I should say that I am not a born-writer. My earliest recollection of writing something creative was in first year high school. Our English teacher asked us to write a short story for submission to a literary contest. I can no longer recall what the story I wrote was about, but one thing is certain – I did not win an award (lol)! And I didn’t like it! (the writing experience).
In college, I began to develop an interest on literature. Having good professors who “dissect” literary works (poetry, poems, essays) word per word, phrase per phrase and sentence per sentence, I was astonished on how powerfully words can communicate an outburst of human emotions and sentiments. But still, no attempt was made on my part to at least start writing something. Writing was a bore for me that time.
Then came 1999 when I had the chance of attending a creative writing workshop. Here, I began to develop a love for poetry. I could still vividly recall what one of the panelists said, ‘your poem should have something new to say, it should be an expression of the inner bickering of your soul” Below is the poem I have written as an output in the workshop.
Passion Friday
One again, in that place of burning incense and candle light,
I see my self, waiting for a sign of you revealing your self to my soul.
With my head bowed, I waited in silence for that time to pass.
Then you moved your outstretched arms,
in a gesture of welcome and warm embrace
A short lived ecstasy!
for I realized;
I could not receive you, I do not have the hands.
biyahenibuboy 