Zakariyya Nofiu’s debut poetry collection, The Little We Grow, We Fly, is a tapestry of emotions, weaving together themes of life, love, loss, and the human condition.
It’s a book that promises to take you on a journey—one that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
But does it soar to the heights it aspires to, or does it falter under the weight of its ambitions? The answer, much like the poems themselves, is complex and layered.
The collection is a mosaic of reflections on existence, from the fragility of life to the enduring power of love. Nofiu explores the interplay between growth and freedom, often juxtaposing the beauty of human experience with its inherent struggles.
The poems are rich with imagery, drawing from nature, family, and cultural traditions to paint vivid pictures of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Yet, for all its beauty, the collection occasionally stumbles, leaving the reader torn between admiration and frustration.
Nofiu’s strength lies in his ability to evoke raw emotion. Poems like We Lost Her and Sadness Is Another Death are hauntingly poignant, capturing the essence of grief with a simplicity that is both striking and relatable.
This poem has powerful visuals. From fish protesting cold water to rain falling in the heart, Nofiu paints emotion with bold, unexpected strokes. Birds, trees, graves, even missed calls—all are symbols delicately used.
But it’s not just beauty for beauty’s sake. Every metaphor carries a deeper message. The swinging tree doesn’t just move—it represents life’s constant shifts. The graves don’t just lie silent—they whisper lessons. It's as though the poem asks us: Can you see the world differently if you slow down and listen? The answer lies hidden in the lines.
The poet takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions. Grief is ever-present but so is love—mother’s love, father’s laughter, unrequited affection, and even fake love. Each feeling is raw.
The poem doesn't dress sorrow in fine clothes. Instead, it lets pain show up messy and unfiltered. Growth is another strong theme. Childhood is romanticized, adulthood is questioned, and old age looms like a quiet shadow.
Nofiu doesn’t just write about growing up. He questions what we lose along the way. Can one fly and still stay grounded? Do we ever truly leave home? These aren't just rhetorical—they're deeply felt.
The language of The Little We Grow, We Fly is clear and direct. No fancy words, no hiding behind literary jargon. Just honest emotion. The tone swings from conversational to poetic, from playful to devastating.
Even when the poet writes about pain, the tone doesn’t wallow—it reflects. That balance is hard to pull off. But here, it works. The simplicity allows every reader to connect. Whether it’s a lost parent, a broken love, or a fading memory—we’ve all been there in one way or another.
Some poems resonate deeply, while others fall flat, leaving the reader yearning for more cohesion. The occasional use of Arabic and Yoruba adds a cultural richness, but without translation or context, these moments may alienate readers unfamiliar with the languages.
Nofiu’s language is both lyrical and accessible, a rare combination that makes the collection appealing to a wide audience.
However, the simplicity of the language can sometimes undermine the complexity of the themes. While some poems are profound in their brevity, others feel underdeveloped, as if the poet stopped short of fully exploring the ideas at hand.
This inconsistency can be jarring, pulling the reader out of the immersive experience the collection strives to create.
In a world full of noise, The Little We Grow, We Fly is a quiet thunder. It doesn’t shout, but it stays with you. And maybe, just maybe—that’s what makes it so powerful.
Nofiu’s strength lies in his ability to evoke raw emotion. Poems like We Lost Her and Sadness Is Another Death are hauntingly poignant, capturing the essence of grief with a simplicity that is both striking and relatable.
The imagery of nature—birds, trees, rivers—serves as a powerful metaphor for human experiences, grounding abstract emotions in tangible reality.
