About Books

Light Shining From Within…

Posted on by Khaya Ronkainen / 31 Comments

…reveals the world in a new light.

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

It is that time of the year, autumn, when I’m tempted to curse the dark. I’ve written previously about how dark autumn feels like in this part of the world. For a long time I carried a grudge against the season, for the uncharitable welcome, until I made reading a priority. I’m talking here about books that inform, entertain and inspire as I take full advantage of the dark.

So, with days growing darker as the season progresses, poetry by Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha and more poetry by Celestine Nudanu help illuminate light from within. And that’s a cause for celebration! What books keep you company, when you need one?

Note: The post is in response to Sanaa at Prompt Nights, “Darkness exists so that we may see the Light shine”, and Josh Fisher’s 3-Day Quote Challenge, thanks Josh for inviting me to participate.

Writing & Living

On Seeking Solitude

Posted on by Khaya Ronkainen / 40 Comments

O Solitude! If I must with thee dwell, Let it not be among the jumbled heap of murky buildings ~ John Keats

I will admit, for me, writing poetry is difficult. It is such an emotional form of writing; it contains, conveys and escapes emotion all at the same time.

This means I do not wake up early in the mornings, sit at my desk, rub palms of my hands together with glee, and think now I’m going to write a poem. It doesn’t happen, it never happens, and how great it would be to achieve this one day! Because great writers or accomplished artists do not wait for inspiration, right?

Well, I do not wait for inspiration but I’m no great writer. I rely on empathy. In order for me to capture a moment, emotion or whatever else makes a poem, I have to feel deeply. And there’s a lot (beautiful and ugly) to feel in the world we live in. It is this build-up of emotion that eventually leads me to write with urgency. The reward – a release, whether significant or subtle, makes it all worth it.

I’m sure you reckon that this feeling / empathy / emotion / release, delights and liberates yet exhausts. And so, when it all becomes too much, I seek solitude. Not so much to shut down the noise but to listen to my inner voice.

Note: Thank you all who read me (whilst I took time out to breathe) for your understanding, support and kind comments. Much appreciated.

Sanaa Rizvi at Prompt Nights expresses this thought successfully “Rest is the sweet sauce of labour”.