Leopold Senghor

[Jill]

Originally, I was going to choose my own poet, as I wanted to start work while I was at a workshop starting 1st August.  But I couldn't make up my mind!  So I decided to stick with my assigned poet.  Unfortunately, I have never heard of him, so have had to do some research.  That's not proved easy as he wrote in French, I believe, and although I have found some English translations, they are way over my head!  This was a black African man who was the first president of Senegal, much of whose work appears to involve images of black women.  I am a white woman who comes from a country which heavily colonised large parts of Africa and stripped them of their resources, so it's no wonder I find it difficult to relate!  I am persevering at the moment, trying to think of some imagery I can use.  I'm trying hard not to give up, as the point to me of signing up was to stretch my creative ideas.  Wish me luck!

A challenge helps us grow, so I wish you luck. I was assigned a poet I knew nothing about and glad I was as it gives me a chance to learn. Your sounds more challenging but hopefully some word or phrase of his will resonate with you.

Thank you for those words of encouragement.  I hope you are making progress with your poet.