Meles Niguse is a well known poet in Eritrea. He has been able to win the hearts of many poetry lovers. Born in keren in 1975, Meles took university level literature courses.  He is now working in the Eritrean Sport Commission, as a public relation officer. Recently, Meles published a poetry book entitled Zelo eyu Zhlu (he who exists lives). He has his say on literature in general, and on poetry in particular. We interviewed him in Asmara. Excerpts:

 

·        Have you become the poet you were ambitious to be? Taking your back ground into account, are you showing progress?

 

Sometimes I write poems suddenly. When I get in the mood, I make a dialogue on modern and traditional poems. I talk to the poems; we debate, we argue with each other. Sometimes the poem tells me that it is not an ambition that someone intends to reach when writing a poem.  Then, again and again, I set my motion with emotion. When I write the right poems, my soul fills with pleasure. Then, I go to my friends for their comments on the poems I write. How do they look like? Are they coping with time?

 

·        Why do you write poems, when it is so simple to say it in ordinary talk?

 

I listen to the knock from my soul. It pushes me to put my feelings in poems. Life needs a change. Everything is tedious with out a change. Poetry is a change from ordinary talk. It is a sweet saying. It is the voice of conscience that includes aesthetics, and strong and affectionate emotion. A talk is delivered with lots of details, whereas a poem is an implication. It is very tight and figurative, with no wasting of time and words. That is why it is preferable.

 

·        How do you see the role of poetry in the making and progressing of Eritrea?

 

It has played a great role. It was an inspiration for the blossoming spirit of our revolution, and national feeling during our straggle. After independence, it grew up focusing on its artistic and aesthetics values. Art and aesthetic are both the renovation of our soul and mind. Poetry clears the conscience. Nothing is greater than feeding the soul.

 

·        You have published and distributed a poetry book recently. How were the challenges you went through to publish it? Are you getting any immediate response from your readers?

 

It was obvious that I had financing and distribution challenges. But you forget it all; you get rewarded after getting positive response from people who read the poems. I was really fortunate in meeting encouraging people.  

 

·        Where do you get the inspiration to writing poetry? What do you do to enhance your creativity?

 

I don’t write deliberately. Sometimes impressive books that I read wake me up. Reading books is an inspiration to writing. Reading is just feeding the mind. I have to feed it. And if it is fed, it turns out to be generating creative ideas.

 

·        As a poet, what do you think is the most important thing in life?

 

Every aspect of it is significant to poetry. It is on how you look or what kind of angle you take that matters. Keen or wholehearted observation is required to produce a poem.

 

·        How do you see the quality of our poetry, especially in relation to other country’s poetry?

 

It is relatively good. I can see many young talented and promising poets. Out of the many written, one can find a few beautiful poems. If our poets are provided with necessary training, we could reach the top soon.

 

·        How do you see the capacity of our people in reading and digesting poetry? What do you suggest?

 

Poetry needs critical reading, but not many readers are critical. Being critical reader is going deep into the poems and only those who are able to do that read poems with interest. There are readers who want easily understood works.

 

·        Do you have any plans to translate your poems?

 

I have that dream. I welcome anyone who is interested in and capable of doing that job.

 

·        Some people say that a poet, despite having much reputation, his belly is vacant! (getamay simu seamy diraru mai!) Do you make a living by selling poems?

 

I prefer living with the pleasure I find from poetry, rather than money. Poetry is a remedy to the soul, not a means to make your living. So, I prefer to I live in poetry rather than in its byproduct?

 

·        How do you evaluate our lyrics?

 

I can put them into two extremes. We have some excellent, pleasing lyrics. On the other hand there are irritating lyrics, with no human dimension. Some do not meet even the basic requirement. Lyrics need intensification, because it is about outlining a song.

 

·        You have been writing short stories. How much interest do you have in that and what do you intend to do about it?

 

I am very interested in short stories. I have known and practiced it equally with poetry. It is very close to poetry compared with the other genres. I have collected some of them, and I am about to publish them whenever I am financially able.

 

·        Have you ever taken any initiative to transfer your knowledge to the young?

 

It is a bit scary question. I felt as if I got older. Literature is an art that you learn while practicing it. Discussing with people with the same interest by itself is a lesson. This could be considered as a method of transforming what you have. I believe it works. I have many young promising poets who chat with me on matters of poetry. It is just sharing of ideas. In collaboration with NUEYS, we are teaching elementary poetry to some young poets. So I am already engaged in sharing my knowledge. I will keep doing that.

 

·        Are there promising young poets?

 

Many of them! I can read some sweet poems of theirs. And I feel proud of them.

 

·        Your future plans…?

 

I will distribute my poetry book in audio and CD. I am also planning to publish a collection of short stories.