Same Love, Different Languages
Self-ish March Newsletter
Hola Self-ish people!
February was such a full month here at Self-ish and we are so eager to get into March and keep telling amazing stories. As always, we are pleased to have you on this journey with us.
***New writer alert!***
We heartily welcome Juven Dunn, our first Jamaican on Self-ish!!! She has settled in nicely and is already thrilling us with profound verse. You should read her poem, Voices where she portrays the powerful hold that our inner voices have on our existence. In the author’s words, “these inward voices are always on the front line”.
February Prompt Responses
February was full of sharing love and pouring our hearts in more languages than one.
The prompt was:
Write a letter to a loved one, and sign it with a term of endearment in any language other than English.
And of course, Self-ish contributors delivered in grand style!
In Love is Simple, L’amour c’est Toi, Joan Amanwi reminds us that love is in the simple things; the virtue of your person, the honesty on your lips, the peace in your arms, the warms of your truth.
Sakeenah_T spells out her affection for her beloved in her piece Adun Mi, with over 5 different languages!
In Anderson, Beltusbebongchu pours out his heart for his bosom friend; one that has been with him through every season. To his friend Anderson, he says “Je te donne mon coeur”.
In 0392-Tiwalola, and Loverboy Tin Dem, Bate-Epey Ebai Tarkang is expressing undying love for a woman (arguably the same) in Yoruba and Pidgin English respectively. Read about love shared in ways that show how romantic our African tongues are.
Olólùfẹ́ Mi (My Love), is four statements of pure adoration, where Fọlábòmí Àmọ̀ó adorns his lover with endearments in Yoruba.
Àbẹ̀kẹ́ mi; please, let me spoil you with all I have.
Ngang God’swill N. brings us a wonderful piece, written in love to his mother in Mère Douce. He confesses that she has been everything and more and promises to live his life in testament to the love she has shown him.
Editor’s Pick:
Biemfor Bisi A. in So long, Versione Migliore talks about her amorphous friend; a friend whose existence she doubts but loves all the same, with a passion that has lived through the years.
More good stories from February
- Five Things Feminism is Not by Ngang God’swill
- Hope by Fọlábòmí Àmọ̀ó
- To be Happy by Bate-Epey Ebai Tarkang
- You Remind Me by Sakeenah_T
- Sacrifice of the Pre-Millennial Mother by Biemfor Bisi A.
March Prompt
We decided to start a new series of single-word prompts, and the first of these is Hope! We believe it is much needed right now in every corner of our world. You can read more about this prompt and any submission rules here.
Tell us what to tell you!
We are also open to receiving prompts from our dear readers. So, what would you like us to write about? Please respond to this post via email or here on Medium and we will make it happen!
Join Us
New members are always welcome. We are not only telling our stories but building a community. Our dream is to tell personal, authentic, and black stories. If that dream is yours, hit us up!
Check out our submissions tab for guidelines.
Welcome to March!
