Children enclosed in rows,
divided from familiarity.
Frozen stuck in photographs, or engraved in memory than stone.
Only moving through quiet conversation.
The roots were dug up,
scorched, burnt, washed out and forgotten.
Scorched hills and frozen fires.
Once our very own, now a forgotten home.
Long black braids cut
Sick, cut-covered, skin flesh to the bone
Stripped and bleached
Poisoned and silent.
No home-stitched skirts of radiant colour.
No sound, no song, no dance beat or hum.
Nineteen ninety-six
was when we were finally freed.
I’m considered lucky,
because it wasn’t me.
Your braids grew back,
and you speak to me in our language and our lost sound.
You adventure our hills and make skirts.
We hum, because you are resilient,
Grandmother.
Questions and Answers
Is there a specific moment that inspired you to pursue poetry?
In September 2023, I discovered a profound appreciation for poetry. This realization coincided with a challenging year. One that eluded my understanding until I began channeling my experiences into Poetry. Poetry emerged as a therapeutic outlet, providing a space for the exploration of abstractions. When emotions get messy and the mind feels muddled, I found that writing abstract poetry is the best way of expressing it. So, I was inspired by finally being able to express these moments and feelings in a way that I otherwise wouldn’t know how to.
How/where do you find inspiration today?
I find inspiration in the small moments that I can visualize through rose-tinted glasses. Whether it’s my own life or a stranger’s. When I catch a glimpse of one of those small moments, I like to imagine a story that has led to that moment or what’s to follow—for example, the fleeting connection of two strangers who briefly catch eyes each morning when they board their morning train. I’m inspired by the significance found in insignificant moments. However, this poem is quite different from that; it was inspired by my grandmother. Someone who is so strong and gentle — a woman so significant, she deserves to have poems written about her.
Do you use any resources that a young poet would find useful (e.g. books, films, art, websites, etc.)?
I like to use films as a means of shaping how I write. After watching so many movies and being aware of the stylistic decisions made to capture a film, I adopted a similar cinematic perspective within my poetry. It allows me to visualize and articulate those insignificant moments in a cinematic, almost romanticized or glorified way.
As a published writer, what are your tips or words of motivation for the aspiring poet?
I would say write about the things that make you really feel something, no matter how silly or insignificant you may think it is. Write about the first things you think about when you wake up or the things, people, and moments that you can’t stop talking about. Write about the things that captivate you. Capture them with words so the world can see what you see.