LIFE IS A POEM

About the Book

LIFE IS A POEM is a collection of Tuese Ahkiong’s favorite poems, doodles, photos and songs. It’s a little window into his story. Included are Bible verses from the ultimate Poet Himself, God. The Scriptural passages relate to these different inspirational episodes of life and shower them with divine truth. Tuese likes to call these special occasions, “The Sighs of Life” because they have romanced him to write of the moment. He also feels a duty and obligation to compose for the soul of man in hopes that his words will resonate life, pleasure and enlightenment. This book is a collage of life, death, love, dumps, romance, purpose, meaninglessness, the funk, controversy, transformation, depression, salvation, worship and song. Each poem will be followed by some thoughts about its motivation, circumstance and background. There are many great experiences that one can connect with as these expressions help move the soul to know that life is a poem.

About the Author

Tuese Ahkiong is a man of faith in Jesus Christ. He has been an ordained Christian minister/ teacher in San Bruno, California from 2000 to the present, 2011. He has an A.A. from C.C.S.F. and a B.S. from Excelsior College in Liberal Studies. Prior to teaching he was a missionary with Hawaii Youth For Christ from 1997-2000. Ahkiong is the director of ARM: Always Ready Ministries, a discipleship, evangelism and apologetics ministry. At a young age he demonstrated exceptional athletic skills. He was a 2-time San Francisco All-City Football Running Back. He also succeeded in “the art of boxing,” as he likes to call it, in becoming the U.S. National Golden Gloves Super Heavy Weight Champion (98); 3-time U.S. National Bronze Medalist (85, 94, 2000); 7-time state champion (5-time State Golden Glove Champion (94, 96, 98, 99, 2000), Junior Olympic State Champion (85), ABF State Champion (2000)). His successes in boxing enabled him to share his testimony and story with thousands of young people.

Tuese has a variety of interests and hobbies. He enjoys singing, cooking, martial-arts, hiking, dancing (salsa, cha cha, swing, hip hop), photography, creating and playing group games, philosophizing, Disc Jockeying weddings and parties as DJ 2e, and especially, teaching God’s Word to youth and adults.

Another avenue Ahkiong expresses himself in is the sportswear market. He trademarked the name, “THE M.A.N., Modeled After None.” It is Ahkiong’s desire to direct his company to create positive images and messages to permeate the atmosphere. THE M.A.N. stands for excellence.

“The Spoken Word Slamma Jamma” is an open mic event Tuese created back in 1999. The name is not to be associated with “poetry slams where people are in verbal battle” but “poetry showcases.” It’s just a catchy title pulled out of his bag. He wanted a venue where people could display their creative skills and enjoy a time of music, fun, games, and artistic expressions. The experience itself of “The Spoken Word Slamma Jamma” would be its own artwork as observers would compose together an evening of creativity. He hosts The Spoken Word Slamma Jamma’s every few months at local coffee shops, books stores, churches, colleges, and dessert parlors like Sweet Connections. ;-)

Creative expression became a passion to let his soul flow as he was seeing poetry everywhere. He started immersing himself with other hearts in different streams of expression: dance, guitar, acappella music, song composition, graphics, drawing, t-shirts...and BOOM: The Spoken Word Slamma Jamma!!!

Come and get your fix and taste the dancing of souls in the collective smorgasborg of creative expression. If you are interested in seeing Tuese as well as others recite and perform their works live or on video, contact Tuese at tuese.ahkiong@gmail.com.