Ms. Grace Nichols’s childhood experience of culture in literature that’s normal for Brits, but foreign to her, like snow, made me chuckle. It is also the same case for me. I started my first english literature with Ladybird’s Peter and Jane. Playing with imagination was fun for me at that time, since I was reading stuff I didn’t know.

“What Me Mudder Do” reminds me of singing “Ummiku Sayang” when I was in kindergarten, gleefully. In Malay language, the song is about how much I love my mother. They both repeat simple rhymes with a motherhood appreciation theme.

I can’t help but reminisce about my innocent past when I hear Grace Nichols’ work and voice. Her vibe reminds me of my English teacher, maybe that’s it.

Thanks for your reply, Hollie.

|| If you feel comfortable, it would be wonderful if you could share some of your own poems with the podcast via the discussion forum! ||

I would love to. Here is something that I came up with after hearing Dr. Kevin recite some poems.

**What colour is your voice?**
by Alzat Abkar

What colour is your voice?
Some just a tone,
Understated pastels,
But the wave touches the world.

What colour is your voice?
Some have a contrasting hues,
Shine always,
But the vocalness humbles the soul.

I enjoy colouring the voice,
Mixed with feelings,
Stirred with experience,
Forming a rainbow of writing.

Punctuating a song without sound,
In a canvas with personalities,
Then ask the heart again,
What colour is your voice?

**-**

As for connection with Tuesday with Morrie; it may be due to the way Dr. Kevin describes eating breakfast with a respected figure (his father) in a melancholy way, just like Mitch, a sports journalist who brings food to his old professor, Morrie, whenever they meet. I recalled Morrie describing his perfect day as “a nice breakfast”. There are some conceptual parallels between the two. My two cents.

“Verbal photography”, what a word! I felt the same way every time I wrote a poem that contradicted my beliefs or personality. Some people probably felt weirded. It is like Dr Kevin said, sometimes you act like a “voyeur” of other’s experiences, rather than just expressing your inner self.

Contrary to Dr. Kevin, I don’t mind having my “voice” masked with other people’s poems. I believe developing oneself is a circulatory process with surroundings. You give your attention to other’s voices, which influences your own. Rather than a one-way street, it would develop your voice to become those who influenced others. It’s an amalgamation of experiences, in my opinion.

I don’t know why, but Dr. Kevin’s “And I miss their laughter” reminds me of Tuesday With Morrie by Mitch Albom, haha.