Things You Need To Quit Before You Can Pen That PoemBy Shehu Mubarak SulaimanThe worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt— Sylvia Plath, a renowned poet, and also one of the pioneers of confessional poetry.Low Self-esteem And Fear Of Starting SmallYou need to let go of the idea that you’re not good enough, the fear to pen down what you feel about something, or better more, how you feel it. Most great artists, philosophers, writers and what have you; started from being an amateur, before they reached world renown.Setting Out To Be The BestDon’t set out aiming to be the best, you will need so much comparison to achieve that, and trust me, one doesn’t need that, no artist does. There’s nothing as the best. Writing or poetry is like an ocean, create your niche and sail your path. There are many ways into a market, whichever you thread takes you to your desired destination. Do your homework, take the pen, write your way and make your mark.Fear Of Studying Literature Alongside PenmanshipIt is one thing to be a poet, and another to know the art of poetry. You may have penned down your first poem, without having a knowledge of what it is you have done. Okay, it passed for a poem, but you need to seek some basic knowledge of what you do. You don’t want to call yourself a poet and tremble on the sight of someone asking you what a “pantoum poem” or an “epithet” is. Having a sound knowledge of what one does is of utmost importance.Setting Out To Make Money Through WritingDon’t set out to earn from poetry writing. Writing generally is an art, one might get some reward from writing poetry, that’s okay and pretty much common, but the major aim of any writing is to either appeal to the reader emotionally or intellectually–writing for aesthetics and for impact.The Burden Of Having To Speak The TruthNever fear the need to speak your truth, for the truth as it is said; is a great weapon to use in setting yourself free. There are so many deceptive stuff out there, don’t add to the heap of it. If you have to write, then you need to write the truth, and nothing but it, for there’s a day we shall be held accountable for every word that was let out in our name.Fear Of Not Being AppreciatedFear of not being appreciated is one thing that makes a lot of people quit writing. You never can tell about a thing until you delve into it. Write without seeking validation from anyone, write because you feel you have a need to, mere letting your ideas out there is fulfilling, even though no one gets to read them, at least you transformed ideas into words. Besides, there’s always someone out there who’s going to look into your work, as long as you put them up in the right places.Feeling Small For Using Common Words In Your PoemI don’t think anyone really pays attention to the use of common or uncommon words in a piece of writing. You need to know your target audience and their level of understanding when it comes to language. You cannot write for an average Nigerian in words not used every now and then and expect them to appreciate your work. You’re merely forcing a hen to urinate—you know what you’re up for. In the same vein, words more or less do not matter, a good poem is a good poem, the words used do not matter at all—simple or complex.Fear Of Being CriticizedShow me an artist and I’ll show you a product of criticisms, challenges, rejections and frustrations. Stephen King hung rejection letters on a nail in his room, till the nail could no longer bear the burden, because of how numerous the letters have become. Criticism should be seen as a stepping stone, and not as a hindrance. If viewed in good light, criticism can improve one’s art.Thank you. I hope this helps.
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Love’s still strong: By Felix Theman Ndukwadan
Love’s still strong
By #felixntheman, 2017
Why do you scorn love’s true strength?
That can’t contend with death and faith,
And pull down human brick walls of hate,
That can’t fill the deepest valleys its dark mate,
Its foundations isn’t sure like diamond’s bridge,
Across creeds and cultures and peoples of grades,
Unashamedly I mean not the fattest lie,
For I have seen love labour not once,
Quench raging iniquitous hellish fires,
Leaving in its wake not billowing smoke,
That chokes the living’s quiet breath,
But enduring air of human pleasant warmth,
Yes I have seen love not rarely either,
Mend and restore metal broken hearts,
And hence dazzle like gold out of furnace,
I have seen love light soul’s darkest terrace,
Even in the remotest land of the heathen,
And its snare confined only to its shame,
Love is still strong and firm like the sun,
It stares through the void of despair with fun,
It lightens and brightens the grossest evil,
And tame its’ shameless bizarre anger,
I mean not the littlest flatter hither,
I have seen love leap ‘n smile to quiet shores,
Surely not thither love’s still strong,
Even in the midst of grieve and vain hope,
I have seen it pierce through a throng,
Of the gravest pain to heal the wounds of hate,
And soothe the feelings of crude rejection,
Love is strong I mean no huge lake of lies,
Yes I mean not the vastest deceit here,
For love is light and light is the living’s life,
But who can out of raw darkness men’s life light?
And who can their seeming lost love ignite?
Just some little godly tries to love aright,
T’s Love not evil that makes the earth to go round.
©️Felix Ndukwadan Theman
Photo by Kevin A. Williams
Eternal Vigil: By Martin Ijir
Eternal Vigil
Beguiled amusement mourners
Stretched steamed shrimps wild campers
Here we are in a torn order
Shaking, quaking, breaking apt thoughts.
Now the long passage mock our thumb
Like the chain in the cloud, a new crescent
Moon appears: a new tied order in array
Looping in the head and trucking in my heart.
A chess play, an ear of chess movement
I am back from the eternal rest
As my earthiest day brings beguiling
Amusement, amusing mourners
Stretched steamed shrimps wild campers
Life is coil into the shell of deepening night
A long call on the longing plank of scary rest
Next is the failure of lockdown & hidden slavery
Sooner men will grab their prize of eternal vigil
(c)Martin Ijir 2020
The Love Statement: By Somadina M. James
#MyJesusAndI
#OurLoveStory
#E28
THE LOVE STATEMENT
I fell ankle deep for His proposal—who would not for such one robed in the sweetest hues of the steepest love? Of course I had many suitors, wooing me with subsidies—my undoings foiled in the most alluring parcels of thoughts.
When He came forward, He looked like no one I would throw my arms open to. His reputation preceded and precedes Him still—I heard a lot about Him before actually meeting the fine gentleman. But more than His grace, I heard of His dos-and-donts; with all the strictness and acerbity my mind had painted of Him, convincing me otherwise was like flaying a crocodile.
But He showed up and instead of arguing (which I was ready for) His reasons for plotting such a graph of dogmas that rather incite rebellion than quell it—He made a statement. He said listen Somadina, GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN SHOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS—and that was it. The last straw that broke the camel’s back it was, many days I would not stop to ponder. My heart drowned in the pool of His confessions, no food nor pleasure could satiate the burning in my belly. I prospered in the quest to satisfy the lusts of the demon within me—curiosity and fell rather deeper into befudlement when I found yet another conundrum—where it was written that WHILE WE I WAS YET A SINNER, THIS MAN DIED FOR ME.
All these while I haven’t ceased to imagine, what did a man see in me that made Him die my death? Probably He doesn’t know how bad a man I am. But finally, I learned that the Universe and everything I thought was on my side, was actually against me. I learned that this life is a pilgrim’s curse and hell is our reward, had He not His life given, would we ever be forgiven?
CHRIST’S DEATH WAS A LOVE STATEMENT, THE BEST ANY MAN WILL EVER MAKE.
Jesus I L💙VE you stupefyingly
I’m obsessed with your personality.
Thank you for taking my stripes and for walking my miles to calvary.
©️ Somadina M. James
My Conscience Speaks but I don’t Listen:By Massayan Favor Kollie And Bob K Queminee
Collaboration by Massayan Favor Kollie ft Bob K Queminee (Revolutionary Poet).”My Conscience Speaks but I don’t Listen”
Massayan Favor Kollie 🖋🇱🇷I keep doing what is wrong /
There’s a voice telling me to do the right/
But I ignored it and do what I like/
Knowing that I’m blocking my light/
_______________________________________Bob K Queminee 🖋🇱🇷My breath dances in pursue/
My inner peace can’t sleep/
There is a voice talking to me/
But I can’t listen/
____________________________________Massayan Favor Kollie 🖋🇱🇷This voice keeps telling me that I’m bright/
And I was brought up right/
But I’ve refused to walk in the light/
Knowing that I’m locking my spirit
_______________________________________Bob K Queminee 🖋🇱🇷The truth has been conceived/
My conscious has been murdered/
I’m crying out in pain/
My silence has exposed me/
_____________________________________Massayan Favor Kollie 🖋🇱🇷The thoughts are coming like waves of the ocean/
I keep rejecting them because I must satisfy my emotions/
Even though my conscience is unspoken/
Yet, it keeps coming like a flooded erosion/
_________________________________________Bob K Queminee 🖋🇱🇷Oh consciousness please find me/
Has my mind now breed distraction/
I stare in restrictions to defuse confusion/
My heart now swirl in intimidation
©Massayan Favor Kollie
©Bob K Queminee
Dear Life: By Sulaiman Olayemi
#Surprises_September_2020
#DEAR LIFE
You brought a shining light into my world,
And calmly replaced it with dark darkness.
You brought blissfulness into my world,
And gently substituted it with agonies.
You brought joyful smiles on my face,
And voluntarily superseded it with tears.
You brought honey dreams into my world,
And quickly replaced it with nightmares.
You brought mornings into my naked eyes,
And slowly substituted it with black nights.
You brought a raining season into my world,
And naturally refashioned it with dry season.
You brought purities into my heart and soul,
And miraculously replaced it with impurities.
Your brought toothsome meals on my potbelly
And unknowingly modified it with starvations.
You brought complete everything into my world
And patiently tabled it with partial or nothingness.
You brought a lively existence into my world,
And unsatisfactorily changed it with death.
Dear life, why did you test me with all these?
®Olayemi Sulaiman
©All rights reserved
Dear Life: By Sulaiman Olayemi
#Surprises_September_2020#DEAR LIFE
#Surprises_September_2020
#DEAR LIFE
You brought a shining light into my world,
And calmly replaced it with dark darkness.
You brought blissfulness into my world,
And gently substituted it with agonies.
You brought joyful smiles on my face,
And voluntarily superseded it with tears.
You brought honey dreams into my world,
And quickly replaced it with nightmares.
You brought mornings into my naked eyes,
And slowly substituted it with black nights.
You brought a raining season into my world,
And naturally refashioned it with dry season.
You brought purities into my heart and soul,
And miraculously replaced it with impurities.
Your brought toothsome meals on my potbelly
And unknowingly modified it with starvations.
You brought complete everything into my world
And patiently tabled it with partial or nothingness.
You brought a lively existence into my world,
And unsatisfactorily changed it with death.
Dear life, why did you test me with all these?
®Olayemi Sulaiman
©All rights reserved
Kid In Heart: By Ismail Yusuf Olumoh
KID IN HEART
He said, he was captivated with beauty that lie in me,
Which I blushed too and really appreciated,
He never slept. Early, I was the one he came to see,
And I don’t know why? But we later separated.
At tender age I met him, as he moved closed to me.
In precipitous way straighting like light,
That make me hold my lung to protect like lee,
When the speedman appeared to convinced me left and right.
He is handsome and cool like solid ice,
With honey mouth, that satisfied the taste buds,
Who lay down the words, he is smart and wise,
I never knew it was a trap, I passed the bonds.
My hands picked the smart tools and dashed the pin,
I replied, to get back depends on my thoughts,
I didn’t know I will committed a great sin,
Until when the situation got worse and worst.
At 16 he licked the succulent lips of mine,
When I was also in the deepest underground water,
We do this for sometimes but more than nine,
I don’t know I have crossed the devil border.
He promised to stay by my side,
He promised to hold my hands so tight,
All this happened when things hasn’t wide,
That was when the trip just start.
At 18 he was caught cheated,
And told him nothing between us, it’s over,
I walked away heavily I breathed,
But he went on his knee and I accepted his offer.
At 19 the door was closed and bodies got out,
With the back stick that fell on bed,
Secretly we did a sport without taut
I didn’t knew he came to purloined my beans to eat his bread.
At a moment the inner weak,
Dizziness caned and the world turned,
I lost the monthly oils and felt sick,
Inside me the organisms was formed.
I went to told him about the great news,
But his reaction was opposite of my own,
Our progenitors lighted the stage as the wedding was drawn,
After marriage he showed his true colour,
He smoked and alcohol was his best friend,
Between him and ladies there is nothing like hollow,
A thought got over me that, was he the guy I befriend?
The day I asked him why was he doing all these?
I was beat blue black till I miscarriage,
Packed my belongings out like a breeze,
But I was still on ground, couldn’t manage.
Love at tender age,
Let me in future problems,
I wasn’t his choice, he put me in cage,
Matured in heart even if he is boy, kid in heart even he is man.
©️ ISMAIL YUSUF OLUMOH
©️SAGE ✍️
SPARKLE LIKE A DIAMOND:By Sarala Balachandra
SPARKLE LIKE A DIAMOND
You are a girl who is
as black as coal with
lovely sparkling eyes
and rosy cheeks n long hair
Cupping your oval shaped face
with a loving heart
so pious and divine
Everyone calls you black
but in my eyes you
sparkle like a diamond
A diamond so pristine
and dazzling
When I am with you
you brighten my world
like a star in the sky
No clouds hover nor
raindrops falling from the sky
You make me shine
Like a diamond so bright
Holding you close
makes my day
A sparkling diamond you are in my life
clinging on to my heart n soul
And makes me feel you are near
You will forever be my diamond
sparkling so bright close to my heart
hugging my lovelorn feelings
When you smile
Your teeth glow and shine
like a row of diamonds
White lilies shy away
Seeing the sparkle of your teeth
I can see me in your heart
A heart as lucky and pure
as a sparkling diamond !
You make my world shine
till eternity and beyond !
©️Copyright
Sarala Balachandran
FEMININITY:By Vince Alexus
FEMININITY
Tenderness sensitivity,
Vulnerability sexuality
All a part of femininity
Why do you fear?
When God is near
Cheer up sweet girl
Priceless as a pearl
You are so graceful
Charming beautiful
You are woman
Special part of creation
Helpmate to man
Filled with love and tenderness
Innocence sweetness kindness
Blessed with grace classic beauty
Honoring you is man’s duty
Such a beautiful soul
You make a man whole
Trusting in self and God
Believe you’re the best
Surely you’ll pass the test
Fears will disappear
Never again appear
Never look back
Instead gaze ahead
Tread on the right track
Woman has been portrayed
In Picasso’s paintings
Michaelangelo’s sculptures
Honored and exalted
Sacred goddess worshiped
© All Rights Reserved
~ Alexus
CAGING THE MONKEY OF MY HEAD:By Radhakrishnan Krishnan
CAGING THE MONKEY OF MY MIND
It jumps in to unfair conclusions,
It gives way to uncanny temptations,
It is always in a state of vacillation,
Causing always unending commotions.Running wild it makes endless chatter,
Annoying people and make them scatter,
On flimsy grounds it gets torn and tatter,
Not just ordinary, it is a grave matterLike a monkey it is in constant motion,
Giving my life unwanted tension,
It always earns me reprehension,
It always smells fear and apprehension.I have to tame it and put it in a cage,
I need liberation from its rage,
Before it run amok and cause rampage,
Need to control it at every stage,I can’t allow the monkey mind to rule me,
I won’t listen to its screech and plea,
From its shackles, I have to set myself free,
I will chain the monkey and have the key.
© K.Radhakrishnan
Thankful Tuesday
