By Ivan Pereira
Shazim Nasim said he has always been interested in reading and writing, but when he got the chance to read the works of a Beatle, he became more inspired to express himself with words.
The 14-year-old Thomas A. Edison Career-Technology High School student recently published a book of poems titled “I Wish for a Day of Good” and has been excited about the feedback he has been getting.
“It feels good to know that other people can read and like your stuff,” he said.
The 30 pieces contained in the paperback came from Shazim’s imagination and he got the idea to write those poems from music legend John Lennon. About a year ago he read the former Beatle’s book of poems, “In His Own Write,” and was enthralled with his writing . Nasim decided he wanted to emulate the artist.
“I read some of his own poems and started to like it a lot,” he recalled.
For about three months, Shazim, who lives in Jamaica with his mother, stepfather and younger brother, came up with ideas for different poems that added lighthearted humor to everyday situations. In one poem, a boy is waiting endlessly for a bus to take him home and the long wait time is making his mind wander.
“He’s thinking about all the things he could be doing because he’s angry. When the bus does come, he gets on and he realizes it’s the wrong bus,” the teen said.
Other poems are less grounded in reality and are original fairy tales written by Shazim. The teen said he had tried several times to write full fictional works in the past, but could not get his mind on what he wanted to do.
“Most of the time a new idea would come up and I’d want to write about that instead,” he said.
In addition to the words that appear on the pages of the book, which went on sale last month, Shazim also drew several sketches for the anthology, including the book’s cover. The boy’s mother, Sherry Doman, said she saw her son’s creativity at a young age and pushed him to hone his writing skills.
When she found out Shazim would be published, she said she was proud of his work.
“You have to keep them occupied academically,” she said of her children.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
