The Word: Stupendous

Dictionary definition: Extremely impressive

Origins: 1965–70;  < Latin stupendus,  gerund of stupēre  to be stunned

Use in a sentence: That was a stupendous display of strength

Synonyms:  wonderful, amazing, astounding 

Artist of the Month: Zakes Mda

I went through a phase of thorough obsession with this man, going out of my way to read any and everything he ever wrote, provided I could get my hands on it.

Born Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni, this talented award winning novelist, poet and playwright adopted the pen name Zakes Mda. Mda first rose to prominence in 1978 when he received the Amstel Merit Award which he received for having penned the play ‘We Shall Sing for the Fatherland’ Many other awards followed with his first two novels, ‘She plays With the Darkness’ and ‘Ways of Dying’ both released in 1995 receiving awards.
Since then, Mda has gone on to write numerous other books that have held special places in my heart, books such as ‘The Madonna of Excelsior’, ‘The Whale Caller’ and ‘Cion’ to name but a few.

In 2012 his biography ‘Sometimes There is a Void’ was published and African Book club used the following words to describe the book “His biography is at once riveting and daring – almost bordering on reckless. Mda goes totally against the grain of what many readers have come to expect from most biographical accounts. He lays his life bare for all to see – triumphs, warts and all.”  This is in my opinion is a stellar review. If a writer can make his audience feel his feelings all while gaining insight into his life then half the battle is won and it is evident through the above snippet that Mda has managed this. 

Poetic Text: Conflict and Peace

I hope this piece makes sense. It’s written as two different texts but, functions as one and is used to illustrate one central idea.

Conflict

Find comfort in the solace of disdain

Speak of the heart’s sweet contempt

The battle lines are drawn, surrender or wage war

Let the mind sing joy

And the limbs climb the walls of desolate jubilation

Peace

We struggle

Pull at the ugly face of bitter feeling

Grind hard the devastation acquired from desperation

Pound, strike, clobber another man’s elation  

All for the sake of a peaceful aggravation

Angelou Corner: Remembrance

Your hands easy
weight, teasing the bees
hived in my hair, your smile at the
slope of my cheek. On the
occasion, you press
above me, glowing, spouting
readiness, mystery rapes
my reason

When you have withdrawn
your self and the magic, when
only the smell of your
love lingers between
my breasts, then, only
then, can I greedily consume
your presence.

The Word: Nuque

Dictionary definition: Back of the neck

Origins: 1570–80;  < French;  see nucha

Use in a sentence: On hot summer days sweat drips vehemently down to my nuque 

Current Read: The God of Small Things

Winner of the Booker Prize in 1997, The God of Small things is author  Arundhati Roy’s debut book and promises to be a great read as it contains all the aspects to make a book mention worthy in my eye; 1. It is an award winning piece of literature, 2. It deals with human issues and speaks to human experiences, and 3. It has been dubbed by some as a tad bit controversial.

Here’s to a few night cuddled up in bed sipping slowly on a cup of tea and delving head first into another (hopefully) good read.