Writing Poetry...

[Sola Osofisan]

Do you go through multiple drafts before the final version? How do you know when to stop touching up the poem...

[Kabura Zakama]

I keep at it for quite a number of times. Many times, I even don't find the time to come back to it for a long time. If the poems starts out as an idea to pass a message, then I stop tweaking it when I know I have said my message. If the poem starts out on the spur of an inspiration, then I just feel it when it's ok. Once I am convinced the poem is ok, I then date it. But my brother, sometimes the touching continues even after the poem has been published! In this case, I say 'this poem was completed on such a date and time but it has been retouched at such and such a time.'