Passions of the Soul
Author: Elaine H. Olaoye, Ph.D.—Reviewed by Anita Finley
The subtitle of Dr. Elaine
Henry Olaoye’s 10th anniversar y edition of Passions of
the Soul is: “Poetr y and
Poetr y Therapy: Selected
writings in Poetr y and Psychology on Self-development.”
The book includes four recipes
for “healing the mind and
feeding the soul.” Dr. Olaoye
writes, “We have to make time
to create or find what nurtures us; this
technique invites you to use recipes and
eating as metaphors that can provide
nutrients your mind and soul long for
and need.”
Poems included in Passions of the
Soul are dedicated to a wide variety of
persons. “I Love to Write,” dedicated to
Oprah Winfrey, celebrates pride in being
African American. “Thinking” is dedicated
to Carl G. Jung. Joy in the beauty of the
natural world is the theme of “Ode to
Spring,” dedicated to John Keats, while
“Nyack in Moonlit Winter” is a love poem
dedicated to Pablo Neruda.
Lewis R. Gordeon, Professor at Brown
University said, “Dr. Olaoye has produced an excellent collection of poetry,
addressing the struggle-for-significance
that emerges from the humanistic soul
of an African spirit. Eloquently weaving
her experiences as a psychologist and
educator, she provides a beacon of love
and hope for the present and generations to come.”
The collection is divided into sections
that address many of the passions of
our lives, including “Passions of love,”
“Passions of friendship,” and “Passions
of a poet.” The author asks,
“Can I become as mother
earth from whose depths the
well-springs of life gush and
over flow?”
One of the poems I especially like was the “Moods of
Music.” After reading many
of Dr. Olaoye’s poems, I
had thought what wonder ful
songs they would make and
that I will suggest that she get a composer and put her writing to music. Her
words are so melodic and soothing.
“There’s always music,” she says and
we know that even elders with Alzheimer’s Disease respond to music.
About the author:
Dr. Olaoye received her Ph.D. in
psychology and teaches psychology
at Brookdale Community College and
John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Her areas of specialty are Stress
Management, Positive Psychology,
and Pedagogy in
Higher Education.
She writes and researches poetr y
as a mechanism
for coping with
stress and conducts stress management and positive psychology workshops.
(Passions of the Soul may be purchased at www.amazon.com, Barnes &
Noble John Jay Book Store, New York
(www.bksjohnjay@bncollege.com) or the
website www.passionsofthesoul.com.)
It is a soft cover and costs $11.95.