As I have mentioned before that I have often found a huge
comfort and liberty in attending spoken word poetry sessions. More like the
relationship I have with jazz. The written word has always been too heavy on my
soul because I often want to unpack it and it puts me in a fix. These days I
find that I am taking a huge attachment to reading poetry. Reading poetry has
put me in a fix as I anticipated and I'm asking a lot of questions. I had a
chat with Bongani Michael about poetry and here is a bit of how the convo
penned out...
Bongani Michael: "What makes poetry poetry?
You are asking some very difficult questions......the kinda
questions a guy like me would actually pass on to those who know much
more.....but I'll give you my perspective and attempt to answer one or two of
your questions.
1. Well the level of depth or emotions, what poets call 'deep
poetry', resides in the level or standard of the poets use of language and
intellectual prowess. Meaning a typical adults poem can appear to be deep to a
high school person and novice to the graduate or professional.
And this is why you would find what others call deep to be
normal in your eyes....
2. Poetry is about Metaphors, Idioms, Philosophy and
History.....it's about one being able to form a puzzle or maze that can be put
together or figured out....its about deliberately not making sense, its about
making people understand and feel without feeling....about allowing the reader
to find their own interpretation.....about hiding the real meaning behind a
story and telling what you don't want to tell....its about finding another way
to cry, be happy....its about everything one desires in any shape or form.
Poetry is about the reader or audience being moved and feeling
whether they understand or not.....its about putting words together in the most
random of fashion to move yourself and others in the same way- but for
different reasons........."
We continued our conversation
Malebo: "oh my word. I finally understand what I have not
been able to understand. I've known that poetry moves me but have never known
what it is and why and you have just explained it to me. What you have written
here is poetry on its own."
Bongani: "I am quite surprised myself that i was able to
explain.....these are questions we normally don't think about it, hence our
answers surprise us. I wrote two stupid bad poems last night"
He sends me one poem and I read it
Malebo: "Oh gosh - I'm falling in love with it"
Bongani: " I can see you see.....women inlove always asks
tough questions"
A few conversation go by and we get back to the poetry talk
Bongani: " You would make for a great poet.....the
best....especially spoken word....your voice and articulation is amazing....you
just need to pick up the mic"
Malebo: "You must mentor me. I'm hopeless when it comes to
poetry"
Bongani: "Would we, as mad and critical beings, ever be in
position to teach one another?"
Malebo: " honestly though, I think I'm just a muser that's
all. I write books - fiction and non fiction. That's where my soul finds its
voice. Poetry would kick me off completely. Let's leave it with other children
shall we?Maybe il recite your poems here and there"
Bongani: " Hahahah cool no problem....but also it means no
harm to write a few....thing is the beauty of poetry is that you can actually
write about your experience and also teach in a few lines with a few words....
Whereas books will not often allow you to write about how you
feel at that moment or for that period.....books cover years and often very theoretical.....poetry is practical.
Its your deep feelings now, its your awesome experience now.
Hahahha maybe you should recite mine☺☺☺ that would be great.....my words and
your voice- what a Union.....
would make King"
Malebo: " I like that... I like that very much. That would
teach me a lot"
