EXPRESS~SHUN

Do not blame me because I turn blue skies, purple
The world is bored of her color;
she barely looks at them anymore and smile
Don’t point fingers at me because I dream
I sing out loud, hopping on your silent streets
I just don’t want to die in the silence that has raped the world of her Innocence
I am a daydreamer, but at night I paint on my canvas, yellow, green and white
That in the dark nights, I let the colors glow as light
You have no dreams; maybe you just don’t believe in them anymore
Call me a daydreamer but that’s why you can’t still figure how my fantasy becomes your reality
Don’t paint on me your muddy shades of grey
I am one out of the thousand colors that catch your eye
I am the hue in your grey clouds
I Choose my colors as I want them
I’m not afraid to glow. –      Ibanga Emem

~~~

Hello Reader, I’m Emem and I’m just like you, creative, enthusiastic, passionate and of course, alive. I love to observe things around me but i now value writing them. Thanks to the wonderful people I met in the University of Benin, where I study  Fine Art and sing part time. Let’s say I have three more years ahead and more towards the future. Just so you know, I’ll keep my pen up!!!

Delight pondereth my soul in the outermost paths
Found between the complexity of thoughts;
Diverse immersion of yesteryears
Dreaming it’s reality to the crumble presence of constrained existence,
Oh!
How I wished and longed that the fourscore,
Double fourscore was the reality of my present world.
Engraft into a kingdom of princes,
I beheld, and saw the wonders of my king,
His princess I was, precious in his eyes
And a treasure among many rubies.

I found my peace in the mist of the forest
All that my soul delight he gave,
The company of ancient trees
The smell of music
The company of his host who delight to serve the daughter of the king.

Until one night,
Went I into the woods
To seek the wisdom of the trees.
Down into the lonely mountains
Beyond all perils,
The taste of many bloods burnt in me
Like the fountains of deep waters.
The Misty mountains draweth down
The shadows of the dark years revealed
And creatures foretold of ages forgotten,
Crippeth out of hidden realms…
Desperate to strike their last,
In great pain they scrub the entirety of that which they could grasp
Then suddenly,
I turned and beheld myself in a strange civilization;
Out came the creatures of the woods to see who had come into their existence
Fear encompassed my soul
For my mortal eyes had never beheld such.
Then came a flash and I saw myself in a path,
An ancient one that has long be lost, and no fowl had walked.

As though trilled by this reality,
I took every step with patience
Beholding that which lived in this place
My spirit found oneness,
I could feel my own chi,
The experience was transforming..
I talked with the men of a strange generation,
As one who had long strayed from home.
Every thing beckoned to me,
The leaves spoke and I understood,
For they bore life with my spirit.

A great sound broke behind me and I found my Lord..
The king, the trees, the forest and all that grows therein
He sought after me,
My heart strived and he proclaim the wisdom of the wise..
That though ancient where these times,
The knowledge was not lost.
My spirit shall no longer strive with man for long,
Seeing that he is mortar
His days shall be a hundred and twenty jubilee.
Among the sons of men is the name of God yet esteem,
They all seek after vain things,
None have the eyes of the seer
And they are no good stewards of immortal things,
None can trace the path of the spirit
And rudiments of life they sought.
What seeth thou
O mortal being?
Born of flesh and raised by blood
That seasons are come
And the times are with us,
Though foretold in ancient times
Like an assembly set in battle array…

As of a pouncing Lion they roar
With the might of their Lord
The signal has gone forth ahead
Let he that slumber
awaken to battle..
The cry of one in the wilderness
The clouds gathering,
The ancient one arises as a life giving spirit in the flesh of men
Fortify the band that none breaks the Cord
The hour has come
Let the earth tremble at the rising of a great army.

~O.O Millicent.

Biography
Here’s a young writer of deep words. Her art goes beyond the surface of beauty at it’s peak.
She is a writer of spiritual insights, who hails from Edo state. Currently, she is studying Mass Communication at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

I am Christian: which means I am blessed by having received the revelation that God has been suffering with me, and dying for me, so to open the Gates of Heaven for my whole being.

I am physically disabled, for a lifetime: which means that I experience within my bones and flesh, and, more subtly, in a number of aspects of my life, the mystery of the purpose of our pain, and the challenge of, at once, accepting what can’t be changed, yet believing that God can help me overcome any obstacle, if I only dare to spread my sails to a wind I should know has been there all the time, even if at times, for my faith is weak, I’m not always able to feel it.

And I have been blessed by God for He gracefully and lovingly let me open my heart and mind to an adamant truth: that my lifetime disability is a blessing in disguise, for it’s a portentous chance to give and take love, and a chance and reminder to dig within, there were the greatest (and solely true) treasures I will ever own can be found.

It’s challenging, at times, to remind myself to consider my difficulties as potential sources of blessings or incentives to improve myself and explore the dark side of pain, which paradoxically is fecund of light. And so it can happen to me, from a path scattered with holes and pointy rocks, to look at Jesus Christ, at his heavy, aching progression through His Calvary, and to end telling myself, with resignation, as if it there was nothing else: ‘Look, that’s the way God took for first, to lead us: the way of suffering’.

Like if the unavoidable pain of this human condition had to necessarily prevail, and even God was subjected to it.

Now, I’m not going to state that, oppositely, we can avoid it all, as our times of test are as much necessary as it is, for the ugly, crawling caterpillar, to first stay in, entrapped, and then dig through, the chrysalis, so to become a wondrous, flying butterfly: we need to suffer, from time to time, for to need and therefore, hopefully, discover that dormant force within us.

But what about the infinite grace, sprouting from the Calvary and Death of Jesus like a tender green plant from a hardened seed buried in the frozen ground?

What I should always remind myself, in first place, is that, once reached the Golgotha and having fulfilled the purpose of His passion, Jesus Christ died for to take on Himself all of our miseries, for to nullify them by means of His love which is infinitely greater than them all, and, finally, for to transmute them into Salvation by His Glorious Resurrection!

What I’m reminding to myself – and to you -, right now, is that, even if we can’t avoid each single pain we’re supposed to go through, for it’s necessary in order to learn, progress and improve ourselves, like steel forged into the scorching fire, even if the suffering Christ is the most perfect Role Model for us to try to imitate the best we can, there’s an infinite Love, God’s, birthing Grace, which already payed the price for us, once and for all, an infinite Love whose broken, overflowing dams let its content rain on us, if only we don’t forget and don’t refuse to ask for it and to receive it, no matter all the pain and sorrow we’re meant to go through, at a certain time…

So, are the hands of our heart, mind, soul moving towards that ever-pouring, and ever-flowing spring of nectar of Grace?

Look, it’s right here, within our reach.
And it’s free, and abundant.
Just ask, and accept.

(c) Daniele Bergamini @danbergam
————————–
About The Author:

Today we present to you a blessed heart, who has thrived beyond the storms of life to become a rainbow and sunshine in the lives of many.

Daniele Bergamini was born in 1972 in Italy, where he lives, loves, creates.
Physically disabled, he defines his condition “a weird blessing”.
He believes in Jesus, loves life, has plenty of interests for a lifetime or two (writing being one of them), and in 2017 he published his first book, a poetry collection titled “Chants for Love” (available as paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Repository and as Kindle e-book as well).
He can be found in the Web (Instagram included, where so many of his writings are posted) as danbergam.

Keep Glowing Daniele! Much love!!

Men, it is enough!

Stop trading our souls into immortality
For blood to sustain another breathe;
Your life is not a king of another life…

No! No! No!…
Enough, men it is enough!
You troth to forfend us like your brothers,
Yet playing politics with the life we live..

Men, it is enough!
Halt drinking our blood like water
For our life is your own life!
Stop being a proud execrate of your country.

Men, it is enough!
You have bathe our country enough
With neglect that flood through our veins;
NO shelter, NO hope…

Men, it is enough!
Is war a food,a food that we should eat,
Day after day to gain energy of peace?
NO! It is a bloody NO…

Men, it is enough!
Murder that tribulations
Of family against family
Of states against states..

You can,you will,you should,
Bury into six-feet a war,that war,this war,
Of country against country;
Men, I say it is enough!..

@DK 

Oblivious of your flaws;
You navigate on all fours.
The ticktock of the clock tickles you
Time is but a fading music to you

Like the night, teen years passed away
and 20s dawn on you like the day.

Basking in the shadow of fun-filled 19,
Blind-piercing 21 unveils reality to you.
An introduction to the primacy of time.
Strategic 22 doubles efforts;
Morphs dreams into SMART goals –
A three-year plan.
Two sweats, one smile, and 25 is here.
Scale-wearing 25 is blue;
Progressive but unhappy.
That comparative analysis paralysed 26,
Dragged in perturbed but prescient 27.
Another three-year plan,
One thought, two smiles, and 30 is here.

Like the twinkling of a star time ticks away.
A while, 2 thoughts, 2 smiles, 5 winks,
And 40 is here.
50 is there, staring.
On and on goes our lifetime
like a gentle wind.

About The Author: Cheers! To this young glowing  mind, Daniel Iyanda with the pseudonym invincibledandy is a lover: of God, people, a princess and poetry. A tech enthusiast and digital journalist. An outlier.

Hey Daniel! We look forward to seeing your shine brighter, touching hearts with the flame of positivity. Glow on!!

Dennis Makanjuola🔔

Here’s a young poet who also writes short stories that paint pictures antecedently blur to the world.

Dennis is yet another gifted gift, a believer in the power of words and how they cause stimulated vibrations in the minds of readers.

When he is not getting lost inside the endless pages of a novel, he writes…

Aside his love for reading and writing, he loves dogs, football and solitude.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today on Express~Shun we bring to you a poem By- Dennis

.

Titled : The fright of old age

Blend the components

Let the water boil and then

Watch the steam travel

Far

Far to the atmosphere

You want to remain young

forever

You panic when you hear

the voice of old age

Calling on you to adhere

What are you becoming?

A liability

You empty panacea inside your

abdomen

Hoping for a positive change

You forsake caution

And embrace anything selling

Rapidly on the herbal medicines

list

You watch as rumpled skin

becomes smoothen

Express~Shun

Enobakhare Samuel Ogbemudia (Sam De Poet)🔔

Here’s a passion driven wordsmith who hammers on various openly concealed issues of life, while they are still hot as it relates to the heart.
Sam De Poet can be described as one who writes not just because he has the skills but because of an inbuilt yearning to pour out what lies within. As a multi talented personality, Sam stands out as a Blogger, sports journalist and photographer
~~~~~~~~~
Today on Express~Shun, Sam De Poet shares a thought provoking piece titled

Rumble In Life’s Jungle~~~~~

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

Sometimes you will stumble
Even take a tumble
Keep up the struggle
Jump life’s hurdle

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

Be deft, swift,
give life a dribble
On its obstacles,
do a juggle
Break free, from its tussle
Surmount life’s lofty hurdle

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

It’s too tough, you might grumble
Perhaps its obstacles is giving you double
Your well laid plans, it crumbles
It’s giving you too many hurdles

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

From it’s cold grip, you may tremble
Its shackles leaving you troubled
Life’s like a paper,
give it a crumple
Jump and fly over its hurdle

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

On life, take a gamble
On its cards, make a shuffle
Life’s is worth that hustle,
Play out its hurdle

Life is a jungle,
Only the strong rumble.

Express~Shun
Ejagede Wisdom🔔
Here’s a young poet who has the capacity to connect with hearts through words. Wisdom, (a lover of music and poetry) is currently a Mechanical Engineering student of Delta State Polytechnic.
Yes! Once again we’ve got another unbiased soul who embraces the resplendence of art blended in science.
~~~~~~~~~
Today on Express~Shun, Wisdom shares a sagely written piece-Titled: STRANGERS

She was,
A maiden pure and undefiled
Celebrated for her celibacy,
As she moved elegantly with her untapped
palmwine kegs, sealed from monkey men.

She was,
Her mother’s joy
Her father’s delight
Beautiful but bent
Plagued by an unfortunate event.

She was,
With mouth closed as her seal got broken
In her plight suffered each passing day
Tears fermented on her pillow night after night
And even darkness had eaten up her soul.

She was,
Coerced by a strangers touch
Her virgin hands had held evil
Thirsting for freedom with no one to fight
For a sip of justice.

Now she is,
A seer in the dark;
Finding KAMIKAZE the only path in sight
The shadow of what she was-
A stranger to herself.
.
I found her so,
But I loved her still
Right in that darkness;
Squeezing into her space

Now I’m hanging here still,
Cause when she took her breath away
She took mine too…

~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Wisdom! Keep telling the untold stories, as you soar higher in the literary space and beyond…
Glow on🥂

Express~Shun
Mhiz Peace
…but I don’t understand…
They tell me you are late
But you left so early.
They can’t tell me you are dead
Writers never die,
Their words live on-
Speaking to even hearts unborn

Growing up as a little girl,
When ‘they’ said any loved one ‘has gone to be with the Lord’
I still waited for their return,
Cause my little head told me
“The Lord won’t keep him/her for so long,
They just went to be with the Lord…they’ll be back soon
So I waited and waited
Until hot hopes turned cold
Now I know better…
God sees the beginning from the end.
He knows best

8:36am one morning Mhiz Peace sent me a poem she wrote the previous day. We reviewed it together and agreed it had so much life in it.
..but life didn’t even allow us choose a perfect title for that piece.
This piece

Title- THE LAST PIECE
By Ekpenyong Peace Henry

The frailty of the weak.
The seal of ignorance
The battle for the prize
The struggle to be heard
A sigh of relief
A desperate cry for a voice
A shadow to lean on
A man in waiting
Where do we go from here?
A sweet melody turned soar
Life fizzling away
Time crawling by
Too many decisions to make
A life full of hope
A heart full of expectation
A light in the tunnel
A sense of belonging
Joy mixed with laughter
A river flowing with peace
A new dawn
Hope stirred alive
A promising future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is deep and conveys a lot…
This time, hot hopes won’t turn cold
Cause I won’t wait
Your words are still here
Your story is still in our hearts
They’ll continue to speak to even hearts unborn

I won’t tell you “Rest In Peace”
Or any of those ‘death phrases’
You are Peace
You are Strength
You are…
Our team will miss you
This literary community will miss you
We love you.
I. Love. You.

Ogechi Precious Francis🔔
An undergraduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) studying English and Literature.
Ogechi is a young lady who had an intimate relationship with poetry, but along the line, the passion and love in the relationship was lost somewhere in the high weeds that grew between life and time.
Gratefully, beyond all odds- the lost is now found, as Ogechi and Poetry are now back together. Her love, passion and muse (for not just poetry but writing in general) keep burning, never to get cold again. 🔥🔥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today on Express~Shun from the very depth of her heart, Ogechi writes a

Letter To Her Art~~~Here’s the beautifully written piece~

I had it all worked out,
My vibrant pen
Colourful imaginations
Aesthetic romance
Ever responsive note pad

Where did it all go to?
How can i think i could do without you
You the brain behind the …….
The eyes i see through
You write faster than my head,
I’d think of a thousand things undone without you
I had you all burning up like fire with no match
Wood without smoke

The world would be nothing without you
You are the life penned down
You express words unspoken loudly
In the hearts of your lovers
I’d never leave you again
My Dear Art.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week we have an extra piece to share (by the same author)
~U N T I T L E D
TO avoid the pressure of youthful age
And savour the sweetness of creation,
In the image and likeness of an eternal king
I whirl in my bubbling gown
Laughter stricken my heart ,
As i stare at nature’s best
So engrossed in myself
I disengage/forget the bitterness of earthquake
The unorthodox craving of sickness
Disheartening beauty of break up
I take all the time to love myself.♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indeed! The muse is back!
Keep writing dear!!
We look forward to seeing you leave a positive mark on the shores of this literary field.
Glow on!!!

Cofie Grace🔔
Here’s an undergraduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with a burning passion fuelled by the will and zeal to create a positive impact, especially in the lives of teenagers.
Grace stands as a voice against sexual abuse; creating platforms where the untold stories are told, as words caged like slaves in the head of victims are released, restoring hope and self dignity at the long run.
She is an up and coming writer and spoken word artist whose art gets better daily.
Many of her works have been published via her social media platforms (which includes Instagram and whatsapp).
As an avid reader, she also loves teaching and impacting the knowledge acquired. I see this as an invaluable trait, as mental liberation is the beginning of true freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today on Express~Shun  Grace tells us her story (as a young writer) through a piece she titled- Writing: A passion That Cannot Be Hidden

Here’s her story~

My name is Cofie Grace Oluwabusayo. A 200 level student of the department of Economics of the Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
As a young girl, I had always loved reading books, stories, novels and even anything that got my curiosity. So in the process of reading, I started writing. Writing stories then was always what I loved to do. I had lots of them then. I remember telling my younger sister that I was going to author and publish a storybook by the time I was in primary six (6) now known as Basic 6. Actually I did not get to publish the story book, (laughs). Sure you asking why? I lost interest at a point, I lost interest in writing and reading. I saw them as a burden to pick a pen, a book and write. My words didn’t just make sense to me anymore. Prior to this time, I wasn’t getting encouragements from anybody so I felt whatever I did then was useless. My interest was waning gradually until I became a total stranger to the art of writing. I carried this mind-set with me that whatever I did, whatever I wrote was not needed but deep within me, I knew I couldn’t just stop writing like that. There was a space inside of me that needed to be filled through writing alone but I didn’t do anything about it because I feared rejection, I feared my own words, I feared criticisms from people so I intentionally hid my talent.
“Fast forward”~~~ to my admission into the university.I had become pregnant with words which I knew I had to be birthed through any medium and the only way I could labour was to pick a pen, a book and WRITE. I did!!!! I STARTED WRITING but I did not make it known. One of the challenges I faced as a person was that I was scared to showcase my talent, I didn’t believe in myself as a person that I could do a lot of things without necessarily having encouragements from people. When I realised there were lots I could do with my write-ups, I fought my fears and started writing for the whole world to see. I am my No1 fan, my encourager, my motivator. I became everything I needed to get myself going.
One of the lesson I have learnt is that waiting on people and waiting for people to give their comments will only bring you a step farther away from dreams. I waited too long for people to give me a go-ahead or tell me what is right and wrong which delayed me but now I know better. People shouldn’t be the basis for you starting something. You have all it takes in you to start something to pursue your career, to fulfil your dreams.
Writing has become the voice through which I express myself without any restrictions. I love writing and I don’t think I will ever stop writing again. It is what I love doing.

Thanks to Eden Benibo for this platform.
I am Cofie Grace Busayo. I choose to STAND UP, SPEAK UP and DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More thanks to you for sharing your story♥
You can find more works by Grace on Instagram @graycee_3
Or join her whatsapp group basically for female teenagers @09095951370
We look forward to seeing Grace shine brighter,
Illuminating the darkness in the lives of many.
Glow on dear!

You are a soul struggling to be heard, to be seen and to be whole. You are a soul craving for your own reflection through people’s eyes. Through their eyes, you had wanted to see yourself and find yourself but you had never thought of being a lifeguard who could save yourself in yourself. You forgot, you are your own salvation.

You are a bird being trapped and caged in a cage of societal conformities. You are their norms. You are their trends. You had always wanted to be in the clique because being alone is what kills you, is what drains you because their pointed fingers had countless time murdered you but you had always wanted to save yourself, then, you joined because you could not beat them because you could not outshine them but someone should have told you, that being among the crowd doesn’t guarantee company. It doesn’t bring wholeness.

You are a voice bent to silence. You had wanted to sing like the lizard and nod in appraisal to its tune like the lizard but these days, you wish, you could say something and do something even with silence. You wish, you could built walls from silence. You wish but like the snail, you crawled into your shell because you are being careful of societal expectations: of what many would say but you have known that, in this track of yours, you are alone. You are made to sing. You are met to trigger a will. You are met to spoil yourself. Adore yourself. Present yourself gifts.

Love is your fear. The inevitable, you had taught yourself to run. Every now and then, you ran because, to love is to surrender. Most times, you question, the ‘whys’ in love: you question the need for surrendering. But in this geyser of yours, you envy the other side, you wanted love. You crave for it with passion. But you forgot.. Love is a plant planted in your garden. A plant, which you are accountable to because self love is the pyramidal peak of all love. It begins from one first before spreading it to the world. You should have birthed yourself in this mystery that love emanates when you begin to love the loveless. When you begin to love beyond human. Love pets. Love books… LOVE! JUST LOVE!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uche Blessing🔔
A writer, perpetually engulfed in fresh muse untold.
Blessing is currently an undergraduate studying Mass Communications at the University of Benin.
She stands amongst the few who sit on truth unshakably.
I describe her as a voice growing in the depths of love and sincerity for humanity. Yet a again, we found another Hueman; who paints words with colours of truth…

Glow on Blessing🥂
We look forward to seeing you soar higher!

Mercy Ololade🔔
Here’s a young lady whose heart is plunged in a selfless determination to thrive. She is a graduate of Food Technology from Yaba College of Technology.
Beyond the whirlwind of life, Mercy has stood strong~ with zeal rooted in passion untold. Without lingering on the borders of defeat, she has grown to become a source of strength; motivating herself and others. To this end, she is also known as – Team Touching Lives. I see her as a light burning bright; illuminating the dark paths in the lives of others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes! Mercy writes too..
Today on Express~Shun
She tells us an intriguing story of her Life As A Writer~~~~~~~~
Here’s her story🍃

My Life As A Writer

Music was and is still part of what makes me breathe, especially when it comes to writing lyrics. As a kid I used to write short songs, I wrote my longest song at eight.
Writing songs wasn’t difficult cause I’d find a rhythm to the lyrics afterwards but I had problems with my English Language. I could speak well, I could spell even the longest word but I couldn’t put what I knew together into a piece. I slept with my Oxford Advanced Leaners dictionary and The Punch Newspaper was my closest friend.
When I started feeling lonely – I was not close to anyone and I needed to share my burdens and feelings but no one cared, because they felt I was too young to have anything to say – I opted for the only solution I could think of, I started putting my thoughts, feelings and ideas into writing.
Sometimes I’ll write articles, some times poems, other times it could be stories. At first it was tiring but I enjoyed it more after someone read one of my articles some twelve years ago and he was whaoed. He didn’t know how to express his excitement, he just gave me some money. I can’t remember what I wrote exactly cause I was way very young but I remember it was something about MY FATHER.
Since I started enjoying the feeling to write, it became interesting. In fact I started writing quotes which I used to share and it brought me an opportunity to meet different people who don’t mind how young I was but were Keen to know what quote I’ll drop at any time.
The Challenges
Sometimes I go blank. Nothing is popping up in my head especially lately when I have to think about a lot of things at the same time.
Laziness too. Like I’ve been procrastinating this article since I was informed about it.
~Environment.

My environment doesn’t appreciate writers. Some people even think I am daft for being a writer.
Another very heartbreaking challenge I’ve had is people trying to take advantage of me. Since they know it’s my passion, they tend to want to suffocate me into their plan (the act of using people).
Another one is selling my idea out for stipends(it’s devastating)
I KEEP GOING
I know who and what I am.
I am my own motivator and I won’t stop till I become a Global voice that touch lives. That is what keeps me going.
I can proudly say that I’m a writer who though started writing because she was lonely and frustrated but today I’m a writer who’s a victor and who is stronger than she used to be.
My voice cries wisdom
My ink speaks knowledge
My paper gives understanding (when read)
But only to those who are wise enough…
I’m a writer~ This Is Me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awesome Dear!!
.
Now here’s what I didn’t add earlier~ Mercy volunteers for a couple of Foundations to reach out to people. She is a member of YALI Network , an advocate against emotional abuse and a lead partner at Jola Couture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glow on Mercy🥂
We look forward to seeing you shine brighter🍃

Collins Jatto🔔
A gifted soul, whose heart is plunged in a quenchless desire to acquire knowledge. Collins is currently an undergraduate studying Crop science at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
He has walked through the slippery aisle of life, in search of PURPOSE and finally found it at the edge of where he least expected.
Paradoxically, he developed an intense passion for writing; which is an art he initially disliked.
In his words “Writing became my breath and the voice I cry through…”
Today, Collins stands as one of the rising voices in Nigeria, spilling inks encased in truth and positivity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s another Friday!!! Today on Express~Shun
We have a highly motivating story By Collins Jatto
Here’s the full story~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How I Discovered The Writer In Me

I recently read a book by JOHN C MAXWELL “How successful people think” while reading this book I saw a quote He cited “learning to write is learning to think” this got me thinking -” what writing really is to me”.
You know the lay man would say writing is an activity where one is allowed to express his or her thought,ideas or opinion by written words but to me I would say writing is creating a world and painting it with words; enabling people picture and hold it with their thoughts.It’s a task and craft that involves careful handling of words.We live in a world where words are shot in to the atmosphere before a gun is ever triggered.Since the history of man, written words have played crucial roles in transforming individuals and also causing wars between nations.Words are the air the human mind breathes and a misunderstood written word may end up being a sword to the minds of men.I do tell people words spoken once may be forgotten and never recovered but words written once never looses its life,it gives sight to the mind of a reader in the present age and it’s a light that leads the way to a greater innovation in the mind of a reader in ages to come.Words written never misses the next generation.This is why ” writer’s are unique people whose words are clothed with their soul(deep felt moral and emotional nature) and passed as written message to the world.That’s why great writers though dead; still live in their books.

There’s a popular adage which says “a young boy who constantly follows his father to the farm will soon engage in the act of planting” I was once a boy who never loved writing but I knew was gifted with the art. At first, writing to me, was like cooking without using seasoning. I couldn’t express the writer in me, even when I tried so hard to do it, until a book titled “Understanding Potential s” by Dr Myles muroe found me.Yes ,truely it did found because at that time in my life I was preparing for my post-utme and it was three weeks before my exams so I had no intention to read other books apart from my textbooks but I couldn’t help the way a friend of mine who was also preparing for the exams read the book with zeal.I was curious and I needed to understand potentials too, so I joined the race.”All men are sent to this world with limitless credits but few draw to their full extent” this quote from his book inspired me to discover the writer in me and more.From that day writing took a different form in me as Anais Nin would say “If you don’t breathe through writing,cry out in writing or sing in writing then don’t write because our culture has no use for it”. Writing became my breath and the voice I cry through.As a result of my desire to improve my writing skills, reading became the tool I used in learning to write.I began to see the spirit in every writer’s words.Reading became an avenue for me to dine mentally with the men of great intellect. As I constantly consulted them I became aware that inspiration doesn’t come alone while we walk or talk it becomes clearer while we work(write).I could remember clearly that my first fable was born out of my boredom on social media. I decided to write on anything then the topic ” the sun,moon and stars of ones life”came and surprisingly I passed it as message on what’s app and the replies were lovely I became motivated to do more.The inspiration came the moment I decided to write.

One of the hurdles a writer would encounter is framing each sentences and passing the message in a way the readers would relate to,it’s like creating a world crafted with words from the readers mind as Maya angelou would say “the idea is to write so that people can hear it and slide through their brain into their heart.Also as a writer one would have to be a great thinker to create something beyond the ubiquitous write-ups .In all, I believe writing is an art that breeds change and it’s not limited by a person’s age,it’s fun!.Write to create a change in people’s lives and create a change that can be written in the tablets of men’s heart by your deeds.
Collins.J

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We look forward to seeing you shine brighter!
Glow on Collins🥂
Greater Heights!!

Ekpenyong Peace Henry🔔
A young lady I describe as an epitome of strength untold. She is an up-and-coming African writer, studying English language at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Her life has shown that behind those beautifully written words of a writer, lies a heart that has been through all and sundry.
Growing up in a society where the art of writing is regarded as the ‘third side of a coin’ which is believed to have little or no ‘significance’, the choice to write becomes a choice to fight; fighting a rescheduled schedule of war in a battle field where arrows of deterrent words fly by day and swords of a dilapidated economy puncture the zeal and will to write not just the rite but the right.
Rather than confine herself to the claws of self pity. Peace has chosen to infuse positivity (through her words) into not just her life but the lives of those around her.
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A lovely piece written by Peace will be ‘the pioneer’ on ~ EXPRESS~SHUN today.
Here’s the inspiring story of her life as writer~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY JOURNEY THUS FAR AS A WRITER
I was asked to do this write up. It’s a challenge for me because it is meant to reveal my interest in writing, reawaken me and prepare me for new discoveries. Am I set for this? Yes, I think so, Yes, I know so.
My journey as a writer didn’t just start automatically. I didn’t just know I’m a writer, I wasn’t born one either, though the gift of writing was deposited in me by God, never knew this at the beginning of my life but with time I got to realize this.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN?
I first realized that I loved writing in my Junior Secondary school days. I loved it when the teacher dictates in class, oh I really like it even up till this moment. I also hated it when the teacher writes on the chalkboard because I barely could see it, it was later I discovered I had eye defects. I became the “fastest finger” in class because I could grasp things fast, immediately the teacher gets to his last sentence I am there and just when he is about to start the next sentence I begin with him. This is where it all started for me, I became excited and it was very interesting because being a new student I became the teacher’s favorite.*** I was later introduced to Literature in English and English Language, a platform where I could explore my mind, imagination to paint a picture either in essay writing, letter writing or in retelling and analyzing a story of a novel or poem. I enjoyed every bit of it because it was my foundational stage. I wasn’t mindful of the grades it earned me but was more fascinated about my write ups and storyline. I asked myself times without number if I was the one who wrote each piece.
Little did I know that these experiences was just a stirring of the waters deep inside me and there was more on my inside yet to be discovered. It became difficult to attain admission or entrance into a University in Nigeria. After several attempts, I got discouraged, depressed, broken and in despair. Loved ones didn’t help matters, they constantly nagged, complained, insulted and compared me with my other mates who had gone off to school and I became very frustrated. I locked myself in, was reserved, and resolved to self pity and condemnation because I wasn’t encouraged. Then I discovered BOOKS- Motivational and Inspirational books, they built me up encouraged me, gave me a reason to be hopeful and never give up. These boosted me and I became tough, in a bid to defend myself from constant deterrent words from those around me, I took to writing. I poured out my disappointment, frustration and grief on them and told them why I needed encouragement more than insults, they realized their mistakes and stylishly came to apologize but not the real way though. I felt light and free because I was able to unburden myself . Emotionally this was a healing process for me, I later channeled my negative writing habit I had and developed it into a positive one. I started writing to people on their birthdays. I’d write a whole profile about families, friends, and other close pals. I’d write about why I thought they stand out, why I cherished them and why I believed they’d go far in life and sometimes I even showed them steps in which they can attain these heights. How I did this I couldn’t explain? This new exercise was a breaking point for me because I felt fulfilled when I made people laugh, cry and gave them hope and encouraged. I also was amazed at my choice of words, arrangement of paragraphs and the content of my message amazed me. I realized I had great potentials so I made this a lifestyle. Every birthday, only few people got these though but they were close to my heart and my style of writing appalled me. I wrote people’s names into acronyms and I explained each letters in-depth. Some returned with tears in their eyes and appreciation cause they never knew or saw themselves the way I painted and described them. It gave me a sense of fulfillment, joy, happiness and I felt honored.
This was the start of something new for me, a turning point, so I made writing an hobby, a daily thing. I spoke on several issues like the nation, life, youths, lifestyle, children, parenting, love, death etc. I posted some of these on my Facebook page. Friends started insulting me “you can write for Africa”. Also got the opportunity to speak to youths in church through the “Youth Ushering Unit” which I spoke passionately. Ideas kept flowing in daily, I kept writing and if I got an urgency in whatever I had to write no matter how hard I procrastinated I wrote it down. I kept reading books and developed a reading lifestyle, I opened myself up to opportunities, attended seminars, trainings and was forever available to do anything to improve myself and writing skills.
When all is said and done I hope to be perfect, skilled, and more improved. A better version of who I am presently. I am a work in progress, open to new ideas, new adventures and experiences, new skill and development. I believe I’d get to where God has set for me if I keep pressing.
Thanks for making me do this. It was a time of refreshing and rehabilitation for me. God Bless You!!!!
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Wow!
God bless you to dear!!
Did I mention that Peace has a sonorous voice?
Yes!! She sings too!!
Glow on Peace
The world is in due need of the hue in you.
Let it shine!🥂