{"id":8506,"date":"2021-03-21T16:04:54","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T16:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/venu4445.local\/?p=13"},"modified":"2022-08-01T15:49:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T15:49:56","slug":"koi-poetic-the-symbolic-tempo-of-kahelia-smellie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/koi-poetic-the-symbolic-tempo-of-kahelia-smellie\/","title":{"rendered":"Poetic Koi"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8506\" class=\"elementor elementor-8506\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-476f23ab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"476f23ab\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43452fbe\" data-id=\"43452fbe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d5411d elementor-author-box--name-yes elementor-author-box--link-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"0d5411d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/author\/kami-sloan\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">Kami Sloan<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cc8c100 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cc8c100\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.12.2 - 23-04-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit;\">Photos by Yanni de Melo\u00a0 |\u00a0 Poetry by Kahelia Smellie<br \/><br \/><\/span><\/p><p>Kahelia describes her poetic journey as \u201cliving vicariously\u201d through her work. Just as the Koi, Smellie\u2019s literary cadence symbolizes the struggles one has to confront and overcome in their own lives, society, and culture.<\/p><p>When catechized about her inspirational artistry, \u201cImages flutter across my mind like butterfly wings. A few of them simplistic in nature and others are complicated and nuanced. These images tell a story of character and object, personification, and how the emotions are being expressed. Once the images and emotions become enounced, I can clearly articulate the emotion and write it down before the frame fleets from my mind.\u201d<\/p><p>The prominence of Smellie\u2019s opus is defined by her cultural heritage. \u201cMy identity as a Black woman, most importantly as an Afro-Caribbean woman, is how I navigate the world and compass my experiences.\u201d Kahelia is also influenced by family and friends-The intricacies of their relationships, mannerisms, and tribulations of life. Her poesy tapestry is like a dream-weaver that invokes compassion, with an intense yearning for hope and optimism. \u201cIsn\u2019t that what we all dream and grasp for?\u201d<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11032\" src=\"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/44A3018.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p><h3><strong>Reconciliation<\/strong><\/h3><p>Who are we to defy the reconciliation of humanity?<br \/>As we spew hatred from mouths enraged<br \/>Backs turned against each other in anger<br \/>Despair and restlessness colours the air<br \/>No sun shall set in a city<br \/>While it is drenched in darkness and fear<br \/>A child sits in the corner of the unknown<br \/>Eyes glazed in wonder<br \/>As the world she birthed into<br \/>Prefers agony over joy<br \/>Division over unity<br \/>No more are we listening to our neighbor<br \/>But dancing in the desperation<br \/>Of others who cry out in mercy.<\/p><p>How do we turn the tides to reconciliation?<br \/>From marred bruised flesh<br \/>To streams of golden glory<br \/>Of descending suns<br \/>From ancestors who fought for freedoms<br \/>For our liberation<br \/>Rendering it our birthright<br \/>To be free.<\/p><p>We navigate the complexities of humanity<br \/>To fashion a world of continuous growth<br \/>Tailored to each and every mankind<br \/>Who dares to exist infinitely<br \/>Steeping in the knowledge and truth<br \/>In which we are all but one<br \/>So, we walk in the direction of the path laid before us<br \/>Uncertain of the twist turns of the unexpected futures<br \/>The past our lessons<br \/>A guide for our land<br \/>Where we not only see the similarities in our brother<br \/>But the beauty of differences in our sister.<\/p><p>Who are we if not humanity joining hands?<br \/>Clenched and grasped<br \/>Standing shoulder to shoulder<br \/>Laughing joyously and profoundly<br \/>In the daring wonder of humanity<br \/>Rendering our mere land<br \/>Brilliant in the blazing light of healing<br \/>Unifying all who dares to hope<br \/>Who dreams in the descending sunsets<br \/>And rise together in the morning sunrise.<br \/><br \/><\/p><h3><strong>Untaught Lessons<\/strong><\/h3><p>No one warned us of the transformation from girl to womanhood<br \/>From frilled white socks to needle thin heels gliding over polished wood<br \/>Oh! How the days and years past by relentlessly<br \/>Scraped bloodied knees in sand filled boxes transitioned into lonely heartbreaks<br \/>Of tear stained eyes searching for the comfort of our youths<br \/>Wishing of simpler times of unbridled and untamed innocence.<\/p><p>Oh! Why our mother failed to warn us<br \/>Of the world\u2019s cruel intentions awaiting for us<br \/>How willingly we traded goodnight kisses for scarlet bruises<br \/>From assured love to complicated situationships<br \/>From boy cooties to one-night stands in a stranger\u2019s bed<br \/>From early nights to late nights of anxiety.<\/p><p>No one warned us of the lessons and pains we had to bear<br \/>Of the fake smiles plastered masking intense insecurity<br \/>And while we sit sipping delicately pinkies up under starlight<br \/>We fear the walk to our cars and into our homes<br \/>Because there awaiting us in the shadows<br \/>Are the monsters which we were never told.<\/p><p>And whilst the years relentlessly passes us by<br \/>We evolve tirelessly but profoundly<br \/>Clutching our girl-childhood fantasies<br \/>And holding steadfastly of wisdom aged old pearls.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photos by Yanni de Melo\u00a0 |\u00a0 Poetry by Kahelia Smellie Kahelia describes her poetic journey as \u201cliving vicariously\u201d through her work. Just as the Koi, Smellie\u2019s literary cadence symbolizes the struggles one has to confront and overcome in their own lives, society, and culture. When catechized about her inspirational artistry, \u201cImages flutter across my mind [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8506"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8506\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/venumagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}