You Will Die When You Read This Poem

By John Owen and ESTHER MORAA

There's more to life than merely living. There's a real reality than the reality we see, and this, like a stream, overflows from a poet's deepest feelings, emotions and self. Poets are gods who bring us the world we so much ignore but which are exactly emblematic to our very own selves. But why die for these particular poems? And what will happen when life will die? The answers are enshrined within the golden poems in this book, which are undoubtedly worth your time. You won't regret opening the first page, so why don't you? 

 

"I found your poems to be insightful, imaginative, image rich, delightful, and thought provoking to read. The dual approach used in putting the collection together adds a fresh spin to the work and, therefore, making it unique. In some places, this duality made me have a deja vu experience. The poems reveal a simplicity of style, honesty, and vision that characterize our humanity."

 

~Dr. Imali J. Abala, Professor, 

English Department-

Ohio Dominican University.

• Language: English
• Publisher: THE WRITERS PEN PUBLISHERS
• Release date: Jun 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9789914703894

John Owen

I am nothing special but a creator- I create worlds and people and creations that have never been with my imaginations. I sometimes let myself live and be taken away by them. I also have a a mantra that I am the only version of myself, and gotta make it the best version. 

Book preview

Dedications

To my beloved mum, Petronilla Mumbo. Thank you for your love that has brought me to where I am. Thank you for standing in the place of mama. I love you.

To dad Jacktone Ogada, though you always know too much, LOL. I love you.

To my mum, Martha, I love you too.

To my teachers and lecturers, Moreso,  Mr. Nathaniel Omenda, Madam Benter Oyoo, Mr. Omanya . . .  Pages fail me to mention all of you, Dr. Christopher Okemwa, Dr. George Anyona, Dr. George Nyandoro; Dr. Imali J. Abala . . .  You are my inspiration.

To all friends (Lewis Wamwanda, you stole the run, but I have the baton; Annah Kwambokah, you've thrown me so much; and to Beril Kahunguka, your prayers and motivation keeps me going. I love you.)

To my relatives, small bro Alex John. You also will be as big as I am;  Joyce, Aunty Rose, the rest know themselves.

You have all made me what I am.

In loving remembrance of my late mum, LUCY.

Mama,

The cement on your grave is breaking,

But the love I have for you has never broken.

Your coffin and body may have rotten,

But your memories have never ffaded"'

I love you mama.

~John Owen

To my mother, Abigael Kerubo, I love you so much.

To my partners in crime, John Owen and Eliud Mwaura, you are my mentors.

To my friend Luccy, you've always been my number one fan.

And to everyone feeling sad, unhappy and unloved, may it console your souls. Know that you ain't alone and you still need to survive.

~Esther Moraa

And finally,

To all readers and lovers of poetry.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the help of the the following who have made this work a success;

First and above everything, we acknowledge God who has given us the grace, life, health and blessings in this project. We acknowledge our parents for the support and encouragement, The Writers Pen Publishers for the numerous technical support in the whole process of publishing the book, Mr. Bonface Isaboke (Author of Peeling the Cobwebs) for the editorial help, Mr. Eliud Mwaura and Abiola Oluwasola Elisha for allowing their works to be featured in this book, Beril Kahunguka, Lewis Wamwanda, and numerous other friends who have provided us with the motivation to go forward (including the whole community of The Writers Pen Foundation.) We greatly acknowledge the invaluable input of Dr. Imali Abala (PhD) (Also author of A Fallen Citadel and Other Poems.) who helped in mentoring us and fine tuning this book. This book is a success greatly due to her support. Finally, we acknowledge everyone who in any way, directly or indirectly, helped in making this book a breakthrough. We also can't forget acknowledging ourselves too for the partnership and friendship we've had through which this book was born.

Preface:

"You Will Die When You Read This Poem; When Life Will Die and Other Poems" takes readers on a delicious journey of heartwarming poems laced with the bittersweet moments of living. Poignantly refreshing and intertwined with a duality of vision, the collection tackles many themes like love, heartache and death. Crafted into form from two perspectives, female and male, the poets’ unique and personal idioms make the collection imagistic rich, soulful, and lyrical. The poems reveal a simplicity of style, honesty, and vision that characterize our humanity. This collection is insightful, imaginative, a delight to read and adds a new and unique voice to a growing number of emergent Kenyan poets.

Imali J. Abala

Dr. Imali J. Abala, Professor

English Department

Ohio Dominican University

Columbus, Ohio 43219

E-mail: [e-mail].

Prologue

William Wordsworth said, Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings, collected in serenity and tranquility. This  is true, or maybe not. Here's the truth: a poet is a god and poetry are the words of the god. The persona is the prophet who relays information from the gods to the audience, and that's all I know...  And, inasmuch as this is true, believe it not. Do you know why? Well, we are many gods, all of who want to be heard and obeyed. And, all of us have laid down curses for not obeying our words, Cursed are you when you don't obey the words of this book. We are also all different. What one poet will hold onto may be completely different and controversial to another's. We all want to be worshipped, and in different ways.