Poet of the week (POW): Famo Ahmed

Would you please introduce yourself to the readers?

Hi everyone, My name is Fadumo a.k.a Famo Ahmed. I am a Doctor currently doing postgraduate training in Pediatrics  and I scribble a little occasionally :)

When did you first start writing poetry and was there any particular incidents in your life that inspired you to write?

I started when I was around 12, and it all started as a form of outlet after losing my father to Cancer. 

What does "being creative" mean to you?

Being creative means innovating new perspectives, new thoughts, new attitude to life based on 

one's environment and past experiences. It means looking for inspiration in the most mundane places.

What do you try to communicate with your poetry?

I try to portray an image of whatever topic I pick at that moment. And my poetry is just like a short story that rhymes. So I use the words as a canvas to paint a picture for the reader, and a lot of the time am not at that location and it is just an image  in my own head. The tricky part is using words that rhyme or have a sequence while doing so. The subjects of my poems usually is about back home, 

the youth and their tribulations, and self reflection.

What do you do when you go into a dry spell of some sort or how do you write another piece when you have been away from it for some time?

I drive my inspiration from current events, or whatever I see in my surroundings if it moves me. So when I do go into a phase of not writing anything for a while its not because of lack of inspiration but availability of time. And so I write when am just sitting somewhere with nothing to do, absurdly enough boredom seems to be when am most creative :)

Do you sit and think through every word of every stanza or do you just write freely and allow the words to flow?

 No. I don't remember ever sitting down somewhere to ponder on a topic and then write something about it in a 

calculated manner. Anytime I write something, it starts as a general idea in my head, and I just scribble right there and then orienting the words the way I want the poem to look, with no further revision of that poem. It is not work, it is just putting down the thoughts as they flow into my mind and onto the paper. 

Who are some of your favorite poets?

I have to say it is Hadraawi, a poet whose works propelled me to learn the Somali language in great depth 

in order to enjoy the liberty of understanding his great works. 

What advice do you have for aspiring poets? Any word of advice for closet poets?

Don't hold back would be my advice. The talent of being able to describe something in a lyrical manner like poetry is an art as old as man himself, so if you do realize at any point in your life that you have been bestowed such a gift,  don't take it for granted.

Anything else you would like to share?

Is it me just me or do banana's go great with everything. Just kidding. Thank you for including me in this thoughtful project, and I look forward to your feedback.