“A collection of 73 poems across diverse genres: Acrostic, Ballads, Cinequain and Limerick, Elegy, Lyric, Odes, Sonnets, MEDITATIONS speaks to the breadth and depth of Simpson’s craft as a poet. All written between 1958 and 1961, this is a commemorative work unearthed after the poet mysteriously disappeared one evening in 1974 whilst rehearsing a play he was directing. His younger brother, Femi, compiled and annotated the collection, thereby ensuring that Soji’s gift to the creative world is preserved as living testament to his genius; an indication of what was and glimpse of what could have been. “MEDITATIONS” as a collection of poems will sit well for individual pleasure. It also measures up for careful study. It should make its way into the classroom as a worthy collection deserving of closer scrutiny.”—Lanre Idowu. 

Contents: Acrostic on Baptist Academy/Floreat Collegium/BALLADS: Au Lecteur/Too Late/Let me writhe in agony/My Desire/Birth of Love/Come back my Love/The loving heart/Reminiscence/Playboy/Till we meet again/There goes my love/Life without love/Wish me luck/My kind of girl/Hail fellow well met/The Lovers/It’s You/Hard must he work/No such thing/Yet another day/Guys and Dames/Down the Hill/On the resurrection day/For the love of Dupe/For the love of Bisi/The week of Pride/Destination/THE CINQUAIN AND LIMERICK: Handle these lines with care/COLONIALISM: Ogbuefi/Nigerianisation/DESOLATION AND MELANCHOLY: It’s better to die in the prime of life/The Outcast/ELEGY: Elegy on Evlyn Abiodun Black-Duke/LYRIC: The key to success/Down along the Marina/Rose at sun down/On Parting/Gifts/Constancy/Incantation/Anxiety/The Twin City/Time is short/New Year Resolution/Resolution/Night Watch/My Little Bird/Ada Nma/Psalm 23 (Simbo’s Version), Under the Iroko Tree/Hymn/Play on, You little children/In the Days of Sowing/Magic in Your eyes/The Paradox of Life/Unbridled Thoughts/Star of Hope/ODES: Ode to Diligence/Ode to Staple food/Ode to Victory/SONNETS: To My Brother/To My Sister/Brine/The Teeners’ Tidings/To Philomena/THE PHILOMENA POEMS: You’ve stolen my heart/Philomena/My Delight/I waited long/Not a visiting day/Three Words/Soji’s World/A Pictorial World of Soji Simpson/The Simpson Family.