By Sam Otieno
Maya Angelou famed for her seminal novel I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings once avowed: ‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maybe this is what stirred her to tell her sobbing tale in this tear-jerking semi-autobiography.
James Baldwin writes on the blurb of this magnum opus paperback: ‘I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity’.
Sometimes a legion would ask why writers always bother themselves with the unending headache of crafting words into storylines.
At times, I get overwhelmed with such queries. Nonetheless, as Angelou affirmed, when we fail to recount some of our experiences, specially, those that move us into tears, we’re endlessly enslaved.
It is apparent that most writers are somehow free from this “slavery” of the untold story when they write about it. This accords us the irresistible vigour to write as someone must hear our side of the tale.
One Senegalese novelist Mariama Ba, who authored the Scarlet Song, once wrote with crusading vigour in defense of women yet she knew of her eminent death due to cancer.
To me, the energy of riveting writing lies not in the words but certainly flows furtively through the words. This is our greatest charm as writers.
Sometimes back at my school, a parent who visited for an academic day was quick to remind me of some article that I had written about the suffering of the female folk.
In the piece, I had recounted a sniveling story about how some deadbeat dads are always away in foreign lands with other women. Maybe this is what made the piece memorable to her.
I have on several occasions applauded budding writers to write to share with us their innermost hearty feelings. In one of my recent zoom meeting with literature students of a local university, I implored the students to have an allure for creative writing.
Lately, an acquaintance asked me why I was forever eager to be part of any unfolding event and in my shrewd crafted retort; I told her that most times I gawk at events in order to pick up something to write about.
Louis L’Amour unfolds some writing tit-bits when she tells us to start writing no matter what. She further drives this point home by using an illustration of water that does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
This is usually the prime guardian angel to begin writing – starting to write something.
Veteran writers, the likes of Egara Kabaji and Laban Erapu have drummed this aphorism into our ears; to be a writer you must begin to write, period!
When you start writing, sometimes the words may fail to flow, nonetheless; you must indefatigably continue to write.
With time, the words become restless bundles of energy that everlastingly is ready to explode off our minds like a time bomb. Finally, they often blossom like a banquet of rose flowers – this is when we are ready to truly tell our story.
Certainly, writing lifts the burden of untold stories off our heavy laden chests and as Maya Angelou averred in her memoir, there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
The writer is a literary enthusiast and a commentator on literature for Education News
