A holiday poem

December 31 2012 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Excess Baggage (Misc), #Iriki, #Kadija Sesay, #Peepal Press, #poem about presents, #poetry, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews)

How many times do you delete a newsletter after a quick scan? If you are anything like me, then nearly always must be your response.

Last Christmas, I was about to do the same to one of the many newsletters filling my mailbox, wishing me Happy Christmas etc, when my quick scan stopped, and I learned in for a closer read.

What had caught my attention was a moving poem called "Angela" written by writer, editor and literary activist Kadija Sesay, an all round phenomenal woman.

As I read each word, I could see the growing Kadija, as on various Christmas and Easter she received a very special gift.

Angela, is one of many from Kadija's new book of poems 'Irki', meaning ‘homeland’ in the Nubian language.

The poems in Iriki are described as "...at times amusing and loving, and other times confusing and sad" each one providing us with some insight into Kadija's diverse experiences of "... private fostering, migration, and home as an imaginined, remembered and physical place."

Anyway, read it for yourself, and let me know what you think.

Angela

(easter @3)
My brother brought his fiancée home.
She had blonde hair, blue eyes
she played with me;
lifted me high.
He sang her name
An-ge-la!

(christmas@3)
My dad brought me a doll home
almost as big as me with
hard plastic legs
rubber arms that didn't bend.
Thick brown hair - tough to brush -
blue eyes, she sang nursery rhymes.
I named her Angela.

(easter@4)
My mum brought me the best present ever -
a beautiful brown dolly!
"Let me hold her!"
She cried real tears
made real laughing noises -
(with dimples)
I loved this one the best!
My sister, Angela.