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Reviewed by Mariana Mukhebi for Readers' Favorite
Upendo is a Swahili word meaning love. Upendo by Jesica Lovelace is based on a tangled love story written from the perspectives of both a man and a woman. It contains a collection of poetry encompassing the emotional dilemma between two souls adrift. Lovelace embraces aspects of masculinity and femininity. Yet, in her writing, she reflects on their pure essence. The poems are like a journey that has a beginning and an end. They portray a beautiful love story about two people discovering their self-worth as part of the human experience. Love is associated with both vulnerability and heartbreak. We only encounter it as an interlude, where the exchange is the crucial component derived from it. But at the same time, it aims to reconcile our deepest wounds.
The poems are presented sequentially, each with its unique appeal. They are short but substantial. Every poem complements the other distinctively. Love is a journey of self-discovery. I like how Jesica Lovelace illustrates bodily figures to encounter the sensation. The use of metaphors is quite common throughout the poems. As she emphasizes, Lovelace's writing amplifies coordination. Though love might be seen as the greatest gift of all, as part of our emotions deep within, it exposes vulnerability. We must heal the scars associated with heartbreak to find the path of self-discovery. Upendo navigates that concept well, and the answers can be found within us by gaining a deeper understanding of these poems.
