Have you ever wondered what a kazoo was? Technically, it’s a musical instrument, but it’s a special one that you can vocalize into the mouthpiece creating a buzzing sound. Rather cool. One could say poetry is like a kazoo: you vocalize your thoughts using metaphors and similes and all manner of literary devices to create a succinct and compelling representation of something – anything – or nothing at all.

Taylor Sapp titles his recent poetry collection, The Lion Playing the Kazoo. It’s also the title of the last poem in the collection: “Perched on a rock, regal and majestic/ A lion, kazoo in its mouth, making mournful eulogies/ Dead remnants of human at its feet.” I wondered if the lion’s dead human was the poet. It would certainly appear that the poet has made a metaphor linking the kazoo to himself as a poet and his poems as well. But, would not also the “dead remnants” be the fodder of the poet’s poems? Food for thought. That’s the magic of poetry. There is so much that can be said in a few simple words; so many ways the reader could interpret what is read.

The poems reveal multiple styles of poetry: haiku, rhyming verse, acrostic and so many other styles. Each poem reflects, as it should, some aspect of the poet’s life, his thoughts, his feelings, his beliefs. Some of the poems may seem simple and short, but upon closer study, they reveal so much more. This is a gem of a poetry collection, one that deserves multiple reads, as I’m sure each time the poetry is read, a new dimension will reveal itself. Like the unusual thought/ image of a lion playing a kazoo, there is much to ponder in each of these poems.

The Lion Playing the Kazoo: A Poetry Collection by Taylor Sapp is a series of poems to stir the imagination. As this is the 2nd edition, you'll find some extras in this volume such as notes on writing Haikus and discussion questions for classrooms, book clubs, and poetry groups. Some of the titles alone will pique your interest--"The Raucous Reindeer", "Rusty Vines", "A Day of Being Dead"--and deliver an eclectic mix of messages. Some of the messages are simple and slice-of-life experiences that put you in a certain time, place, or frame of mind while others allow your imagination to play with the words and imagery within the poems.

Sapp has an engaging way of combining wit with realism, and there is an appealing quirkiness to some of the poems that imply that some of them don't take themselves too seriously. But then you'll read between the lines of others and come away with a deeper meaning, or more than one interpretation. Some of the poems read like an interesting commentary on the world in general, while others have a more personal feel. This poet's style is very reader-friendly as if inviting you to "fill in the blanks" as you read, guessing as to what the meaning is, and exercising your imagination in a playful way. Some of the poems have a tactility to them, while others are lyrical. I like Sapp's varied approach to the composition of the poems, as some are more serious. A sparkle of life shines throughout them with crisp imagery. The collection, as a whole, moves along fluidly, and each poem stands well on its own--some as complete as a micro-story. If you're looking for poetry that flirts with both lightness and sincerity, The Lion Playing the Kazoo: A Poetry Collection by Taylor Sapp should be on your to-read list.