a dose of Nectar
Today I attended my very first poetry reading, hosted by Word N Sound and The Cheeky Natives at the Braamfontein African Flavour Bookstore, and they brought us Upile Chisala where she was reading from her latest poetry book Nectar.
I bought Nectar as a present to myself after I finished writing exams as a self-love booster, and I was sad to have missed Upile’s first reading because she came through to SA mid my exam time. So when I heard she was coming back again, I had to get myself a ticket. And I did.
Before the show, Nectar had been a crucial resident in my handbag, and I would read it every time I got a chance to. Let it be in the bus on my way home, or at work.
I mean, there is always moments worth slipping a poem or two for.
During the show, sitting there with my friend at that bookstore, listening to Upile recite her poems was so therapeutic. I love how open and vulnerable she is through her writing. I personally think it takes courage to publish a book filled with so much personal truths. And I think the beauty in that, is how much her readers, myself included feel like she wrote all those poems specifically for us.
During her reading, Upile delivered one poem about chasing away bad love and said that we should get home and block those people out of our lives. For me, there was no one that came to mind but myself. That I needed to get home and work at loving myself better. If I were to summarise the whole poetry reading, I would have to borrow one of her poems from Nectar on page 7 that reads: ‘This is a gentle reminder to tend for myself’ – (P7).
Upile for me will always be a reminder to cater for myself, to love myself with a little bit more honestly, more tender and deliberately so every day.
I would like to grow into a space where I read this poem of hers: ‘’I see you. You’re not on this perpetual mission to destroy yourself anymore. I’m glad you finally think you’re worth saving’’ – And I can fully identify with it.
After the show, Nectar became a self-love lesson handbook because each poem demands me to love myself, to take care of myself and most importantly to forgive myself.
In conclusion, Upile is said to publish another book, either end of 2018 or beginning of 2019, and judging from the magic that Nectar is, I believe it would be just as amazing and healing as all her work.
