The poetry field at the University of the Free State and has been growing quite well over the past year; one could mention the competitions and sessions that have successively been held. This then brings us to the Man of the Moment, Ryan Lamb, a 22 year old student who is studying Physics but has contributed so much growth to the poetry industry and has recently published a poetry compilation called the “Poet’s block”. The IRAWA made sure to secure an exclusive interview with him and this is what he had to say:
SM: Ryan my brother, I would like to congratulate you on your publication, but first, with obviously so much talent, you could have chosen any field to excel in, but you chose to go with poetry. Why poetry?
RL: Thanks man, well, I don’t study English though, I study physics Anyway, I don’t know man... but I guess I’m good with words.... I started writing poetry at a young age and I guess it just started growing in me.
SM: So, basically it’s like a talent thing?
RL: I guess so, I started writing many years ago, I never stopped, I just kept writing and writing.
SM: How did you start writing poetry? Is it something you just started doing for the fun of it or was it something more?
RL: "I think everyone writes poetry at a younger age but then you start keeping it to yourself and become more personal and you keep doing it”
SM: For how long have you been writing poetry?
RL: I started when I was 14 years old and it’s been seven years, and I don’t write everyday - it comes every now and then, only when I find something to write about. It also takes some practice, its not like you're going to write a brilliant poem first time around - you’ve got to give it time.
SM: Ok…what can you tell us about this publication, is it from a personal point of view?
RL: It comprises poems that have been published overseas and South Africa as well, so its more like a journal, it has poems that were published in Italy, Croatia and most recently in new coin, in South Africa; it’s called “poet’s block”
SM: What challenges did you meet whilst doing your work?
RL: With the poems overseas, they had a theme, so I was supposed to write based on a certain theme in every competition, and then with some I had an image and I had to take it and put it the way I wanted it.
SM: Did you get any help or any motivation from any one?
RL: Well I have been getting support and sponsors in terms of finance, especially for my overseas trips, from the university, from my old school Grey college and the premier of the Free State as well a few individuals.
SM: What can you tell us about your achievements so far?
RL: I first won a price when I was 16 years at a poetry competition and was voted the best in South Africa. In 2008, after I got published, I got invited to a world youth forum in Italy to go and speak there and that was it organised by the international association of poetry; that’s where I met alot of different people and also got published there.
SM: What are your plans for the future?
RL: To continue writing. of course. and trying to bring out the best of myself.
By Stephen Moleli |