My new book “POETA” is now available!
A philosopher, a pioneer, a prophet of possibility, and a provocateur of our collective consciousness. Breaker of dogmas.
10% of all Poeta sales will be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
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10% of all Poeta sales will be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East --------
Poeta
In POETA: Sonetas and Sonnets (TogetherInWitness; June 14, 2024), I invite you to experience the raw power of the Soneta—a revolutionary six-line form I've crafted to capture the complexity of our global existence. From the haunting echoes of war-torn lands to the quiet struggles of identity, from the searing heat of social injustice to the tender whispers of love across cultures, I distill vast emotions and urgent truths into concentrated bursts of poetic intensity.
Journey with me through six movements—Monsoon, Wildfire, Drought, Eclipse, Blossom, and Prisma—each pulsing with the rhythms of our tumultuous world. Confront the stark realities of conflict, feel the weight of existential questions, and emerge into the hope of renewal.
This isn't just poetry; it's a visceral exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century. Let the Sonetas challenge your perspectives, stir your soul, and open your eyes to both the beauty and brutality of our shared experience.
Order now to be among the first to witness this groundbreaking fusion of form and feeling—a work that dares to redefine the boundaries of contemporary poetry.
I know injustice and suffering intimately. As a boy, I lived under military dictatorships in my home country, Nigeria. At age 14, I moved to Italy with my family, yet struggled with the language barrier and lack of opportunities for people of color. After several challenging months, my siblings and I were treated to a vacation in Toronto, Canada. A few weeks later, my mother and youngest brother returned to Italy. Thanks to the resources of a family friend, my 12-year-old sister and I stayed—with a bold plan to start our new life in America. Together, under the cover of moonlight, we took a 15-minute speedboat trip on the Niagara River and crossed the wide-open Canadian border into the United States. We arrived on the shores of Buffalo, New York, as undocumented immigrants.
I quickly learned that “illegals” faced financial strain, social stigma, and barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and many basic rights. When our brother died in a drowning accident, my sister and I could not travel to Italy to see his body or mourn with our parents. Embracing the core American values of hard work and equality, I completed high school and gained admission into six colleges—but couldn’t attend any due to my status. In 2003, I enrolled in a local nursing school. Two years later, I graduated and passed the board exam. Despite my credentials as a licensed practical nurse, I was often thwarted by my lack of papers and spent nearly ten years working inconsistently and wherever available as an independent contractor. Out of frustration, I considered returning to Nigeria.
Fortunately, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program offered hope for a change. At last, my sister and I were able to obtain Employment Authorization Documents, Social Security numbers, and a path to citizenship. Inspired by the digital transformation sweeping the globe, I went on to study technology and cofounded a consulting services company. In 2022, I became a proud United States citizen.
Today, I am a tech entrepreneur who serves as a county executive-appointed commissioner on the Montgomery County (Maryland) Intra-Agency Commission on Homelessness.