{"product_id":"smiles-in-pathos-and-other-khainga-ookwemba-9781926906164","title":"Smiles in Pathos and Other Poems","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003ci\u003e Smiles in Pathos and Other Poems \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e is a collection of selected poems by Khainga O'Okwemba. The poet stands on the opposite ends of his contemporaries because of his faith and reverence in the traditional forms of poetry. He is intimately Augustan in craft and romantic in idealizing the poetic forms. The poems are written in three models divided into separate books, with each book sub-themed. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e In Book One we have the celebratory short poems called \u003ci\u003e Poems of Homage \u003c\/i\u003e which are inspired by the poet's admiration of canonical African writers: Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Chris Wanjala, Peter Abrahams, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Ayi Kwei Amah, Denis Brutus, Christopher Okigbo, among others. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e The Incidental poems in Book Two called \u003ci\u003ePoems of Known Tradition \u003c\/i\u003e, adopt identifiable forms; rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, repetition, stanza, terza rima, sonnet, and which take on socio-political themes. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e In Book Three we find the mock epic narrative poetry with the title \u003ci\u003e Pearls of Laughter\u003c\/i\u003e. The narrative poem needs first to be enjoyed as a love story, and as a satire. Every piece has a life of its own. However, the work is well appreciated when the fragmented pieces are united into one, a feat generally admired by the poet. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003e What others say \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \"Here on our road a great mind sings freedom to open wings in clouds of cyanide over horizons; mists at crusted duties serving deities of latest power of invaders come to drink our Nile. Khainga is our new Moran!\" \u003ci\u003e - Prof Okello Oculi, Ugandan Poet and Distinguished Professor of Political Science \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \"Khainga has shown his unwavering fidelity to traditional forms of poetry.\" \u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003e - Lennox Odiemo-Munara, Literature Lecturer, Egerton University \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \"By returning to traditional forms, rhymes and language of poetry, the contemporary Khainga breaks convention in the most simple, profound and elegant way - this is what makes his work distinctive.\" \u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003e - Kadija Sesay, Sable LitMag Publisher\/Chair African Writers Abroad\/ - Chair International PEN Women Writers Committee \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \"Khainga O'Okwemba's narrative songs do not come to us in a condemnatory voice. They are rendered in quiet satire, most of the time pleasing to the ear. He constantly redefines his role as a poet, recording as he does the slices of life and expressing life's message in the ever-renewing medium. Khainga O'Okwemba is the embodiment of the new subtle optimism which the African requires to face the new forces in his own ironical words.\" \u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003e - Chris Wanjala, Distinguished Professor of Literature, University of Nairobi \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e About the Author \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e Khainga O'Okwemba is a celebrated Kenyan poet and one of Kenya's most prolific, influential and outspoken literary commentators in Nairobi. He is a journalist and columnist with The Star newspaper where he pens the weekly column, \u003ci\u003e Literary Postcard \u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e Khainga O'Okwemba has worked with print and electronic media since 1998 when he first joined the editorial team of a provincial magazine called \u003ci\u003e The Youthview\u003c\/i\u003e. His poetry, essays and articles have been published in daily newspapers such as \u003ci\u003e The Sunday Standard \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003e The Star\u003c\/i\u003e, He is a script-writer for television and radio host. Khainga is the Treasurer of International PEN Kenya Chapter. \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e The volume \u003ci\u003e Smiles in Pathos and Other Poems\u003c\/i\u003e is the first publication of a selection of Khanga's poems. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Khainga O'Okwemba\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1926906160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781926906164\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Nsemia Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/15\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 142\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.33d","brand":"Khainga O'Okwemba","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48437148221695,"sku":"9781926906164","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_879b672c-9c88-43b0-9b81-872a771ea87c.jpg?v=1777160193","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/smiles-in-pathos-and-other-khainga-ookwemba-9781926906164","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}