Happy National Poetry Day

Today is National Poetry Day! What does that mean? Well, to some people, nothing but to me and many of my poetry-loving, writing and / or appreciating friends, a heck of a lot!

I did not speak much as a child – I was very much an observer, listener and thinker. I found it difficult to articulate my inner most thoughts and feelings therefore I wrote things down instead. In primary school (kindergarten) I started keeping a journal. I penned short stories and random thoughts and at the grand old age of 7, I wrote my first poem.

My love of language has and I suspect always will be everlasting. Writing freed [and continues to free] me. It gave me a voice (which is still evolving) and unburdened me. Paradoxically, I struggle to eloquently express the importance of words – more specifically poetry, in my life but suffice to say, it is enormous.

So today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every and anyone who has ever read any of my work; poetry or prose, come to see me perform or generally just offered words of encouragement, support and a smile. As my friend Anthony Anaxagorou said “without a reader a poem will only ever be half alive”. Thank you.

Dear First Love

You wrote apologies in quick sand
that eloped with the wind,
flashed smiles with the sincerity of
mourning widows embracing toddlers
suctioned to their hips yet
I cannot help but wish I were hour glass
enough for you to have lived in.
[excerpt]
©Assumpta Ozua 2014