartheid" is a must read. And while I don't think my country had much of the skin problem, I related to this poem.
"Only to find a new apartheid walking in
That now wants to condemn us
For the way we are praying!"
"@2pm" is an interesting piece on the time 2 pm, where a lot of things are being done by different people. It gives a sense of togetherness and aloneness at the same time. Though a short piece, it's an idea that is definitely worth thinking about.
"What's Up?" is a hilarious story and conversation within a poem. I loved it!
Lost in a Quatrain includes several deep pieces such as "Not Enough," "Broken Winged Bird," "Are YOU Ready?" "As the Rain Pitter-Pattered," "Wrapped Up," just to name few. There are many and I enjoyed them all.
"Hormonal" is a powerful womanly poem about � you probably guessed it � women's monthly period. I appreciated that Akoo wrote about this and included it in her collection.
"Coupling" is poem about writing and I totally relate to it! I felt that Akoo was reiterating my thoughts about words and poetry that come to me in the middle of the night. This is a five-star piece.
One of the poems that I had me thinking a lot was "You Are a Woman, You Must Learn to Live with Being Sore" which Akoo says was a grandmother's advice. The poem tackles a contrast about women having to be strong but in pain in a way. They need to take care of their homes and husbands but at the same time they need to be strong. It's a poem worthy of study and being included in syllabi. I get the idea; I would assume my grandmother thinks the same way. I know I have a few points I'd argue about as would many young and older women nowadays. Still, it's worth reading and thinking about.
The language in Lost in a Quatrain is simple but the imagery and flow were amazing. Some were like songs and others were experimental like the one-sentence poem which I felt should be extended into a full short story. Meanwhile, the poem with the same title as the book, "Lost in a Quatrain," comes late in the collection but I adored its flow. Each quatrain tells of a situation or short story. I felt that if were longer, it would make a beautiful song.
Overall rating for Lost in a Quatrain by Adiela Akoo: 4.5 stars. A must-read and a collection to be remembered. Thank you for bringing to my world, Adiela.
Note: I received a free copy of Lost in a Quatrain from its author Adiela Akoo in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lost in a Quatrain: Poetry AnthologyÌýKindle Edition byÌýAdiela Akoo is a collection of poems that the poet wrote in an attempt to honor poetry itself.
Using her own experiences from life, the poet tries to show us her inner world. Some of the poems are about everyday life and others are about esoteric conflict.
Poetry is relative. Some poems were utterly foreign to me and others I felt I was in the same room as the poet listening to her reciting her poems to me.
I also liked that some of the poems did not have a strict form of a rhyme.
Adiela Akoo wrote an anthology of poems that has a little bit of everything for everyone.
Highly recommended.
Lost in a Quatrain: Poetry AnthologyÌýKindle Edition byÌýAdiela Akoo is a collection of poems that the poet wrote in an attempt to honor poetry itself.
Using her own experiences from life, the poet tries to show us her inner world. Some of the poems are about everyday life and others are about esoteric conflict.
Poetry is relative. Some poems were utterly foreign to me and others I felt I was in the same room as the poet listening to her reciting her poems to me.
I also liked that some of the poems did not have a strict form of a rhyme.
Adiela Akoo wrote an anthology of poems that has a little bit of everything for everyone.
Highly recommended.
February 3, 2019
An impressive debut by Adiela Akoo.
Words cleverly woven together vividly conjuring up pictures, memories and a vast range of feelings. What a privilege it has been for me to step into each poem and savour its depth.
I look forward to your next book.
Words cleverly woven together vividly conjuring up pictures, memories and a vast range of feelings. What a privilege it has been for me to step into each poem and savour its depth.
I look forward to your next book.
August 2, 2020
Lost In A Quatrain by Adiela Akoo is a wonder in its simplicity yet complex topics spoken about poetically with truth.
From the nerves and fears on the first day of school in Mrs DB Martin to the finality of I Feel It My Bones when physical life is near its end the author takes us on a journey of life's trials and tribulations as well as its joys of love, motherhood, friendship and the beauty of nature.
One of the most powerful poems is New Apartheid with these last 3 lines
"Only to find a new apartheid walking in
That now wants to condemn us
For the way we are praying"
As a South African poet these words vibrate from the writer with such honesty and the need to be heard.
I especially loved the thought provoking 2pm about how at any given time we are doing trivial things or life altering ones. The comic What's Up about a day of interruption and burnt biscuits. Then there is Hormonal about monthly mood swings and painful cramps that ever woman will be saying yes to as they read it.
The one poem that had the most profound effect on me was You Are A Woman You Must Learn To Be Sore. It is the advice the author's grandmother gave her about living as a female in a man's world. It angered me because as much as I want to believe that I am a modern liberated feminist I am guilty of many times silencing my feelings and thoughts to keep the peace and appeasing a male ego.
This is not flowery poetry or sonnets of love but at just a little over 50 pages it is one woman's voice that speaks for so many.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the nerves and fears on the first day of school in Mrs DB Martin to the finality of I Feel It My Bones when physical life is near its end the author takes us on a journey of life's trials and tribulations as well as its joys of love, motherhood, friendship and the beauty of nature.
One of the most powerful poems is New Apartheid with these last 3 lines
"Only to find a new apartheid walking in
That now wants to condemn us
For the way we are praying"
As a South African poet these words vibrate from the writer with such honesty and the need to be heard.
I especially loved the thought provoking 2pm about how at any given time we are doing trivial things or life altering ones. The comic What's Up about a day of interruption and burnt biscuits. Then there is Hormonal about monthly mood swings and painful cramps that ever woman will be saying yes to as they read it.
The one poem that had the most profound effect on me was You Are A Woman You Must Learn To Be Sore. It is the advice the author's grandmother gave her about living as a female in a man's world. It angered me because as much as I want to believe that I am a modern liberated feminist I am guilty of many times silencing my feelings and thoughts to keep the peace and appeasing a male ego.
This is not flowery poetry or sonnets of love but at just a little over 50 pages it is one woman's voice that speaks for so many.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2019
An interesting, thoughtful and meaningful array of great poetry�
Lost in Quatrain is wonderful collection of poetry that covers a vast range of theme and subject matter from race, culture, political and faith with pretty much everything in between.
Through the many poems; all of which range in length and structure the reader is taken on a journey that resonates the sometimes poignant or meaningful recollections and thoughts of Adiela Akoo. Many of them are short but still carry a powerful message while others are longer, from a few lines all the way to a few pages there is pretty much everything a poem should be in this book.
‘Coupling� is definitely a poem I could relate to as a creative and of course I have to mention ‘Whiplash� for it’s unique structure. I found the humour in ‘Drunken Man� along with a great appreciation for ‘Race with the Wind� amongst many others
For anyone who is a fan of poetry or has an open mind to it I highly recommend this book.
I was provided with a free e-copy of this title in exchange for a review, thank you to the author for providing that copy!
Lost in Quatrain is wonderful collection of poetry that covers a vast range of theme and subject matter from race, culture, political and faith with pretty much everything in between.
Through the many poems; all of which range in length and structure the reader is taken on a journey that resonates the sometimes poignant or meaningful recollections and thoughts of Adiela Akoo. Many of them are short but still carry a powerful message while others are longer, from a few lines all the way to a few pages there is pretty much everything a poem should be in this book.
‘Coupling� is definitely a poem I could relate to as a creative and of course I have to mention ‘Whiplash� for it’s unique structure. I found the humour in ‘Drunken Man� along with a great appreciation for ‘Race with the Wind� amongst many others
For anyone who is a fan of poetry or has an open mind to it I highly recommend this book.
I was provided with a free e-copy of this title in exchange for a review, thank you to the author for providing that copy!
January 4, 2020
When you truly reflect on life, you come up with such creations. I like the way Adiela has weaved simple poetic stories out of the complex strings of life in which humans remain entangled. From social to soul exploration, all has been done and depicted neatly in this poetic beauty. As a poet, I especially relate to the poetry style that is made very understandable, yet churned out of an ocean’s depth.
September 2, 2024
"You're surrounded by people
yet still lonely
my heart aches for you."
'Lost in a Quatrain' by Adiela Akoo is a beautiful collection of poems that gave me the required dose of literature during my bedtime (I prefer reading poems when I'm alone at night).
I must say that every poem was deep, and there are many resonated with me. It's really hard for me to choose a favorite. The lines were simple to follow and a must-read for readers who are new to poetry.
yet still lonely
my heart aches for you."
'Lost in a Quatrain' by Adiela Akoo is a beautiful collection of poems that gave me the required dose of literature during my bedtime (I prefer reading poems when I'm alone at night).
I must say that every poem was deep, and there are many resonated with me. It's really hard for me to choose a favorite. The lines were simple to follow and a must-read for readers who are new to poetry.
December 5, 2020
I became lost in this beautiful book of poetry as the author examined the human experience over time, showcasing old traditions and new ways of life as she pulled from her own life and relationships. The exploration of the masks we often wear to appease others was intriguing. I found myself very surprised at the ending of “as the rain pitter-pattered� which fit absolutely perfectly with the theme of the poem - that things happen right under our noses as we simply go about living our lives. To me, the entire collection was a meditation on reverence and respect for our fellow humans, non-humans, and nature herself.
Some of my favorites include: “Cape Town 1990�, “Patiala vs The South-Easter�, “The New Apartheid�, “The Blue Head�, and “as the rain pitter-pattered�. I more than connected with “Hormonal�.
Thank you to Adiela Akoo for gifting me this intimate collection of her thoughts and feelings in poem form - it is stunning!
Some of my favorites include: “Cape Town 1990�, “Patiala vs The South-Easter�, “The New Apartheid�, “The Blue Head�, and “as the rain pitter-pattered�. I more than connected with “Hormonal�.
Thank you to Adiela Akoo for gifting me this intimate collection of her thoughts and feelings in poem form - it is stunning!
May 28, 2019
I haven't read a lot of poetry but I really enjoyed this collection of heartfelt poems by Adiela Akoo. There is an underlying melancholy to many of them, but also, a sense of hope and purpose found. The author has obviously had pain in her life, yet is finding a release and even beauty by reflecting on her experiences through her writing. Many of the poems are written in a simple style but are no less effective for that. I truly appreciate any writing where the author is willing to share a piece of their innermost soul and thoughts with the reader. Many lovely moments here observing nature, relationships, the pains and joys of life, and self reflection and empowerment. I found this a lovely, quiet read. (Review note: The author provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.)
May 28, 2020
Lost in a Quatrain is a beautiful collection of poems which are stemmed from real life experiences and so it truly resonates well with the reader. The imagery and style plays on one's emotions, evoking a diversity of feelings. It's an exploration of thoughts, experiences, situations that plays like a song.
January 9, 2020
I am giving this 4.5 stars the poetry was amazing and so beautiful to read. I'm so glad I got to read this! Well done!
May 6, 2019
This is an anthology of poems, many of them autobiographical in nature, detailing the poet’s inner life, her faith and her reaction to her environment. In total, it is a wonderful mosaic of a thoughtful and feeling life. Individually, the separate poems are of uneven quality.
Some of the most successful of these works are sound poems, redolent with alliteration. Some of the least successful are those in traditional form, where the structure and substance of the language is twisted to fit an arbitrary rhyme scheme.
Once again I am forced to remind poets that one wonderful aspect of their art is that it frees them from the strictures that prose places on punctuation. However, with freedom comes responsibility. Poets must decide what commas and periods are for, and make certain they use them for that purpose. If a comma stops a phrase in the middle, it has been misplaced. Poets, read your poems out loud to see if the punctuation aids the flow of the language and meaning or halts it.
A minor point, but overuse of exclamation marks is a no-no in prose these days. It becomes obvious that the rule applies to poetry as well. If there is not enough emotion in the line leading up to it, an exclamation point will not fix the problem.
Recommended for poetry fans who like their themes accessible and their poems mainly traditional in form.
Some of the most successful of these works are sound poems, redolent with alliteration. Some of the least successful are those in traditional form, where the structure and substance of the language is twisted to fit an arbitrary rhyme scheme.
Once again I am forced to remind poets that one wonderful aspect of their art is that it frees them from the strictures that prose places on punctuation. However, with freedom comes responsibility. Poets must decide what commas and periods are for, and make certain they use them for that purpose. If a comma stops a phrase in the middle, it has been misplaced. Poets, read your poems out loud to see if the punctuation aids the flow of the language and meaning or halts it.
A minor point, but overuse of exclamation marks is a no-no in prose these days. It becomes obvious that the rule applies to poetry as well. If there is not enough emotion in the line leading up to it, an exclamation point will not fix the problem.
Recommended for poetry fans who like their themes accessible and their poems mainly traditional in form.
February 5, 2025
Lost in a Quatrain by Adiela Akoo was a deeply powerful read yet so accessible in the simplicity of its delivery. I will eagerly be looking out for more of her writing. Akoo's poetry reminded me a bit of Warsan Shire with flavors of Neruda.
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