INTERNATIONAL: CANADA: An Interview with Michael Thon Piok, Award Winning Poet. #SouthSudan #SSudan Thon Piok is a fourth-year chemistry student at the University of Toronto Scarborough on a World University Services of Canada (WUSC) scholarship. Hes an incredibly talented writer, and takes readers through an incredible journey of his life. His writing has been so captivating, that he has received an award from the City of Toronto for a collection of poetry he wrote based on his growing up in Kenya. He is one of seven UTSC students and graduates to win the prestigious City of Toronto International Student Excellence awards. The award is designed to recognise significant contributions that international students make to Torontos economic and socio-cultural development. Categories include entrepreneurship, community service, academic excellence, sports, arts and culture and professional achievement. Speaking to UTSC, he said, I love to explore Kenyan village life and culture in my writings. Moving to Canada has given me a different perspective, but the countryside is where I am from and those themes inspire my work. In an interview with Talk of Juba, Thon was able to discuss a little bit more about his passion for writing. ToJ: 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself MTP: Im Thon Piok, a South Sudanese, and there are so many other smaller identities. Im also a 4th year Student pursuing a BSc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus. ToJ: 2. Where did your inspiration to start creative writing come from? MTP: I liked stories, and I think it went on subconsciously to want to retell them or jot them down for people. But, consciously, I think it will mostly likely coincide with my high school years, I read a lot of literature, especially the short stories. From all over the world. I read short stories from the likes of Ama Ata Aidoo, from Ghana I think, Jawaharlal Nehru, from India, Anthony Trollope, I dont know from England or where. ToJ: 3. What topics do you like to discuss in your writing? What inspires your poems? MTP: Im a little over the place, I poke the fabric of society once in a while, traditions, religion and of course the politics and all the paraphernalia of daily lives. But I lean more towards stories. Stories about us, about our people, who we are, what we are, how we have lost us, what we ought to be. You know, stories are us. ToJ: 4. You are a fourth year chemistry student yet you enjoy creative writing. How do you balance the two different passions? MTP: I try to juggle them a bit, I see them as different perspectives of the ultimate reality that we need. The language instinct and the science instinct are not that at odds really. ToJ: 5. Where do you hope to go with your creative writing work? Where do you hope to see it some day? MTP: I dont know for now, but for sure I will keep writing. I will just watch and see where this goes, hopefully to somewhere helpful both to me and others ToJ: 6. You were chosen as one of seven UTSC students and graduates to win City of Toronto International Student Excellence awards. How did your friends and loved ones react and how has the award inspired you? MTP: It was huge, congratulations came from all over. I was in jolly jocund when I first got the email, family was overjoyed. I perceive this award as an encouragement to my writing development, to me myself and anyone out there who may or may not be on shelf. ToJ: 7. Do you have any advice for aspiring poets? MTP: I would say read widely, write often, practice polishes, do not compartmentalize yourself into a form of poetry, consult with the authorities in the department, and above all the message. Here is a sample of Thons works: Wholl speak for the Weak!? At Addis, look at both the teams, able men, in neat suits and ties, shining shoes contemplating their dreams of acquiring or safeguarding the power within their reach, but none cares to speak for the children, women and the weak!? For all the reckless statements said and all the sentiments aired the women and the weak have paid and experienced the full measure, but at Addis wholl speak for the children, women and the weak!? They can go ahead continue to disagree on all the nitty-gritties of power allocation or on this and that decree, they can go ahead burn time but none is going to speak for the children, women and the weak!? For all the propaganda they feed to the air and their outlets only the weak are going to bleed and pay the full price but when are they going to start to speak for the children, women and the weak!? © 2014 Thon Piok [An imploration to both parties to speak for the sufferers of the recent conflict, and not for their parties] © Talk of Juba
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:54:07 +0000
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