My [creative] writing journey commenced in early childhood, when mobile libraries were utilised by schools to encourage children to read.
I am forever grateful to my initial primary school in Suva for engaging with the mobile library initiative so each Wednesday morning, I had the honour of awaiting the beloved mobile library bus to visit the school.
It was a treasure chest treat for me to browse the shelves and read the books that captivated my attention.
I have not seen a mobile library bus in Suva in a few years but I certainly hope the initiative continues in other areas of Fiji, where accessibility to a library/resource center is a challenge for students.
The mobile library has to be one of my fondest memories from my early school years in Fiji.
At home, the learning environment was similar. My father, who was a graduate of literature and language, amongst other graduate course syllabi and therefore, instilled the value and virtue of reading [which also entailed grammar, spelling and eventually, writing].
My father’s work tenure abroad meant that I had to depart Fiji for a few years and leave behind the beloved mobile library bus visits each Wednesday in school but of course, the learning now continued abroad at a new level. I had to be in attendance during his weekend classes at home in literature and language [amongst other subjects]. It was compulsory!
There was a miniature home library with shelves adorned with his university study books, including poetry books by renowned authors from around the world.
We also had access to other learning resources, through mediums such as films and specific television programmes for children.
In school, we had library visits and creative writing was an essential genre in the English class syllabus. Alas, the school library visits were limited by factors such as time and teacher availability and my parents made the decision to continue the library visitations on selected days, after school hours.
They also made the decision that I should now read books from sections for older children and that decision was final.
My mother selected the most suitable books for me to read – mostly biography and autobiography books on renowned persons so that “I could learn about their lives and strive for similar achievements in my own life.”
That is the introduction story to my commencement into [creative] writing but it certainly is not the conclusion!
Upon our return to Fiji, my father presented me with two gifts – the first gift he had purchased from travels abroad – The Diary of Anne Frank. I was in my senior years of primary school when he presented the book to me, with the advice that I continue with my readings in Fiji.
The second gift was a copy of The Fiji Times. I was soon due to attend secondary school and it was certainly a timely gift. The gift of The Fiji Times was also wrapped with advice – read the newspaper so as to prepare for secondary school and for life. Focus on the domestic and international news sections first and foremost, so that I was aware of my environment. Do not overlook those sections for the comic and sports sections!
I will be forever grateful for his guidance and encouragement.
All the moments of learning are now cherished memories.
Poetry writing
I have been writing poetry as a creative pursuit since 2022. I had several penpal friends residing abroad who wrote in prose, which was most fascinating to me. Thus, I began to write back in prose to surprise [impress] them and to my own surprise – I was soon writing full-length poems myself.
My poems are composed mostly from personal observations about life, nature, people, my creative interests, situations and events around me and of course, by spirituality.
To date, I have written forty-five original, unpublished poems.
In school, my preferred genres in English class were essay writing and assessing short stories. I preferred not to study poetry despite our home bookshelf being adorned with poetry books from renowned poets. I was still a fan of story books, with Charles Dickens being my favoured author.
His observations of life during his time; particularly the rapid changes to society introduced by the industrial revolution in Great Britain in the Victorian era captured my attention, from a sociological perspective.
I continue to visit libraries and resource centers in Fiji and abroad to this day. Alas, I have noticed in Fiji that many such places of learning have low membership, unless children attend on pre-arranged school visitations. This is a sad and alarming situation for the future of Fiji.
The literacy rate in Fiji used to be quite impressive but with the introduction of modern technologies, children are increasingly becoming distracted. Alas, many parents do not emphasise the value of reading, writing and spelling skills either and are reliant on the school system only to impart knowledge to their children.
Writing can be a viable career option. From journalism, story-book writing, free-lance work to the publication of written works for public learning and development.
Such initiatives will hopefully also encourage Fiji to continue to raise her literacy levels.
Poem 1: Moments and Memories
This poem was inspired by the Circle of Life – The Wheel of Dharma.
LIKE a ship at sea, some people yield a degree of control over their [life] journey and some people must endure turbulence when the tide turns.
Dependent upon the dharma of a person, sometimes the sea is calm throughout the journey and alas, sometimes, there is chaos to endure.
Therefore, devotion to the universal law[s] as a sacred duty to the way of life – virtuous thoughts and deeds – will align and attract positive karma.
Such a positive alignment will beckon blessings of a renewed life-force, which will usher a life transformation – growth and enlightenment.
Life is lived in a sequence of moments and when our labour is complete and our day is done, our existence and presence is a chapter in the book of life – a collection of memories.
In the end, all moments – precious or precarious – become memories, for people to share with others; to reminisce in solitude; to teach lessons on or to learn lessons from.
Hopefully, our final purpose in life is to leave a legacy of wisdom from our experiences and knowledge.
Life is lived in a sequence of moments and when our labour is complete and our day is done, our existence and presence is a chapter in the book of life – a collection of memories. Picture: WWW.PEXELS.COM/ Raul Ling
A.Nand
