Poem: As Powerful
We are as powerful as our greatest weakness permits And as beautiful as our deepest flaw We are capped by our lowest thoughts of ourselves Try to pinch yourself when you’re in a trough Our minds are the greatest assets They tell us what we can do So build up a richer, healthier mindset And […]
Poem: An Ode to Time
Time…Time…Time What a privilege to note your existence, Your performance is never unequal. One time, you seem like a ‘slow and steady’ wins the race Another time, it’s like you build up enormous speed like a jet in the runway…O Precious time, Why art thou insatiable, No matter how big or small thy size is, […]
#CNWriters: 7 Tips for Success in the Business of Spoken Word
At Connect Nigeria’s annual Writers’ Conference 2015 held on Saturday 18th April, spoken word poet, Efe Paul Azino answered the question, “Can you really make money from poetry?” His talk was built around the fact that spoken word poetry is a poet’s best bet for making money in Nigeria today. This doesn’t mean page poetry […]
The Poet And His Patient: A Review of Dami Ajayi’s Clinical Blues
Title: Clinical Blues Author: Dami Ajayi Publisher: WriteHouse Year: 2014 Reviewer: Salawu Olajide One can begin by taking note of the two-word title that Dami Ajayi has chosen for this gang of poems, ‘Clinical Blues’. The poet has prepared poetry as the lab where medical science and music are titrated and adulterated. But then, […]
Fun Friday: Thank You
It is Friday and I’m sure you have complained endlessly since Monday! Take a moment out and think about all the things and people that you are grateful for today. Maybe you can even send them this poem! Thank you for coming into my life Because you opened a new world for me Thank you […]
The Phenomenal Women Poetry Anthology in Honour of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an African-American author, poet, dancer, actress, and singer. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and over […]
Goethe Institut Nigeria to Hold Spoken Word and Poetry Workshop
A poetry and spoken word workshop has been organized by the Goethe Institut, and will be taking place at City Hall, Lagos. The workshop is similar to the one held in Port Harcourt in April 2014 during the Port Harcourt World Book Capital event with poets and spoken word artists Dagga Tolar, Dare Dan […]
Poetry: Form or Freedom?
By Oyin Braithwaite Poetry is an art. Some of my friends have asked what the point or value of poetry is, which is interesting as these are the same people who are moved by certain songs; but for some reason, poetry is a distant and unapproachable concept to them. So, what is poetry and why […]
Blog of the Week: Musings of a Caramel Latte Addict
I doubt that the organisers of the Nigeria Blog Awards were surprised when earlier this year the popular vote for “Best Book, Poetry, or Writing Blog 2012” went to Musings of a Caramel Latte Addict. Run by Temi, “a young lady who loves to muse…maybe a bit too much…” the blog offers much more than […]
Poem of the Week: So Now Arise- A Tribute to Eureka
O First love A sweet despair A damsel to fall for A tale made up Of blood drenched hearts And butterfly full stomachs Real as it seems The moments ran away Leaving only memories Of glade and grey Laughter, then tears A concoct sublime Followed by teary skies And shivering blizzard colds After which […]
Poem of the Week: The Unforgiven
By Nehi Igbinijesu Sometimes it’s too late To take back- to apologize Oftentimes it’s not fate Just a heart apostatized Quickly- it would have won Profuse- good it would have done Yet you let the frowns demur Upset you muted telly lore What grief grudge grumpily gotten That keeps frozen the unforgiven A tale […]
Poem of the Week: Blown Out
Nehi Igbinijesu Alas, The dawning of stellar day Lurid and long awaited Like lyrics from another plain Prior warnings that gladden A soul heeding the elder’s pall Reveries romantic That only old age brings Lessons of life and wounds That time can singly heal And so shortened With self-fun and joy Such time to […]
Poem of the Week: A Clash of Two Odes
By Nehi Igbinijesu Revelling in loathed rubbish Reeling in the ghastly pain Of gainful blood-letting And fears that sing an ode Oh song for how long Bleating melodious tirades Insulting insolence in situ Removing respect Starked up for years All in one simple ode Could this be another song from Anetor Swarming me delightfully […]
Poem of the Week: Smoke in My Eyes
By Nehi Igbinijesu Readily I cry sore Staring with pepper Perturbing both eyes In tears of blood streaming Snaking down amidst many lies Hands gently smooching My uneasy head compelling To end the brittle knottings Of dried palm leaves here and there Bitten once And twice I cried By a bug called love Of […]
Poem of the Week: Lessons from Ivanhoe
Nehi Igbinijesu Stars, whistles, bottles, thistles Who the future light will tell Furores, discos, livid occidentals Tomorrow pray we turnout well Prime free lendings Of dirty funny money The demure everlasting Withering furtive fishes Causing sneezes and colds From Cathay to Santiago Reeling films of pain O’ Democratic Congo And money grubbing jeers Of political […]
Poem of the Week: Redemption
Nehi Igbinijesu Raving ravens ravaged O sleepless town of old Compromising covens concealed Once but now many told For they were revered once For fear did they embold Wimpering beast and man all Like chilly harmattan cold Who may speak for us Most and many remanded Some Christ to die again In blood sin […]