I am alive, I am a breathing carcass and listlessly I wait
Fumbling for control, I've become a marionette of fate
Encaged by an ironic prison whose door always stands agape
Mocking and jeering for I lack the strength to escape
- from Traveller by Raf780
for "New Year's Fiesta 2022" contest
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1.
What are 3 words that describe your writing?
Simple, Unfiltered, Honest
2.
What does poetry mean to you?
To me, poetry means comfort. It means peace. I feel a keen sense of contentment whenever I finish writing a poem, especially when I feel it packs an impact. I always say all writing has meaning. But poetry lends that meaning an extra layer of impact. Write the same thing as both prose and poetry and I can almost guarantee the impact of the poem will last longer.
3.
What would you say makes for a good poem?
Personally, I think a rhythmic poem makes for a very pleasant reading experience. Couple that with a good rhyming scheme and a strong message and it's a winner in my book.
4.
Tell us a little bit about your poem for the New Year's Fiesta contest.
"Traveller" is about the journey of a patient battling cancer. The idea behind the poem was that of someone confined to a hospital room who'd put his reflections on paper every night (hence the little break at the end which indicates the passing of a couple of days) as he's slowly eaten up by this pernicious disease.
It was inspired in part by Carla Reed's story in The Emperor Of All Maladies. Also, I thought it'd be an unconventional way to tackle the contest prompt.
5.
What are some of your favourite poems?
I love One Art by Elizabeth Bishop and The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
6.
If you could meet one poet, who would you pick?
Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
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Thank you for chatting with us, Raf!
If you want to read Raf's works, visit them at Raf780.
Until next time!
