A Place to Call Home!

Fady Joudah is a Palestinian-American poet, translator, and physician known for his profound work in poetry and literary translation. Joudah has contributed to global health efforts, working as a field member of Doctors Without Borders, dedicated to humanitarian efforts bringing medical care to those in need. He was born in Austin, Texas. The son ofContinue reading “A Place to Call Home!”

What of the stanzas we never sing?

It was a silly conversation between myself and my mentor some 40+ years ago. We were sitting in his study just a few hundred yards off Princes Street in Edinburgh, and the conversation began quite serious concerning the “after life” but as it progressed with both of us trying to reach for words that didn’tContinue reading “What of the stanzas we never sing?”

…and longing, yes, this most of all;

Sitting on my desk and due to be returned to the library is Franny Choi’s book of poems The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On . I posted that poem a few weeks ago and today I will post a second choice.The poem Things That Already Go Past Borders, is really a seriesContinue reading “…and longing, yes, this most of all;”

Dance, that ye need no other day!

After a severe storm last night I am hoping summer is not too far away. I think of fireflies and butterflies. In summer days I marvel as the sun sets and the darkening night is lit up with fireflies! Appearing and disappearing, shifting places with one another! A timely reminder of the beauty all aroundContinue reading “Dance, that ye need no other day!”

“Like thread through a needle”

Separation Your absence has gone through meLike thread through a needle.Everything I do is stitched with its color. W.S. Merwin 1927-2019 From a giant of a poet spanning nine decades I delight in one of his shortest poems. We are not told much in the poem but we feel the sorrow and the joy inContinue reading ““Like thread through a needle””

The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On!

THe World Keeps Ending and the World Goes OnBefore the apocalypse, there was the apocalypse of boats:boats of prisoners, boats cracking under sky-iron, boats making corpsesbloom like algae on the shore. Before the apocalypse, there was the apocalypseof the bombed mosque. There was the apocalypse of the taxi driver warpedby flame. There was the apocalypseContinue reading “The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On!”

“…seagulls are grounded”

“How To Speak Love In A Storm?” How to speak love in a storm?depends on the substance of the voice,as the trees rageand roof tiles smash,where seagulls are groundedand there is only chaos. How to speak love in a storm?is to put up a signpost for the lost,as on the bitter hillsideyou lie murmuring,‘Why isContinue reading ““…seagulls are grounded””