Many Miles - George Sakyi-Djan

Deduct dev. from the sixth of March
March our match with others matches
Realize our journey is too much.

The capital around me made a tour
In his heart saw I many an eye sore.
What filthy scenes see us on the sea shore?
What dirt dances on Dark Korles door?

Swim with me to the street's fore
Malady, squalor, beggars galore -
Treachery, debauchery, all poor?

Travel the apothecary's office, market,
Weigh how aristocrats fattened by our pocket
Wake, site cities, a thousand budding Eves,
Scoliosised mission, no vision, winter leaves.

Who harbours blame, who bears shame?

Sellers or customers of this game?
Certainly the gods are not to blame
Unless man recruits a new staff.
And until man takes a mental bath
Many miles...

Author Profile - George Sakyi-Djan

George Sakyi-Djan was born on January 24th, 1984. He is currently reading Political Science with Theatre Arts in the University of Ghana, Legon. Sakyi-Djan begun writing way back in Perseverance Preparatory School (Nsawam) at age 13. He was, however, greatly influenced by his Achimota Secondly School literature tutor Mr.Ariel Adjabeng (Ringo). George Sakyi-Djan is a poet, playwright, and script writer. He is well known in the United States and the United Kingdom for his great contributions to the annual poetry anthology of the International Society of Poetry, in the United States. Apart from writing, Sakyi-Djan wants to practice law and also be in government in the future.

Five Questions with George Sakyi-Djan:

1. In both of your poems featured on OGOV, you've ended your poems with an ellipsis (...) - is this a technique you use often? If so, what draws you to it?

The ellipsis in my poems is basically to stress on the intensity of the subject matter and to make room for the readers own intepretation of the theme.


2. How important is place/geography in your writing?

Geography is very significant to me in my poems. In "Many Miles," I am talking about Africa and Ghana in general, and Keta and Accra in particular.


3. This poem has an irregular, but very pleasing, rhyme scheme. What drew you to making the rhymes you do in this poem?

Equally the rhyme in this poem is to emphasise on the disarray, disorder and filth in our cities, which are supposed to be otherwise.


4. Your images of "swimming" to "the street's fore", "harbouring blame", and man taking a "mental bath" invoke a sense of flooding or erosion of cities - akin in many ways to the plight of Keta. Was this an intentional allusion, or am I reading too much into these lines?

Those words are pure for allussional reasons.


5. When we last talked with you, almost a year ago, you said that poetry on the campus at Legon is "virtually dead". Has any progress been made on this front over the last twelve months?

Sadly, the situation is the same.

Contact George:

georgedjan(at)yahoo.com

George's Past Profiles:

Issue 1.10, May 26th - June 1st, 2007

Like Accra - George Sakyi-Djan

Smallest but biggest
flunged field of bamboos
and of alive and broken blocks
sleeping next to the deep blue
a rep of ancient european rome
a bowl of richly made soakings
like his commarades in his area
inflated intestines 'hooked of indigestibles
of bushy facial hair
breath of questionable air
possed to quarrel' with a malade unable
malaria....

Author Profile - George Sakyi-Djan

Biography:

George Sakyi-Djan was born on January 24th, 1984. He is currently reading Political Science with Theatre Arts in the University of Ghana, Legon. Sakyi-Djan begun writing way back in Perseverance Preparatory School (Nsawam) at age 13. He was, however, greatly influenced by his Achimota Secondly School literature tutor Mr.Ariel Adjabeng (Ringo). George Sakyi-Djan is a poet, playwright, and script writer. He is well known in the United States and the United Kingdom for his great contributions to the annual poetry anthology of the International Society of Poetry, in the United States. Apart from writing, Sakyi-Djan wants to practice law and also be in government in the future.

Five Questions with George Sakyi-Djan:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I started writing poems in 1998 but they were in the form of rhymed letters. My actual poetry documentation began in 2000, while attending Achimota School, with my poem entitled "A Message of Love."

2. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired you and informed your work?

Poets like William Shakespeare really inspired me. In Ghana, the work of poets like Kofi Anyidoho has really influenced me.

3. What is your opinion about the state of poetry in Ghana today? The state of poetry on the campus at the University of Ghana, Legon?

Poetry in Ghana is virtually dead. So is poetry on the University of Ghana campus. Articles are more cherished on campus than poetry.

4. What is it that draws you to write about your city, Accra?

My poem "Like Accra" was writting as my daily observation of the filthy nature of the capital Accra and other African capitals, hence the title "Like Accra."

5. You note in your bio that you would like to be a politician. What role do you think poetry plays, or should play, in Ghanaian politics?

The role poetry can play in politics is that poetry could be employed to praise and condemn politicians and politics when necessary.

Contact George:

georgedjan(at)yahoo.com