Sunday, March 24, 2013

Poet of the week: Mabsud Ali


Would you please introduce yourself to the readers?

As-Salamu-Calkeykium folks, my name is Mabsud Ali. I'm from Somalia. Born in Ethiopia. Grew up in Canada. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend and a student. I hope one day to go back home and give back to my people and country. Other than the basics, im just your average young woman living in North America, trying to figure out a way to live a balanced life between the African and Canadian culture.

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

I dont specifically remember when i first started writing poetry. But i do remember the day someone else read a piece of mine and that same person pushed me to keep writing and to actually perform live. 
Everything in life inspires me to write, from heartbreaks to failures. To little joys and heartfelt moments. I write about anything, anyone and anytime. Poetry is like my sanity, my psychiatrist. It keeps my leveled. Its my way to heal and come to terms with difficult moments in life. Alhamdoulilah for poetry. 

What does "being creative" mean to you?

Being creative to me means ... thinking outside the imaginary box that life built for us and to defy the blueprint society installed on us. To be creative is to be different and daring within every aspect of life. But try to stay within the borders of halaal-ness, haha. To be creative is to take risks just so that when you're 80yrs old siting in your room reminiscing about your youthful days, you wont regret what you didnt do instead you'd laugh at every bad decision you thought was brilliant at that time ..  

What do you try to communicate with your poetry?

Mhm, i have many recurrent themes in my poetry, its mostly about a lovers last wishes or last plea for forgiveness if he or she wronged their beau ou belle. Or The hardships of love. The difficulties a woman goes thru in life and evidently i love to write about my only lover Somalia .. But all in all, my poetry has the main purpose to tell readers that when everything that could possibly go wrong, goes wrong, dont worry something good shall come your way. 

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?

If im going thru a dry spell in my poetry, i either choose a theme i want to write about and start scribbling down all the possible emotions i feel about the theme itself e.g. happiness, joy, humbleness .. and i start forming sentences and metaphors. Or i just read thru all my old poems and that usually gives me the kick to writing something new. 

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

I just write honestly .. i dont stop until my hand gets tired. Then when i start editing, i start pausing and rearranging my wordings and whatnot .. 

Who are some of your favorite poets?

I loooove Bassey Ikpi, Shihan ofcourse, Warsan Shire, Suheir Hammad, Dante Basco, Ian Keketu and if philosophers were considered poets, i love Albert Camus and Socrates

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

To the aspiring poets, dont drop your pen. Because your words could one day be in text books teaching kids somewhere in the world and that poem about love you wrote and believe its so corny and generic, it could actually teach someone .. somewhere what love is .. Just keep in mind that your words are worth something and you should always share your knowledge and thoughts .. And to the closet poets, if you're really shy, sign your poems as anonymous, i know i did that for the longest time ever. But just remember that poetry is a art, its a gift and a talent, and that you should share your talent with the world .. 

What does writing poetry do for you?
Like i said, poetry itself is like my form of therapy. If im having major issues and I'm not comfortable in talking about it with someone whether it be friends or family, i know my pen and paper will always be there for me to "listen" to me. And on the plus side, my pen and paper wont judge me or have an opinion .. it just lets me pour all my emotions on it and call it a day. Poetry gives me the oppotunity to come to terms with difficult situation where i have no control whatsoever of the outcome. Poetry relaxes me and makes me discover myself every day, personality wise. Poetry is my security blanket. Poetry is my life. 

Anything else you would like to share?

What did the baby corn ask the mama corn? .. Wheres pop corns? .. Hahaha. Thanks for reading TILL THE LAST word. Mac'Salaama.

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