Writer, poet grateful for second chance at life

Before Olivia Polite became ill, she was not a writer.

Shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Unique, in May 1991, there were postnatal health complications, and Polite of North Charleston lapsed into a coma for 2 1/2 months.

Jasiri Whipper/The Post and Courier

Poet and missionary Olivia Polite is author of "Unique and Divine Poetry."

She doesn't remember much about that time and is reluctant to share some of her memories about her life before the coma, but she believes the illness changed her, and she is grateful for a second chance at life.

Polite, 43, is now a writer and a poet. She admits that before the coma, writing was never her strength. Her inspiration to write comes directly from God, she said. Last year, Polite published her first book of poetry, "Unique and Divine Poetry," through Authorhouse publishers. Polite, who has one other daughter, Amber, said she has hundreds more poems that she hopes to publish.

But when she began writing, she found herself puzzled by her newfound gift for words.

"I didn't understand that at first," she said. "I thought I was just writing down things that came into my mind."

It wasn't long before she was writing every day at all hours of the day and night. The words just come to her; they flood her mind and she is compelled to put them on paper.

She writes in her poem "Dedicated to God": "I never even thought about writing poetry, but by being/Humble and Obedient I'm doing God's will/In my life joyfully."

Polite cannot work because of health complications, and her days are filled with family commitments, church work, prayer and writing. She often travels to local churches to share her poetry.

Yolanda Shine says she is proud her cousin persevered against the odds to publish "Unique and Divine Poetry." Polite does not yet realize the importance of her work in the lives of people, Shine said. She often takes the book to work and reads many of the passages for inspiration. "God has just blessed her so much, I'm just amazed," she said. "It's all about uplifting people and touching people's hearts."

"Unique and Divine Poetry" is available online and at local bookstores. For more information, e-mail oliviapolite@yahoo.com.

Reach Jasiri Whipper at 745-5863 or jwhipper@postandcourier.com.