My words speak for the oppressed, the silenced – Sabeeha Hussain

Sabeeha Hussain is a 23-year-old medical doctor, poet and author of the book, ‘Soul Unraveled: Rising from the Ashes.’ The Nigerian-Pakistani shares her fiery spirit for writing, the birth of her debut book and a lot more.   What pushed you to start writing?  Writing is something I have always done. I cannot remember a […]

Sabeeha Hussain is a 23-year-old medical doctor, poet and author of the book, ‘Soul Unraveled: Rising from the Ashes.’ The Nigerian-Pakistani shares her fiery spirit for writing, the birth of her debut book and a lot more.

 

What pushed you to start writing? 

Writing is something I have always done. I cannot remember a time when I did not write. I have scribbles here and there in my notebooks from throughout my childhood. My writing has always been a personal and private thing. It was never something I thought anyone would want to read. A few years ago, a friend of mine read some things I had written and pushed me to start sharing my work. That was how ‘Soul Unraveled’ was born. 

Speaking of your book, ‘Soul Unraveled: Rising from the Ashes,’ what did it take to write and publish it?

‘Soul Unravelled: Rising from the Ashes’ was born of pain, of growth, of self love and strength. I had already shared about 500 or more of my poems on Instagram by the time I decided I wanted to publish them. It took a lot of courage. I was scared for a long time, scared of being rejected, scared no one would like it and also scared of criticism. But I decided to do it, what did I have to lose anyway? That was the best thing I did for myself. I freed myself from the chains I created. ‘Soul Unravelled: Rising from the Ashes’ is my baby. It is themed after the mythical bird “the Phoenix” that supposedly burns to the ground and is reborn from the ashes. The book has six chapters which are – Spark, Ignite, Burn, Ashes, Embers and Rising. I published it in my final year of medical school, and I thought I would collapse from the lack of sleep. I was living my dreams but they were two very demanding dreams. I wrote at night and was in ward rounds in the morning. But it was worth every sleepless night. This collection is about finding strength within yourself, to rise from the ashes, when life burns you to the ground. 

In what ways has your poetry inspired or impacted the lives of others?

For those that know my writing, they know that my emotions and empathy gets the better of me. My writing spans across various topics. I write on love, loss, heartache, mental illnesses, abuse, child molestation, female genital mutilation, anger, injustice, women empowerment, slavery and war. I let my words speak for the oppressed, for the silent, for the ones that can’t speak for themselves. My work makes a lot of people uncomfortable, and I get backlash for it. But it means absolutely nothing because I have many more who read it and find peace in it, in knowing they are not alone in their pain. In realizing that there is strength left to be found somewhere in the ashes. If I can give hope, to just one soul out there, it is enough for me. 

In what ways do you think poetry can become more appreciated in Nigeria?

I see so much talent in Nigeria, but there is rigidity in what we consider talent. There is little to no encouragement when it comes to pursuing writing as a career. Children are not well nurtured in the arts department. Writing is a form of expression, it is an art in itself, it is food for the soul. We need to encourage it, starting from our homes. 

Which poems did you enjoy writing the most?

I really cannot pick one. I remember writing each and every one of them. I remember what I felt before, during and after writing them. I remember what brought about them. But if I really had to pick one, I’d go with the last poem in my book. I wrote it to my younger self, my sister, my future daughter, to everyone else out there. It is everything I teach my sister and will one day instil in my daughter. It is every word everyone needs to hear, to learn. We need to be ourselves, unapologetically. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?

Inspiration is all around us. It is in the break of dawn and the rays of light, in the soft breeze and the churning winds, in the roadside beggar, the little maids in our homes. In the innocence of a child or lack of it. The love of a mother and the strength of a father. Inspiration is in the air we breathe and lives we live. Life itself is my inspiration. 

Who are your main influences?

Every day I thank God for my parents. They are super supportive and have always been encouraging of my passion since I was a little girl. For most of my birthdays, I received loads of books as gifts, and they were always diverse, just like my interests. Having a book to my nose and ignoring everyone around me was not frowned upon (except when we had company). My best friends are my loudest cheerleaders. They have received the worst ends of my moods and somehow, they still stick around. My readers have been with me through a lot of ups and downs. I will not be where I am without them. 

What three collections would you recommend for an interesting read?

Nikita Gill’s collections, Najwa Zebian’s and Sylvia Plath’s. There are many more I love but at this very moment, these three top the charts. Ask me tomorrow and it might be different. 

What’s the most challenging part of writing poetry for you?

Time is the most challenging part for me. I do try my best to create time for it, but I never seem to have as much time as I would like. Maybe one day I would, maybe I wouldn’t, or maybe I would just learn to do the best with what time I have.