A LETTER TO TEJU-COLE

Dear TC,

You will permit me to address you by your initials even though i am in no such capacity to familiarize with you given your prowess in the arena of creative writing.

I must say I was eager when I picked up the 8 letters to a young writer, hungrily ready to devour every content to the detail even though I do not consider my self a young writer for I feel I am more of an infant still on breast milk. My appetite was sated

The humility and composure that you deploy in the 40 pages of golden wisdom is still a wonder to me for many would easily slide down the path of pride if they knew what you know.  You emphasize that you are not qualified to give me (us) advise and that is what qualifies you because a wise person is he who knows that he knows not.

Like the tablets Moses carried bearing the ten commandments I shall carry these letters and like the law they shall not depart out of my mouth and i shall mediate on them day and night as long as I consider sticking to the lonely path of creative writing. These shall be my grandmother to use as I wish.

I know you wonder why I write, it is not merely a praise of your beautiful diction or excitement of a lover who finds beautiful words they can share with their lover but a letter to my self, this is a letter to me through you. A letter of assurance that learning is a life long process and I should be willing to learn and un-learn. I have acquired a new lens through which I view my world, it is not a third world country like the one you cherish yourself it is my home and I should be Fearless while I present it, i should use my inward voice together with my artistry to enjoy the freedoms that the pen grants.

Allow me bid you farewell for I could write a million letters from yours that’s what happens when I am amazed by literature.

Yours truly 

T.OKILENG