TWO POEMS PUBLISHED IN "Persian Sugar in English Tea III"

I had two of my poems published in English and Farsi (Persian) languages in New York recently. The book is the third volume of the bilingual series of poetry collection, Persian Sugar in English Tea. The anthology includes short poems, micro-poetry and haiku by 59 new and well-accomplished poets from Canada, USA, UK, SA, Ireland, India, and other Asian, Middle Eastern and European countries.

Click here to order your copy in ebook format https://www.amazon.com/Persian-Sugar-English-Tea-Vol/dp/1722360984

GEDIG VIR NELSON MANDELA

Ek het 'Elegie vir Nelson Mandela' geskryf die oggend van Madiba se heengaan.
Die gedig probeer om belangrike tydperke van Madiba op te roep en dus die leser herinner van die belangrike versoenende rol wat hy vertolk het in die nuwe Suid-Afrika.
I wrote a poem the morning after Nelson Mandela has passed away. Former USA president, Barack Obama said something powerful at the memorial service for Madiba that I believe my poem has captured: "... I will always fall short of Madiba’s example, he makes me want to be better..." - President Barack Obama speaking at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

Obama concluded that "It is hard to eulogize any man - to capture in words, not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person - their private joys and sorrows; the quiet moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone’s soul. How much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice, and in the process moved billions around the world."

Elegie vir Nelson Mandela

Vandag, 5 Desember 2013, is dié dag –

‘n oomblik vir stilstaan, onthou en besin oor ‘n leier soos min.

In hierdie oomblik van stilte

laat ons mooier luister, beter verstaan
en sodoende duideliker praat –
nederig en sonder enige kwaad.

Met Hani se dood was ons land op ‘n mespunt

en het jy gepleit om sy dood nie te wreek,
instede vrede en versoening te preek
en ons red van ‘n burgeroorloghel.

Jy’t onthaal met konings en presidente

en prinse en prinsesse, tee met tannies geniet
en 'n springboktrui by die rugby-wêreldbeker gedra.

Onder jou leierskap het ons ver gekom

en nou kan ons alleen voortgaan
want jy laat vir ons agter ‘n morele kompas.

Jou heengaan laat ‘n leemte

nie net vir ons reënboognasie nie,
maar die hele mensdom.

Tata, die ouderdom het jou kom haal

nog lank voor die dood* kon,
maar jy’t ons geleer ‘n hartseertraan
word eindelik ‘n traan van blydskap.

Rus nou sag, tata Madiba –

Lala ngoxolo, tata.

* “Die dood is iets onafwendbaar. Wanneer 'n mens gedoen het wat hy as sy plig teenoor sy mense en sy land ag, kan hy in vrede rus. Ek glo ek het dit vermag en daarom sal ek in die ewigheid kan slaap.” - Nelson Mandela

©2019 Selwyn Milborrow

WRITING WORKSHOP - 16 MARCH 2019

Do you want to write a book? Just like riding a bicycle, you have the ability to learn how to write a book - a skill that you can master with practice, persistence and repetition.
Do you have a vision for your life or career but are not sure how to make it a reality? You need a vision board! A vision board is a way to get a clear picture of what you want to create in your life, and for your journey as a writer. So many of us made excuses about why we never got around to make our dreams come true. It is time to change that!

You will be able to immerse yourself and identify what needs to become the focus in your life in order to become the writer you are destined to become and to live an authentic life.

Author Selwyn Milborrow & Dr Ruth Connelly, are presenting this writing workshop on 16 March 2019 at Agape Coffee Shop in Uitenhage. We are dedicating a full morning (09:30 – 13:00) to you.

RSVP: tel 041-020 0019 or Cell 083 281 0346.

BOEK: BRIEWE AAN MY WIT ANTIE

My boek "Briewe aan my wit antie" kry goeie resensies. Die boek bevat korrespondensie tussen my en Annelie Botes, wie ek my wit antie noem. Sy noem my haar bruin broer. Sy maak melding hiervan in haar boek "Swart op wit". Hieronder is 'n paar resensies van lesers:

“Baie dankie vir hierdie kosbare boek! Selwyn, jy skets met woorde! Ek kon elke storie voor my sien afspeel. Het geskaterlag oor "Troue van die jaar” en “Maskers". Ek kon identifiseer met "Dis nie vandag my praatdag nie" en het so bietjie gesnak na my asem oor die realiteit van “Tollos se skrikbewind”. Wat ‘n lekkerte is die boek nié... 'n moet lees!” – Sanet Thiart

“Kan nie wag om te begin lees. Dis beslis 'n boek vir enige boekliefhebber se boekrak. Baie dankie!” – Maritha Aguiar.