Welcome, Kadeem. Please tell us a little
bit about yourself.
I’m a fine
art student in my 2nd year with an inclination towards sculpture, I
play piano, I am a voracious reader of classic literature and poetry and I have
a passion for ancient history.
What do you enjoy most about writing poems?
For me, what
I enjoy most about writing, is the expression of my soul into words and
metaphors. It is a way of understanding the interior of my soul and an
understanding of my place in the world. Also, for me is the ability to create a
set of images or imagery that resonate with the emotions I feel, for example, I
would compare crying and sadness to the flow of an endless river or rage and
anger to the heat of a burning sun.
Can you give us a little insight into a
few of your poems – perhaps a couple of your favorites?
Here are
excerpts from some of my favourite poems
Two from my
current book and two in other books to come
There’s A
Dream
In the ones who lost it all
In the ones who lost the factories
In the ones who strike and rally
In the ones who hope for more
In the ones standing up against the establishment
For me this
poem, is an uplifting and inspiring piece, that captures the idea of hope in
the midst of our turbulent political times. The idea that everyone regardless of
colour, nationality, class, background has a dream, we haven’t achieved, but we
want to reach towards.
Midnight
World
The sun has run out of life
The thunder has taken a turn
towards our fate
The moon has moved from our compass
The stars have switched off their dreams
The meteorites march for the war
The sea run into dry mouths
This poem, is
an almost apocalyptic vision of our world today, a world ravaged by
environmental destruction, lawlessness, political chaos and lack of hope if we
refuse to change our ways. In many ways, it is a forewarning piece of work
about our uncertain future, as in the line ‘the thunder has taken a turn
towards our fate’ we have created an extreme environment that is weaponized
against us.
At Winter’s
Mercy
The angels seem to be following me
The golden star has fallen off the tree
The freezing breeze is losing sleep
The snowy weather falls
The icicles drop like shattered hearts
The skeleton in the wind is walking free
This poem in
it’s dark, almost gothic atmosphere it creates is one of my favourites. This
was written in the winter a couple of years, when I was in deep emotional
anguish. I was comparing the brutality and coldness of winter with Christmas
imagery. I was feeling contradictory feelings joy at the coming of Christmas,
but also sadness and hopelessness. The poem is incredibly painful, but is also
very therapeutic to me.
Oh The Night
The night skies were bright
The stars were blue flies
The clouds were silver dust
Sleep was a set of jewels
I came across and kept in a secret box
I was sailing in a sea of stars
Where the moon was raining in light
A more recent poem of mine. This poem comes from
marvel, wonder, amazement and mystery at the enduring image of the night sky.
As an artist and writer, the night sky is an endlessly inspiring place. In this
poem, through use of imagery and metaphor, I wanted to conjure up the whimsical
and almost magical quality of the stars, the moon and the night sky.
What form are you inspired to write in
the most? Why?
I am most
inspired to write in free verse, with the occasional rhyming scheme. For me, as
a poet this is the most liberating exercise in being truly imaginative and
creative with the scenes, images and metaphors I wish to create. I am not
restricted by strict rules, I let my imagination flow.
What type of project are you working on
next?
I usually
write day by day, working from a word, phrase that has inspired a poem. I hope
in the future, to release a collection of poetry based on love and my longstanding
discussion of spirituality and faith.
When did you first consider yourself a
writer / poet?
I first
considered myself a poet, when one day I was on a journey to work and I was
musing at the window looking at the sky and clouds, and I began writing how I
felt about that. That inspiration lead to my first poem, The Clouds. I showed
it to family and friends, and they told me it was amazing. I began to realize I
could express my feelings into words about anything and everything and I used
that to significant effect, I began to write more and more and the rest they
say is history. Today, I write poems about my feelings and experiences and my
reflections upon the world.
The Clouds
The clouds awash with the
skies
With their piercings and
openings
Sights into other worlds
Slowly pulsating
Delicate and ethereal
Woven by the gods
Journeying across the globe
Visiting distant regions and
unknown locales
Some journey alone, others
journey together
On their way creating havoc
and chaos to the people
Or peace and tranquility to
the people who need them
I wave to the clouds a goodbye
For I know they will always be
there
Awashing the skies with their
beauty
How do you research markets for your
work, perhaps as some advice for not-yet-published poets?
I haven’t got
too that stage just yet, I am still working on marketing myself and my work to
the general public. My advice for not yet published poets, is keep writing it
will greatly improve your writing ability and insights into work. Have your own
unique style of writing, be different, my way of writing will be different to
yours. Have a read of works by other poets. Try and get published if you can,
make sure it has a great front cover and you have the rights. Publish it for
yourself most of it all, for personal achievement and don’t stop writing if it
doesn’t succeed. Just keep writing.
What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?
I can write a
poem from a verse or line that just pops into my head, like ice melting from a
cloud’s shine, just thought of that now ha-ha.
As a child, what did you want to be when
you grew up?
I wanted to
do something creative, something interesting where I didn’t end working 9-5 in
an office, disappearing into boredom. I am living my dream today.
Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?
Have a look
at a preview of my e-book on Amazon if you can and keep writing!
Thanks for being here today!
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