University student writes poetry book that aims to heal broken hearts

A University of Fort Hare student has penned a book sharing her personal painful journey with the hope that others will find it healing. Anathi Kom, who is pursuing a degree in animal science, said her poetry book had messages that reignited hope for those who had lost it.

Kom said she had experienced it all, but through visiting her traumatic chapters and writing more, pain and trauma were eased.

Her book, The Tree of Life, touches on how she was raped and conceived a child as a result in her teenage years, but still chose to live beyond the pain.

Kom, who lost her mother when she was young, said the poetry touched on her lossese and her life in poverty.

Her healing journey started when she was in grade 10, Kom said. Every time her heart was heavy, Kom said the perfect place to go to was her book, and when she revisited what she had written, life made sense again.

“I lost my mother when I was eight and was raised by my

grandmother.”

Kom said in every painful chapter she reflected and wrote down what she felt, but the motivation for her book was her grandmother, who had held her up each time when hardship struck.

Kom said when she sat and wrote poetry it was a way of saying “yesterday is gone, people must be ready to embrace tomorrow”. “Writing has helped me to keep going despite all the odds,” she said. “When I needed to escape the pain and the triggers, I ran to my book.” The author said the book reminded her how she had survived the odds. “Poetry makes it possible for anyone going through a rough patch to heal.

Through writing and reflecting on everything that had happened, she said, she had found peace.

“I learnt to let go of what had happened and move on.

“This is because I do not want to inflict on my daughter any of the pain I felt when I conceived her.”

“Though I was raped and made pregnant at the age of 18, I still love and appreciate my daughter.”

Her greatest aspiration for people who read the book to realise they can be destined for every good thing.

Kom said people needed to believe they mattered.

Each and every obstacle they encountered had to be a lesson in their lives.

“It does not matter, the history or what horrible experience you have encountered.

“Believe in yourself more than anything, hold on to yourself. Because if you do not, you stand to lose it all.”

She said as she went back to pour her pain into her book when she felt broken, she realised she wanted her painful experiences to benefit others.

“I have learnt to live above the pain. What matters at this point is the finish line — winning even when the scars of pain are evident.

“To everyone who will be reading it, I hope they win despite all their traumas, pain and poverty.”