Selina Nwulu: A Poet’s Advice

    • nitya.shukla@timesgroup.com
    • Publish Date: Nov 27 2016 12:35PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Nov 27 2016 12:35PM
Selina Nwulu: A Poet’s Advice

 
We met Selina Nwulu, the current Young Poet Laureate for London at the Times Litfest where she presented a few of her poems and engaged in a discussion with the audience about the art of poetry.

 
 
A socially engaged writer, researcher and campaigner, Selina writes on a range of themes including race, representation, fashion and motherhood. 
As a first generation migrant (she is from Nigeria who grew up in Yorkshire, Northern England) she experienced first hand what’s it like to grow up as an outsider. A theme that inevitable shaped some of her work. 
 
The audience received Selina’s session with much awe. In between presenting a few poems from her collection including her debut work (‘ The Secrets I Let Slip), she took audience questions and maintained that more people are opening up to poetry because ‘being commercially viable comes and goes.’
 
She also added that spoken word poetry has become accessible and pointed to a few poets on Instagram who are doing rather well. At another time during the session, Selina said that a young person's experience is quite important. 
 
Later during an exclusive chat with Times NIE, she shared about the experience of bringing your authentic self to your poetry. 
 
What does a poet do
“ The role of the poet is to write the obvious in an unobvious way come at it from a different perspective say something new even if the subject is old…” 
 
On Not Following the herd
“ There is a temptation for any writer to write about what you think you should write and not about what you actually want to write. Especially if there is a trend then that might be a reason why people may be gravitating towards the issue. What I would say is before actually writing a poem listen to what your authentic voice is.  
 
How to discover your authentic voice
“ I think that takes time and reading lot of things. not just reading but experimenting with lots of works, poetry prose, poetry is really about listening to yourself and relating to what’s on the page.”  

See her work here. 
 
 
 

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Comments

SHUBHAM BANSAL RYAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

yes. poems are the only way of expressing your views about the society.

Haya Naved FATHER AGNEL SCHOOL(GAUTAM NAGAR)

Really good.

Tanya Singh BHAWAN VIDYALAYA CHD-SEC-27

I want to dance to a poem and hold it into my hands as I take its long fingers and clear them through my hair waves before I begin to dance to another thunderstorm. If those who write verses, be called poets. Let my clearing be the reflection of my poetry.

Kashish Verma Bharti Public School Swasthya Vihar

Very nice!

Mansi Borade PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

wow mind blowing.

Nishi Upadhyay BHARTI PUBLIC SCHOOL (SWASTHYA VHR)

really helpful.

Prakash.B Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

Good and helpful..

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