NaPoWriMo 2021

So, I completed my first full NaPoWriMo, and what an amazing ride it was too. I’ve been introduced to some amazingly inspiring poets through the prompts and the featured works each day.

I feel like I have learnt so much, have so much more to learn but now have a raft of material with which to work on in that learning. I’ve also met some lovely, engaging and supportive people along the way, all of whom I hope to stay in touch with and fold further into the creases of my life, and I’m truly grateful for having my eyes opened to the works of people from so many different cultures and places around the world.

Speaking of which, I was blown away by the last two featured poets’ work, both of which are linked below through their names. Please take the time to read them both, but if you can’t, then at least read the foreword from Deepa Gopal on why she writes and paints, it’s a valuable lesson we all can learn and one that should guide our lives; it follows here.

“All my art works… (with) …. the intention to reach out to young girls in specific and everyone in general who need to hear some positive and empowering affirmations each day. Just a humble alliterative effort. I wish we could all inspire each other every day, place a helping hand, a shoulder to rest for a while, embrace to overcome the each other’s pain, ease with laughter and a extend a bit of company to one another. In short, empower one another.”

To read more of Deepa’s work, follow her blog here.

I was also mightily impressed the poem submitted by Saffron, aka Phillippa Sauterel, a Jamaican Swiss poet whose work I had not seen this month. The fitting connection between her and Deepa’s words were not lost on me.

I feel like my life has been enriched so much in the last 30 days that my perspiration could taste like one of Saffron’s stews.