Khaya Ronkainen

An Exceptional Gift

Posted on 01/30/2019 by Khaya Ronkainen

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” – Mary Oliver

tentacles that crawl
invade life, hold the fragile
hostage and crush, crush
darkness to a deafening
silence; an abode for calm

Darkness is… for Poets United

On Writing and Living…

This week Rommy asks, “did you ever get a chance to hold something that you only imagined before?” By the way, she recently published a book of short stories. Check it out, and enjoy a moment in her fantasy world.

But to answer her question. I know that wonderful feeling with the publication of my first chapbook. It is surreal to finally hold in your hands a book you’ve poured heart and soul into.

And this dream is made possible by other kindred souls, who see your vision and help you accomplish it. I have many to thank.

But right now, I’d like to thank two special people (you know who you are). These kindred hearts brought a candle each to save a flickering flame that threatened a total blackout.

So, with their help, I’m happy to finally say my second chapbook, From the Depths of Darkness, is coming out soon. It’s been sweat and tears, literally, putting this one together.

Poetry

Beneath the Snow

Posted on 01/24/2019 by Khaya Ronkainen

“Can we talk climate?” asks Susan at Poets United.

cold grew
of snow and ice
fingers scrubbed
winter winds away
for morning came

One of the things that used to vex me with Finnish winter was the ice scrapping of the windscreen, in the mornings. We couldn’t do without a car living in the countryside. But when we moved to the city, it became redundant with the ease of public transport.

Few years ago we sold our car. The motivation at the time was to save a few bucks, car insurance is expensive. But this was also our contribution to reduce transportation emissions. Now, when I see neighbours scratching ice and dusting snow off the windscreen in the mornings, I just smile. Because giving up the car has made me healthier and happier.

Writing & Living

Creating in the Wild

Posted on 01/23/2019 by Khaya Ronkainen

This week, Rommy asks about things that thrill us creatively. The written word is my thing as some of you already know.

But another love I don’t talk much about that gives me great pleasure is photography, and to be precise nature and landscape photography.

I must have been 12 years old, when I got my first camera. Remember those Polaroid instant print cameras! I cannot begin to describe the thrill I got from snapping (yes snap was the verb at the time) the great outdoors in the countryside. It was dizzying. 🙂

I consider myself a hobbyist photographer because I pretty much taught myself how to take photos. And later on with the help of Scott Kelby’s books, I managed to improve some techniques. So, photography for me has never been about making money. I do it for pleasure.

While I don’t consider my photos as art (because I like to keep them as original as possible, that is, I don’t do much editing) I always hope they tell a story.

Photography also inspire a lot of poems I write. For instance, this photo inspired one of the poems “On Beautiful Roads” in the Seasons Defined collection.

Last, wherever I go, I always carry my notebook, pencil and camera to capture these special moments.