User:Jazhar/Ladan Osman

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Ladan Osman, a first-generation Somali American poet, shares her unique voice and incorporates her heritage, experiences, and culture into her literary works of poetry. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Osman moved to Ohio where she was surrounded by both Somalis and East-African cultures. She has inspired her audience by using her poetical talent to discuss universal themes that range from somber and grave subjects to love and resilience. Osman’s contributions to literature plays a significant role for people to understand the life of African immigrants in this westernized world.

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Osman's poetry draws inspirations heavily from her childhood and cultural heritage. She was influenced by her parents, especially her mother, who used figurative language to make topics like violence seem more communicative and add more flavor to the discussions, especially topics like violence. The inspirations of her book come from her observations of everyday language in her childhood and is involved in the storytelling by her parents. Later in her career, her familial and cultural ties shaped her outlook on communicating her works to the audience and narrative expression. This early exposure to creative language allowed Osman to experiment with different themes. Not only does Osman's poetry discuss about personal experience, but her literary works also reflect her understanding and emotions on societal issues as well. Universally, many people discover Osman's books, connecting the barriers to expose truth all over the world. In comparison to other African Poets, Osman stands out as her own unique voice with an interest in societal problems. In addition, it increases the significance of Osman's presence among the African Poets community and her literary contributions offer new perspectives for the readers in her collection of poets.

Exiles of Eden

Osman published her book "Exiles of Eden," one of her well-known books in her collection in 2019. In this book, Osman incorporates a different set of themes such as rape, racism, immigration, and complexities of life. The book features illustrations to describe the experience of the displacement. Among those pictures, Osman includes an illustration of her birthplace facing destruction and severe damage due to violence in the United States. The illustrations add depth to the poetry by inviting the readers to feel Osman's emotions and the adult realities faced by communities through her poetic expression. The poem she described in the excerpt expresses the feelings of those who have faced such discrimination in the western world, especially African Americans. One of the lines from her poem is as follows: After all, America has broken my heart. This English is sufficient."  The line highlights Osman's disappointment in America and that she will always be seen as an immigrant.

My Father Drops His Larynx

The poem, "My Father Drops His Larynx," is heavily influenced by the bond she shares with her father as a daughter. Osman writes the poem with rich language that paints a picture of how fragile human existence is. The purpose behind this poem is for Osman to write and explore on surreal topics like loss, fear, and death. At the time of the writing, her father was healthy, but she writes "My Father Drops his Larynx" as an imagination of her father in an elderly figure dealing with health decline. Through this poem, Osman has brought attention to the importance of familial relations and reflects on the inevitability of her parents passing away.

Conclusion

Overall, Osman's work as a daughter, teacher, and poet has made a great impact on the readers by shedding light on her societal observations, personal experiences, and cultural traditions. By analyzing different themes in her literary works that range from love and fear to resilience and immigration. Her dedication to educating the world about political and societal topics through her books like "The Kitchen-Dweller's Testimony", "Exiles of Eden", and "My Father Drops His Larynx," allows readers to resonate with the emotions in the poetry and offering broader information about her experience as a Somali American in the United States.