Zakiyyah Dzukogi: What is the process of writing a poem like for you? Is it a lot of hard work or easy?
Ibraheem Uthman: For me, the process of writing a poem is a captivating journey that blends both inspiration and craftsmanship. It’s a delicate balance between allowing my creativity to flow freely and refining my ideas into a structured form. At times, the words come effortlessly, as if they were waiting to be expressed. This feels like a burst of inspiration, and it’s an incredible feeling.
However, there are also moments when the process becomes more challenging. Crafting each line, choosing the right words, and ensuring the imageries align with the emotions I want to convey can be demanding. During these times, poetry’s true craftsmanship comes into play. I often find myself revisiting and revising my work, trying to capture the essence of my thoughts as accurately as possible.
Essentially, writing a poem is a harmonious interplay between inspiration and effort. It’s a beautiful struggle that ultimately brings me immense satisfaction when I see my ideas come to life through carefully crafted verses.
Zakiyyah Dzukogi: Please describe your sense of identity in this or any possible world in imagery or metaphor.
Ibraheem Uthman: I am the elusive silhouette amidst shadows —an enigma of curiosity in concealed depths.
Zakiyyah Dzukogi: If any of your poems could literarily save a person’s life, which poem would it be and can you describe the person whose life you think it would have saved?
Ibraheem Uthman: While considering the impact of one’s words on a person’s life is profound, I must admit that I view my poems as vehicles to explore the depths of the human experience rather than literal life-saving elixirs. However, if pressed to choose, I might point to a poem that delves into the mysterious intersection of mortality and cosmic exploration.
My poems, Crossing The Drainage and Afterlife, would resonate with a soul who yearns for something beyond the ordinary, someone who finds solace in transcending the confines of existence. This person would be an explorer of inner and outer spaces, enchanted by the idea of crossing the threshold between life and the enigmatic beyond. In their eyes, my words would serve not as a life preserver but as a whispered promise of a journey far beyond the terrestrial horizon.
Zakiyyah Dzukogi: What does Africa mean to you, as potential or reality?
Ibraheem Uthman: Africa is a canvas of boundless potential, where the threads of reality weave a story of rich cultures, untamed landscapes, and the heartbeat of countless dreams.
Zakiyyah Dzukogi: Could you share with us one poem you’ve been most impressed or fascinated by? Tell us why and share your favourite lines from it.
Ibraheem Uthman: Certainly, allow me to share a poem that has left an indelible mark on my perspective, “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This poem’s exploration of the impermanence of power and the passage of time resonates deeply with my fascination for existence’s mysterious and transient nature. One of my favourite lines from this poem is:
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
These words, carved on a shattered monument in a vast, empty desert, evoke grandeur and futility. The juxtaposition of the once-mighty ruler’s arrogance with the reality of his fallen empire is a stark reminder of the cosmic scale on which our ambitions and legacies unfold. This poem reminds me of the ever-shifting sands of time and the enigmatic nature of human aspirations, encapsulating the essence of what captivates my imagination.
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Ibraheem Uthman is the author of the poetry collection “Mind of a Bard” and a two-time recipient of the National Library Prize. Although majoring in sciences, he considers himself first- an artist whom the mechanics of literature and art inspire. He enjoys reading and writing poetry, programming and contributing to open-source technology in his spare time. His writings have been published and are forthcoming in magazines and journals. He takes great pride in belonging to the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation and being the Northern Writers Forum (NWF) secretary.
- Poet’s Talk: 5 Questions with Nasiba Babale - September 5, 2023
- Poet’s Talk: 5 Questions with Ibraheem Uthman - August 29, 2023
- Poet’s Talk: 5 Questions with Zakiyyah Dzukogi - August 19, 2023
