Favourite Poems of 2010

Readers' Picks:

TRƆTRƆ by Kwadwo Kwarteng (Issue 4.3, January 16th - 22nd, 2010)

Comments on TRƆTRƆ:

"I love the way Kwadwo Kwarteng explored sounds to paint a vivid picture in the mind of readers, about an experience most of us have witnessed! Whoever reads the poem can imagine what to expect in the "Trotro" on any day." - Oteng Owusu

"Kwarteng has the potential/ability of breathing life into each sound - be it chaotic or serene. And the life-span [of the poem] is long and enduring in the ears of those who cherish rhythm." - Darko Antwi

Silence by Samuel Adjei Ntow (Issue 4.8, February 20th - 26th, 2010)

Comments on Silence:

"With a very good command of the English language, and the highest order of figurative speech, Ntow uses the trance-like Silence to express both the interior and exterior relationship between a social organism and its environment." - Darko Antwi

"This is a good work. Indeed these [things] do happen through the night in Ghanaian settings and for Ntow to have captured the details in his work makes it wonderful. Well done." - Nana Agyemang Ofosu

The Deer Hunt by Mariska Taylor-Darko (Issue 4.38, September 25th - October 1st, 2010)

Comments on The Deer Hunt:

"I chose this poem based on three broad categories: 1. Its descriptive screenplay quality, appropriate POV and clever use of imagery, 2. Its socio-cultural significance, and 3. Its potential as a reference point in literature books for educational purposes." - Dela Bobobee (Read Dela's essay on The Deer Hunt here)

"This title stands the chance of being a key literature in any modern Ghanaian collection of cultural importance." - Darko Antwi

Staff Picks:

Swear Note by L.S. Mensah (Issue 4.29, July 17th - 23rd, 2010)

Comments on Swear Note:

"I love this piece because it addresses a serious and emotional issue in our modern society using various figures of speech and animations that put your mind to work and make you visualize the brutal activities that women under trokosi go through. I am sure any women's organisation would love to use this piece for advocacy" - Julian Adomako-Gyimah

"L.S. Mensah's use of the specular is apt for the theme of mirrors in this poem. She uses the same words in reverse structure to capture an ancient African saying: "if you point at a person with your index finger, remember the rest are pointing at you."" - Prince Mensah

old dust made new by Daniela Elza (Issue 4.11, March 13th - 19th, 2010)

Comments on old dust made new:

"Daniela uses spaces to create a sparse landscape and a staccato of varied emotions in a poem that captures Harmattan in all its glory and grimness. " - Prince Mensah

"I personally haven't experienced Harmattan for a while and this piece brings back memories, particularly of when I was a kid and had little control about the damage that this season caused our hands and lips. Great work. " - Julian Adomako-Gyimah

The Burial of Saint Domeabra by Darko Antwi (Issue 4.36, September 11th - 17th, 2010)

Comment on The Burial of Saint Domeabra:

"Poet and critic Darko Antwi delivers a loaded sermon in his poem about transience. More hidden is his indictment of culture in playing games with a person's reputation. Darko's poem is international in reach, even though it is local in description. "The Burial of Saint Domeabra" is a palatable piece of work: it contains an array of food for thought." - Prince Mensah

Silence - Samuel Adjei Ntow

My mind is blank
A tear falls on my bed, my poor eyes
The light is out
A cricket fills the void
Lying a yard away my books
Thankful like sleep to a slave
Lost to hope and aspiration... the owner

In the next room
Someone turns up the TV volume
In the other a boy shouts to be heard
In mine I write about them.

The TV is suddenly turned off
The crickets return
Dying arguments fade to graves
Then silence.....

The crickets get a companion
A frog croaks... spicing up the melody
A stray cat joins the chorus
Purring for food
In bed I write

My room... the light is out
My mind is blank
I hear a dog in the distance
Barking... telling its master
Sleep well... you are protected
But remember, more food tomorrow

Near my window
A man shouts into his phone
O.K. Bla... Mechia Maame
Afia ne Abena, bye bye
Illustrating where he is from

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The crickets and the frog sing their song
The cut is gone

Silence.....
A plane thunders through the night
As if seeking audience with the rain god
Now the night is cold

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The crickets.....

Someone drags his feet toward my window
Like a contented fool
It's Kwesi... on the phone
Lying to his girlfriend... as usual
I’m stressed... my money is in the bank
I don’t have credit... I will call,
The line cuts, and he curses the network operators
He goes back the same way he came
Thank God, I have my peace again

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The cricks continue
The TV murmurs... someone has turned it on again
I punch on my keys
Sleep beckons
I put down my phone
Waiting I yawn
My mind is blank
The crickets sing
A door shuts in the corridor
I yawn and wait.

Author Profile - Samuel Adjei Ntow

Biography:

Samuel Adjei Ntow is a final year Business Administration (Marketing option) student of Valley View University. He had his secondary school education at Sekondi College in the Western Region of Ghana, where he grew up. He loves to read and write poetry.

Five Questions with Samuel Adjei Ntow:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry ever since I got introduced to this art in senior secondary school. This happened after the business students, of which I was one, were introduced to literature.


2. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired and informed your work?

My favorite poets include Prof. Atukwei Okai, Kwesi Brew, Sylvia Plath, Leopold Senghor and Kofi Anyidoho. Senghor's "Songs for Naett" inspired me to start writing. The imagery in the poem got me hooked even though I had not been in contact with what he was talking about. Kwesi Brew's "The Mesh" also did inspired me to start writing poetry.


3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?

I hope to influence people with the beauty of words and for them to understand and appreciate the power of our thoughts.


4. Is there any poetry-related activity at Valley View these days? If so, what?

There are no poetry related activities here at Valley View University but I have a couple of friends here who love and appreciate poetry, so we meet (not officially) to talk about poetry and what new thing we are writing.


5. When you write, what is the primary audience you have in mind as readers of your poems (yourself, other poets, your friends, Ghanaians, a global audience, etc.)?

Whenever I do write I write with myself as the primary audience. This is because I usually write about what I'm feeling or an experience I am going through. I also believe, though, that there are people out there who somehow identify with my works and these people, be they friends or a global audience, are also a target of mine.

Contact Samuel:

samuelgh.adjei(at)yahoo.com