You're It, Africa - Naomi Hyba

Tag, you're it, I said,
tapping him on the elbow,
and for the next three years,
he was.

He had the biggest smile
I'd ever seen,
gleaming white and proud
like the Cheshire cat.
He was the only
black kid in our class.
I asked him where he was from,
everyone told me not to.

In music class he played the drums,
shaking his head and groovin' to the beat.
Everyone said he looked silly,
but I thought he looked like a rock star.

Tag, you're it, I said,
tapping his elbow,
and for the next three years,
he was.

Author Profile - Naomi Hyba

Biography:

Naomi Hyba is sixteen and lives in Ottawa, Ontario. She loves singing in the shower, spaghetti, and PD days. She is in grade eleven of the Literary Arts Program at Canterbury High School, which she would like to recognize for its outstanding contribution to the arts.

Five Questions with Naomi Hyba:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I've been writing since I was little. For high school I was accepted into the Literary Arts program at Canterbury High School (an arts magnet school) and since then I have been writing poetry avidly.

2. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired you?

My favourite poets are Maya Angelou, William Carlos Williams, Tupac, and Michael Ondaatje. My inspirations are my fellow writers in the Literary Arts Program.

3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?

I hope to personally affect readers and cause them to challenge their value sets and lifestyles after reading my poetry.

4. What has sparked your interest in writing about Africa, and more specifically, Ghana?

Africa has a rawness and vibrant poetic quality that inspires both celebration, joy, and sadness. I was inspired to write about Ghana in particular due to my personal ties with the country, and the wonderful cultural experiences I have been able to take part in a result.

5. What do you think can be done to promote African literature, especially poetry, in Canadian high schools?

In my opinion local authors and poets are essential to the growth of any type of literature in a community. I think that to promote African literature in high schools, African-Canadian authors and poets should be read and discussed in the classroom. Instead of focusing on North American and European writers, teachers should select samples of literature from all around the world and not overlook the developing countries. High schools should continue their efforts to promote diversity in literature as well as in other forms of art.

Contact Naomi:

nhyba(at)yahoo.ca