MasterClass Writers with Selwyn Milborrow: Recent Episodes
Selwyn Milborrow
Selwyn Milborrow is the founder of MasterClass Writers, the home of creative talks about writing and publishing. The office is based in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Members are from SA, US, UK & France.
I wrote this poem on the day of Luca, my grandson’s birth.
Poem for Luca Daniel Milborrow
16 August's cradle holds a treasure so dear,
Luca Milborrow, a grandchild, a radiant light and clear.
A great-grandchild, a fresh beginning's embrace,
His life's canvas painted with Ma Eva’s smile and grace.
May wisdom's gentle streams guide his way,
Luca's gifts and talents twinkle like stars above,
And his heart brimming with boundless love.
Luca’s life, a blessing with laughter's sweet embrace,
His name whispered in the world's ear,
A melody of hope, tender and sincere.
With each dawn's rise, his purpose will unfold,
A beacon of hope, a tale to be told.
Blessed be Luca to bring light to each day,
And his parents’ love, a guide to a brighter day.
© 2023 Selwyn Milborrow
Barend van Vuuren was a poet introduced to me by his cousin, Nadan Naidoo. Barend was welcomed into my MasterClass Writers group and quickly became a popular character. He was sensitive, intelligent and a great human being. The recordings were aired by fellow poet, Don Beukes on his podcast a week after Barend's passing. I would like to pay tribute to Barend with this episode. A big thank you to Don Beukes for giving me permission to air these last recordings of Barend.
South African authors, Selwyn Milborrow and Bevan Boggenpoel released a new book Madiba’s Quotes & Anecdotes: Reflections and Conversations. It honours Nelson Mandela through his quotes, anecdotes, and commentary. The authors use Madiba’s 27 quotes to reflect on his 27 years on Robben Island and beyond. The idea for the book came about during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Boggenpoel shared his vision for the book with Milborrow, and they immediately started sharing their poetry and commentaries. They looked at 27 quotes shared by Nelson Mandela, as a political prisoner, freedom fighter, leader, president, and peacemaker during his lifetime. Madiba’s quotes and his unique leadership style have always inspired them. It comes through very strongly in the book. The poetry in the book is linked to the quotes of Madiba. Commentaries in the book tie in with Madiba’s quotes, and the authors’ own experiences during apartheid.
“This book comes at a time when true leadership has become a scarce resource around the world. The authors honour Madiba’s legacy through beautiful poetry and commentary. If this book touches only one life, then Boggenpoel and Milborrow have done their duty.” - Luthando Lucas, author of I AM.
South African authors, Selwyn Milborrow and Bevan Boggenpoel released a new book Madiba’s Quotes & Anecdotes: Reflections and Conversations. It honours Nelson Mandela through his quotes, anecdotes, and commentary. The authors use Madiba’s 27 quotes to reflect on his 27 years on Robben Island and beyond. The idea for the book came about during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Boggenpoel shared his vision for the book with Milborrow, and they immediately started sharing their poetry and commentaries. They looked at 27 quotes shared by Nelson Mandela, as a political prisoner, freedom fighter, leader, president, and peacemaker during his lifetime. Madiba’s quotes and his unique leadership style have always inspired them. It comes through very strongly in the book. The poetry in the book is linked to the quotes of Madiba. Commentaries in the book tie in with Madiba’s quotes, and the authors’ own experiences during apartheid.
“This book comes at a time when true leadership has become a scarce resource around the world. The authors honour Madiba’s legacy through beautiful poetry and commentary. If this book touches only one life, then Boggenpoel and Milborrow have done their duty.” - Luthando Lucas, author of I AM.
gedicht voor veerle, els, en anne-sophie
onthoud je nog?
weet je nog hoe we samen
hand in hand uit de schoolpoort kwamen
onafscheidelijke vrienden voor altijd?
niet?
wacht, ik weet dat je luistert
ook al is de verbinding verbroken
weet ik dat de pen genadig zal zijn
om de keel haar stilte te breken
en ‘n gedicht voor de dag vannacht
in het zuiden van afrika wegzakt
op een blad papier om te geven
aan drie belgische dichtersvrienden…
© Selwyn Milborrow, 2021
Port Elizabeth poet and children's author, Chantal Sam Moodaley reads her poem 'Love at first fight'.
I would like to make a case for the repatriation of the remains of Arthur Nortje, a poet from Port Elizabeth buried in Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford, United Kingdom. He died of a suspected barbiturate overdose on 11 December 1970. Dennis Brutus, Nortje’s mentor, claimed that he had died from an overdose of forty-five barbiturate tablets while other sources vary in the details of his death. The coroner, however, declared an open verdict because he believed that his death could not have been accidental.
Cecilia Potgieter, a Coloured domestic worker, gave birth to Arthur Kenneth Nortje on 16 December 1942. The father was “a young Jewish man named Arthur Kaplan who was thought to be the son of Cecilia’s employer” (McLuckie & Tyner, 1999). Nortje spent most of his childhood years in Korsten and Gelvandale, two areas in Port Elizabeth he wrote about fondly in his poetry.
The discriminatory apartheid system under which Nortje lived, had a devastating impact on him. Sadly “Nortje found himself between two opposing forces of Black and White while Coloureds were reduced. Coloureds were disenfranchised by apartheid laws and distanced from all others”.
Nortje took a one-way exit permit in 1965 after receiving a scholarship to attend Jesus College at Oxford. It was during those years of isolation that his poetry started showing signs of deep psychological insight as he searched for meaning to his existence. Arthur Nortje was a complex character and tragic figure. He used his sharp powers of observation to write about life. In 2004, Dirk Klopper wrote that “Many studies of Arthur Nortje's poetry have commented on the prevalence in his work of images of alienation, seeing this as a function either of political conditions in South Africa in his lifetime or of Nortje's exile from his home country.”
Introducing my new poem "Child of Africa" read by Angelique Angie Simons from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Astonishing poetry performance!
My poem was inspired by an image by German Artist, Andrea Braun.
I had the honour of collaborating with the talented watercolour artist, Andrea Braun from Germany on her painting of a loving elderly couple that instantly captivated me. I immediately felt a new poem 'A love so beautiful' forming at the exact moment I saw Andrea's watercolour painting. In fact, I not only saw the words of the poem forming in my heart, but I felt it in every fibre of my soul. The poem's heartfelt words were meant to come together at that moment. Now it is forever embedded into this painting. Thank you, Andrea, for the honour of collaborating with you.
A lot of people struggle to give themselves permission to be creative. It is understandable because all of us are a little bit suspicious of our own talent. And you know what? That could be the beginning or the root cause of procrastination, but that for another day.
I have come to the realisation that my experience of doubting my own talent is not unique; it is something that I share with millions of people. However, in my thirties, I realised that life is too short and how we spend it is extremely important. It was then that I decided to just write and share my work with the world.
That decision changed my life for the better. I was offered a freelance-journalism job at one of the country’s top Afrikaans newspapers. And here comes the shocker; I did not even have the academic qualification for the job. Yes, it was just my writing talent and a decision I made to give myself permission to be creative that opened that door.
Allow me to share with you a few facts that will be a practical guide on how to give yourself permission to be creative: nobody can concentrate or focus when there is a lot of noise around them. In that same manner, your creativity will suffocate and suffer if it is plagued with noises from the outside. What noises am I talking about?
The noises could be self-doubt, negative inner-dialogue, and excessive self-criticism.
According to brain scientists, that this kind of noise activates the amygdala. The amygdala is often referred to as the fear centre of the brain. When the amygdala is sending that fear signals, it interrupts learning and decision-making, and sabotages the flow of creativity.
Friends, I hope this piece of advice will help you as you continue your writing journey.
Our MasterClass Writer, Chantal Moddaly, talks about identifying challenges and limitations as a writer.
My lockdown journal: Chronicles of a South African writer - The coronavirus has become our 9/11 and our Arab spring. The coronavirus has changed civilisation; it changed our imaginations. It’s a historic period because mankind will in future (now already) refer to a pre-coronavirus and a post-coronavirus period.
LockdownSouthAfrica
LockdownJournal
COVID19
Poet, Bevan Boggenpoel shares his thoughts on the drama around the Springboks visit to PE. He also talks about about his son who was chosen to play soccer for a top club in Port Elizabeth.
Our MasterClass Writer, Leroy Abrahams received the ‘Poet of the Year’ award at the Helenvale Star Community Awards 2019. God answers prayer! Well done, Leroy. All of us from the MasterClass Writers Group are proud of you knowing where you come from. A worthy winner. Victory is yours!
MasterClass Writer, Rozetta Whitting shares an inspirational story about her Down Syndrome son, Alvin.
Rozetta Whitting From MasterClass Writers interviews Alfred ‘Ploeksie’ Matthews. He is a poet from Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.
Selwyn Milborrow reads poems inspired by the Syrian war, Donald Trump, and the #MeToo movement.
It is not only writers that suffer from the negative results of self-limiting belief systems; it is everyone. Selwyn Milborrow shares some of his thoughts on this serious matter.
Selwyn Milborrow shares his poetry and the power of words that writers must be wary of.
Selwyn Milborrow of MasterClass Writers in South Africa, interviewed Don Beukes, formerly from Cape Town now residing in France.
Vir party mense is Susan Tiervlei die vrou wat komieklike stories vertel en sommer self daarvoor lag. Ja, vir my ook, maar daar is ‘n ander kant van Susan; die diep denker en digter wat skryf oor dinkdinge, en dit op ‘n unieke manier neerpen.
Susan Tiervlei gesels oor die skryfproses en lees haar gedigte: "Ek leef: deel 1 en 2" en "My liefste Daniel".
Rozetta Whitting, our MasterClass writer interviewed a friend who survived a stroke recently. Rozetta reads poetry to Judy Coetzee and shares some inspiring stories.
The excuse that you don’t have time in the day or evening to write is a dream killer. Share this podcast with the procrastinators out there.
Seven reasons why you need to write a book will give you more perspective and better focus as an aspiring writer.
For a writer to change lives, it’s best to start with yourself. Change won’t happen if you’re in a state of fear. Face the fear and keep writing.
MasterClass Writer, Rozetta Whitting recently started reading poetry to the elderly. She noticed that many of the elders were responding. They were becoming more alive. They were enjoying themselves. This is an ongoing project that we support Rozetta with.
Our youth needs support and inspiration in today’s world of unhappiness, confusion and challenges. This episode aims to cheer them up and encourage them to press on.
I wrote this poem to honour my grandma and other grandmas who loved reading to their grandkids.
Bernie Burrell shares her Afrikaans poem "Huisskoonmaak". She shares the joy and tranquillity of cleaning and being at home. Bernie makes one realise how a home can be the best place to be to experience peace and joy.
South African poet and educator Angelique Simons sent me a poem she wrote recently. Her poem titled ‘As a Man think so is he’ is filled with the power of thought. Her poem reminds of Proverbs 23 verse 7 from the Bible, and a book titled ‘As a Man Thinketh’ by James Allen. In this episode Angelique Simons shares her thoughts on mindsets and the ability to break through limitations.
This episode (6) is about abandonment issues. Abandonment fear often stems from childhood trauma or loss. This loss could be related to a traumatic event. It can also come from not getting enough physical or emotional care. It could lead to relationship issues when the child becomes an adult. The end result in most cases is that the child becomes a father causing the same damage to his children. Poet and educator, Bevan Boggenpoel from Port Elizabeth, South Africa shares the story about his father and a poem he wrote about it.
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behaviour among children and adults that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Port Elizabeth poet, Bevan Boggenpoel, sheds some light on the causes and effects of bullying on a person.
Poet, Bevan Boggenpoel recites a poem about the effects of a father's alcoholism on his child.
I enjoy and love discovering new talent in the poetry landscape. For this episode, I interviewed the talented Afrikaans poet, Angelique Simons. Enjoy!
In this episode, children's book author and poet, Chantal Moodaley shares valuable facts about how she experienced self-limiting beliefs and how to overcome it.
Selwyn Milborrow reads two new poems. Poem #1 is about President Donald Trump's controversial act of separating children and mothers at the Mexico/USA border. Poem #2 is titled "grandma loved reading poetry to me". It is about the effect of Parkinson's disease on a grandma who loved reading poetry to her grandson.
Technology addiction isn’t always easy to recognise, especially since many teenagers and tweenagers must now be plugged in so much of the time, whether for school, work or for other reasons. I wrote a poem about a parent’s dilemma with her daughter. It’s titled, “dear digital child”.
There are millions of people with self-limiting belief systems that prevent them from writing a book, or becoming a writer. In this episode I share advice on how to tackle this dream killer.
A healthy writing habit is crucial if a writer wants to write a great book. In this episode aspiring writers will get advice on how to successfully develop great writing habits.
Many books are written after careful planning. With this 7-step book planning sheet you can make your book a reality.
Self-efficacy and anxiety are obstacles to successful writing. In this episode anyone can use a 5-minutes exercise to relax the brain and in turn fight the fear and anxieties preventing anyone from writing.
Your words can open doors to so many opportunities and ensure a secure financial future as a writer.