Gayathir Kamalakantha Hi! I’m Gayathir Kamalakantha, I’m a Tamil poet based in London. I’m interested in how language shapes childhood and how we might use it to queer the future! It was only after listening to Dean Atta’s The Black Flamingo that I felt a sense of connection and validation through poetry. It was great to read scenes that asked questions I was too afraid to ask out loud as a child. It made me want to write poems that ask: Does normal even exist? What does it mean to be non-binary? What does it mean to be a refugee? Who makes up what is beautiful? Who gets to make up language?
I wanted to create poetry for children in which Tamil families, foods, rituals and vernaculars are reflected, normalised and valued. There is so much power in a joyful, silly, playful poem centring a child of colour, specifically because it resists the ‘marginalised’ narrative – Joseph is great at this! For me, being published in Spin and diversifying children’s literature more broadly means more young readers can grow up having never been othered. In Beginners I write:
Amma and I will never be native speakers / perhaps not even fluent./ But everyone starts somewhere / and we make fine beginners.
Many of us learn our family’s language as a second language after English. We learn to speak it in fragments, we struggle with grammar, we stop trying once we start school full-time. And then we might feel (in my case) less ‘Tamil’ because of it. I wanted to write a poem that encouraged the ‘beginner’ to keep going. At 30, I’m learning Tamil and it’s the hardest and most fulfilling thing I’ve done. I can now read and write the word elephant! It’s something my 10-year-old self wouldn’t have thought was possible. IG: @unembarrassable
Rowan Kiffin-Murray I began writing poetry after unexpectedly attending a workshop in my borough. Thoroughly enjoying the experience, I started seeking similar events, attending open mic nights across London and eventually mustering the courage to perform. Previously, I never considered myself creative or imagined reading my poems aloud. However, my deep interest in lyricism, language, and the diverse ways artists use words to convey emotions has always been present, influencing my own style. [Being involved with Spin] was challenging yet rewarding. I learned about writing for a younger audience, various poetry styles, and approaches. Learning from incredible poets, including Joseph and others who contributed to the anthology, was inspiring. Witnessing their
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creative process was incredible. While part of the program, I felt a genuine sense of belonging. Still, being a part of this book feels somewhat surreal. They give you wings to do the things you know you can achieve on your own. This line is from my poem Butterflies, addresses overcoming fear. I appreciate this line for offering a
different perspective on how young people view the feeling of having ‘butterflies.’ Hopefully, they can see it as a positive aspect. Growing up is nerve-wracking, but the biggest rewards come from overcoming that fear. Many young people may lack constructive reminders, so I hope this poem serves as a positive mantra.
Gayathir Kamalakantha.
Roan Kiffin-Murray. Spring-Summer 2024
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