With this Pen

And Poetry is ME, YOU and US! It gives one an opportunity to fully express one self with no shame or limit. All the pain, sorrow and happiness will always be reduced to writing; to inspire and uplift others. To me, POETRY is the covert overt vehicle that educates, emancipate and motivate.

I have been writing since 2002 but I fell off (through discouragements) and I resumed in 2008, when my life was moving from stagnant motion to backward movement. So, I kept on writing every time the inspiration hits me; but at sometimes, I would force myself and write anything, for the sake of writing, just to sharpen my writing skills. So, one afternoon, some time in 2008, as I was sitting in my hokkie, I faltered with writers block. Nothing could pitch my mind.

My intention was to write a poem. I would stand up and sit down, but my mind was blank. Then eventually, as I was sitting with my mind wandering in bewilderment (had no concept); my eyes caught sight of the black ball-pen on top of the sideboard within my hokkie. Then words started to flood my brain. I took the same pen and started writing on draft paper. I went on and on and eventually, I finished the poem.

I titled it "With this Pen" hence I was inspired by that black ball-pen. However, the poem was largely inspired by the status quo at that time (in 2008). I submitted it to Litsha Magazine on the 13th of May 2010. It was published by Litsha Magazine in their July/August 2010 Issue. My neighbours gave me a positive response after reading it from the magazine copy. 

I read this poem at one of the EloHIP Poetry Based Art Sessions and people clapped their hands when I finished reading it. So, I felt that I should share it to Amalahle Ashushu Blog readers.

Hereunder is the poem:

With this pen

I love this pen

This is a black ball-pen

With this pen, I can write dope lines and recite for street jams

With this pen, I can write an emotional poem that can touch that fragile heart and see tears

With this pen, I console that soul and I suppose, I heal them

With this pen, I uproot that mental root of servitude and free them

With this pen, I can write about my past and broadcast a revolution that was never televised

With this pen, I unite Africa and combat xenophobia in the sight of our eyes

With this pen, I convert global warming into global cooling

With this pen, I convert global recession into a financial emancipation

This is my pen

Oh, I love this pen

This pen allows me to write, recite and excite your ears

This pen allows me to strike, fight and wipe your tears

I am a writer and this is my pen

With it I write and kill your fears

I navigate through the radar screen the position of your future

With this pen, I envisage and envision the beauty of your future

This is a sword that records the vicissitude of the modern day world

This is a tool that puts a man's thoughts into a paper

This is my pen, where is the paper?

This is an embodiment, an epitome of civilization

This is an instrument, a part and parcel of education

With this pen, I reduce the whole world into writing

With this pen, ladies and gentlemen

I THANK YOU!!!  

Written by:

Amalahle Ashushu

Ndiyabulela