Gnomic Poetry and Innovation in Euphrase Kezilahabi’s Dhifa

Abstract

Euphrase Kezilahabi can be truly regarded as belonging to that category of poets in the world of creative writing who is innovative. This paper seeks to affirm that assertion by providing evidence of creativity and innovation in ‘gnomic’ poetry in the anthology Dhifa (2008). Innovations in gnomic poetry entail foregrounded features that are intended to persuade readers to be in accord with inventive changes in the philosophical thinking, yet the author, Kezilahabi, is himself the innovator and pacesetter of such transformations in poetry. We affirm that structural and philosophical innovations discernible in Dhifa (2008) connect Kezilahabi with other gnomic poets such as William Shakespeare, Ezra Pound and Nicannor Parra, whose standing in innovative poetic compositions is legendary.