The City Root

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“Manifest” by Cynthia Dewi Oka

Cynthia Dewi Oka uses her unique experience to put visceral aspects of the human experience into her poetry. A jack of all trades, the single mother is a writer, editor, educator, and activist located in the greater Philadelphia area whose words and actions have directly and positively influenced her community. This is exemplified in many of her award-winning works and lectures, but perhaps none so poignantly as in her poem “Manifest”.

“Manifest” follows the life and emotions of a migrant woman and feminist. A woman who needs to see the picture; who doesn’t let the opinions of others affect her own. We follow the character through her life as a mother and as a person who gives without limit. The last line, however, is the most stunning of the whole work.

Ghosts light up her life.

The meaning of the line is up to interpretation, but what’s so amazing about it is that there are so many answers. The ghosts could be people she knew and is now separated from by distance- they could be the remnants of the things she gives up to help others or of the life that would have been available for her in a different place.

We all have those ghosts.

The imagery in this poem transports you into the woman’s mind and, even without being a migrant or feminist, you sympathize with her. You relate to her. 

You feel for her.


Moonstone Arts Presents - Philly CAM Interview

In this interview—put on by one of our favorites, Philly CAM!—Cynthia reads several poems after an awesome conversation with Charles S. Carr, the host of this edition of Moonstone Arts Presents. This interview further showcases Dewi Oka as a high-level thinker, a dedicated educator, an epic poet. It also confirms that her eyebrows are always on point!

She starts reading around the 36 min mark below.

Read more of Cynthia Dewi Oka’s work on her website and her Instagram.





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