LESSONS FROM TWENTY SOMETHING(s) by Veralyn Chinenye

#voiceofsepals#

Poetry is everything basically, it is a cry begging consolation, it is an itch asking for a scratch, poetry is a necessity. Poetry is the foundation of the universe and everything in it - Emmanuel Anzaku

Veralyn Chinenye


Let's meet you?

 I am Anzaku Emmanuel Allu. I was born and raised in Maiduguri, Borno State before moving to Abuja in 2009. I veered into poetry in 2010. I think what differentiates me from other poets will be how the poetry comes in everything I see, everything I do, like sometimes I unconsciously speak poetry basically the difference between me and other poets is the difficulty I face in trying to hold a normal conversation without using figures of speech.

How did your avid interest in poetry develop?
 Honestly, poetry just came like my shadow... But unlike my shadow, it follows even into the dark. In essence I just found myself in poetry. I feel it was because at point in my life I had few friends I could talk to concerning certain things and those who I talk to about the things in my head usually laugh at me. Thus I felt talking to myself on paper was a stress reliever... And at a point I read books and learned how to hide my thoughts in words just in case someone comes across my diary.

What does Poetry mean to you?
 Poetry is everything basically, it is a cry begging consolation, it is an itch asking for a scratch, poetry is a necessity. Poetry is the foundation of the universe and everything in it. Poetry is like God or a woman lol, you cannot completely know its dept or heights. It is a place where many have lost and found themselves repeatedly, 80% of these are unconscious of course.

What is the 365 Poetry challenge about, why did you choose such a milestone and how do you combine that with your everyday life?
The 365 days poetry challenge actually came to me as one of those wild thoughts because I felt I wasn't good enough for poetry. I thought to myself how can I learn? How can I describe my world in a beautiful way?  How can I have a voice?  Do I matter in anyway? The challenge was an attempt to grow my confidence, the ability to be able to  put the  real me out there, you know, making people understand what I see when I close my eyes, the silence I hear when I walk through a busy market.

Fitting it into my daily activities wasn't really a problem after the first thirty days.  Those were the days I wished and prayed for inspiration. Honestly I almost gave up after the first 30 days. I was like what next? But here we are, two hundred and something days closer.. Sometimes I experience symptoms of the imposter syndrome lol.. Even I cannot believe I could do it.

You seem to add a lot of images and GIG to accompany your poems, is it intentional?
 Imagery is the essence of poetry. Let me say, it is just 20% intentional.

Why do you think you're a Poet and do you think you were born to be a Poet?
I think I'm a poet because I write poetry  and yeah I think I was born to be a poet, nothing has ever felt this easy, to think poetry is like the most difficult genre of literature.

What should we expect after the 365 Poetry Challenge?
I'd say a break but I don't see myself going a day without writing something o... However I Intend to thrill myself with prose. There's a full length novel I started, so I think I'll focus on it.

Do you intend to publish?
Yes I intend publishing.

You write more of love , is there anything hidden beneath the carpet?
 Haaaa! Nooo. Let's just look at it as Telemundo lol.

What about Poets who have influenced you, who have meant a lot to you?
Every poet means a lot to me.. I search for things or people who are considered insignificant and try to make sense out of their works... If I'd make a list I'd pick Seamus Heaney, Maya Angelou,  Sir Erita Oribabor, Umar Yogiza Jnr, Ruth Echewe, Bash Amuneni, Benjamin Terhile Torlafia, Cynthia Gentile, Davina Francis, Benjamin Anzaku etc... The list goes on, Herman Hesse inspires me too.

Setting aside Poetry for a moment ,are there other things you write about or do?
 Aside from poetry, I've tried out script writing which I'm bad at. I farm, fishery and poultry.

What do you see as the role of Poetry and Poet in modern day society?
I've argued about this with a friend, he said poetry is pointless. But he obviously ignorant... Poetry plays a very vital role in both the modern and renaissance society. It is like an advertisement, showing the world what is going on within a particular place. It seeks the help of people in the case of depression etc.

If you were to pick just one, which would it be, Metaphor or Imagery?
Imagery... Lol I'm tempted to pick both, metaphors hide the  message and I like that too. But I'd go with imagery.

Have you crushed on a Poet of recent?
Uhmmm yeah, I lovena beautiful mind and an intelligent mind. Feel free to call me a sapiosexual.

Do you see yourself soaring on the wings of Poetry?
 Yes, I believe I can go far with the right audience.

If you were to choose a permanent platform for your writings, would it be Facebook or Instagram. Which and Why?
Facebook. I'd prefer YouTube because I intend to explore spoken word poetry.


Veralyn Chinenye 

Veralyn is an Epistolary Poet-Writer, a Literary Advocate at Sprinklestoriez.blogspot.com  and a member of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) UNICAL ,where young poets lend their pen and voice to talk about sociopolitical issues and advocate for change.
She loves traveling and networking and aspires to pick young people up.
She makes Hairwraps and Moment pendants and publishes event on her social media handles for a fee.