Forget It
A collection of poetry and prose poetry about the experience of writing and being a writer.
It slowly became disrespectful, saying that writing is just “for fun.” It could be for others, but somewhere along me knowing, I could be the mouthpiece of God, scribe to someone’s legacy, enchant someone’s fate into being, or even asking what if God ran out of destinies to give and assigned someone my words to live? – Writing became a purposeful burden. The ideas began to pound heavily in my head, words began to weigh in my mouth, and my hands ached differently when they wrote.
What to me was what I didn’t know or an attempt to create a life-like God, sometimes, even at a loss of words, was someone’s “I know” or “I can relate” and “Thank you.”
Oyindamola Shoola | Forget It
Published October, 2020
Writing is a therapy, a solace, the home for our wandering thoughts. In her work of art, Oyindamola shows us this and more.
As she intuits, "Writing doesn't need a voice or crave to be the voice of and for anything...it trespasses without climbing over fences-giving you an invitation into your kind as though you haven't liver enough to know the windows from the doors..."
Each verse of this collection is a journey unto wholeness, a walk with the author into discovery or not. Any reader should brace up for an exhilarating ride spiced with an array of exciting emotions.
- Emmanuel Faith | Author, Lagos doesn't sleep
Forget It reads like a monologue between the writer and an audience, say God, say writing. Writing thus becomes a vehicle, a tool that serves as a language - as in writing is the language of all things that had to end before I come; writing also shifts into a verdict - everyday I write, I sentence myself. With this poetic offering, Oyindamola engages the reader in a discourse-toned dance that ensues when a writer investigates possibilities in writing.
- Emmanuel Michael | Author, Lagos doesn't sleep
Oyindamola has done an amazing job at being the writer's writer. She exposes readers to the secrets from the backend of the writing experience in a way that only an experienced hand can. She praises writing and the written word in such an elegant way that carries both readers and writers along. Anyone who appreciates art in whatever forms it comes, would enjoy this wonderful work.
The title, Forget It, by itself is curious. No one invests in a book project - a collection of great thoughts such as these - only to turn around and use Forget It, is a title. I can't forget that. That was my first impression. It made me say, who is this?!
And then, you go on in the book to confirm my impression when you say:
“it’s nothing” but tell you everything. Or, I say, “it’s something,” maybe tell you everything but also say “forget it” too quickly before you become a part of my chaos willingly and painstakingly remind me of my lack of will in belonging to it. This is something but forget it."
And that's the tone with which I read the book. Of a real voice, of someone sharing, yet holding back from sharing. Of hurt, of cares. This is a battle everyone fights once in a while. Communication. It's great that you picked that up and dished it to us. We'll done!
- Seun Lari-Williams
Author, Garri for Breakfast
Oyindamola's writing is her ''language, her mother—tongue; one that she goes home to and leave home for.'' Her language is sharp and witty with the music of harps & flutes. ''Forget it'' is her new tune, an invitation into that home. Come with her, stay with her.
- Henneh Kwaku