MISO ON HER POETRY BREAKTHROUGH EXPERIENCE
Miso Mphasha is a 19-year-old Motswana poetess currently pursuing her studies as a Charted Accountant at Botswana Accountancy College.
In her own words, “Authors tell their stories through writing. In most cases, authors write things that happened to them, but not in all cases. My readers will start to see it on a different view side and understand certain ways about the meaning and purpose of life. And I did not write for my readers to feel for me. I just want them to know that they are not alone.”
Miso defines poetry as art where one gets to express whatever they are feeling inside with it. “As such, you can vent on your paper with a pen. This, on its own, implies that you will be communicating to your inner being through writing, and trying to voice what you feel inside.” Hence viewing writing as a kind of spiritual practice.
“My writing kryptonite would be that I cannot write poems in a loud place or under pressure.” She exclaimed. That is, needs time and serenity in order to think straight and be able to express herself and what she feels inside. As she mentions, “there is no how one can become a writer if they do not feel emotions strongly.”
She continues to mention the likes of Pioneers, Charles Dickson, Shakes spear, just to mention a few, who were able to bring imaginative characters to life. “Their amazing art put blood and bones in them. They really challenged my intellect to certain level and degree.” She adds. Continuing that the way they portrayed their talent of writing skills really got her riveted to the transcript and gave an urge to keep on turning the page of their books until she reached their peak of the story. Saying, “They put life into their characters.”
According to the poetess’ knowledge, poetry was once considered the purview of academia (and still largely is), a game for academics and their theories. Through the 1960’s and beyond, it reached a more popular audience who not only read it but also wrote it—one thinks of Plath, a Bourgeoisie, and Sexton, a woman who came to poetry through an adult-education center—and poetry became uprooted from its origins in professional artistic discourse.
It found an audience not among the successful people, typical of the postwar booms, but among the excluded, the subaltern, and the (nominally) insane. And it does have a room for a perspective manifesto to form a content. This is because artists are trying to find ways to make the world a better place, hence creating unity.
Therefore, she expressed that she engages in poetry because it is more like therapy, where you get to connect with your inner being, in order to express emotions. “Mostly, motivation books like “Think and Grow Rich”, by Napoleon Hill, was where I first learned that language has power.” Says the poetess. With so many questions about life, she explained how the book contributed to a change in her life as her questions were answered.
During this millennial age, she finds the internet as the best source of research. From spending several days deciding on the book tittle and the pieces of art to include in her book, the internet paved way for her to learn how to use words and express yourself.
Just as important she adds, “Through the internet, I get to learn how different authors use words and I used some of my favorite authors influence, such as Dr Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” in one of my pieces.” She cries that if a poem does not have good grammar, incorrect punctuations, no theme, is long, boring and complicated, then clearly it is a poorly written poem. Thus not being able to see the emotions in them.
“Therefore, most well written poems should be catchy, have a unique title, proper usage of figurative of speech, correct punctuations and grammar. A reader should be able to relate and feel the emotions expressed by the author. Now that is what I call a well-written poem.” She informs.
My spirit animal is a dove. It has a good character, that is well behaved and intriguing, because most readers read books to seek light, hope, peace and serenity. After being fully satisfied and convinced, they will hyperbolize about the book and its content to the next reader, hence the chain links continue leading to the dove.
Her book titled, “SHADES OF LOVE” eager to explain it according to what she knows, there are eight types of love, from agape- unconditional love to Mania – Obsessive love. She believes that love is not just a four lettered word rather a very strong word that can build and destroy a person. “I came up with the tittle trying to show the world that love has many colours and it takes the right person to tint those colours. It is an anthology of twenty one pieces.” She adds. The selling price is P150.00 with a p30 discount for her first twenty customers.
SHADES OF LOVE SYNOPSIS
Once upon a shooting star, a girl made a wish to fall in love. It directed her to the love of her life. The possibilities of the world felt endless. Little did she know that she is a balloon no one cared for, even her friends sabotaged everything that made her happy. She lost everything; she had gone through a rough patch, and even nearly got disowned by her parents. She started to write her thoughts in poetry and finally she healed. The storm is over now, she managed to breach the husk. She is now healing broken souls with her art. My pieces fit in poetry category.
Giving thanks to Maatla Oreng Tsheole who sponsored her to publish the book with Showcasing publishers. “I am grateful because a lot of people contributed a lot to my book. Talk about Mr Morgan, he edited some of my poems, and my two brothers, my mum and Tshephang were always there, not forgetting Kesego. She also played a good game by motivating me to write.” Gratefully. She adds that she could not do it without God and his community. Heartily she condludes, “A star is born in Selibe Phikwe and I am going to be the best selling.”
