Poetry Wednesday 04/02/08: Sleep My Baby

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Empire of the Sun is a 1987 English language epic film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, and Mirand Richardson. It is based on thenovel of the same name by J.G. Ballard; the film’s screenplay being adapted by Tom Stoppard and Menno Meyjes. The film was critically acclaimed, being nominated for six Oscars and winning three BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Cinematography, Music and Sound. Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 01/23/08: Thomas Campion

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Above: Conrad Kiesel (1846-1921), The Lute Player , oil on canvas. German A Tribute to Thomas Campion   The English poet, composer and doctor Thomas Campion (1567-1620), established his reputation as a poet in the 1590s and published his first songs in 1601. He wrote and composed masques for royal entertainment, particularly after the succession of King James of Scotland to the throne of England as James I, and was unusual in that he wrote both words and music for his many songs with lute accompaniment. Campion’s musical legacy consists entirely … Continue reading →

POETRY WEDNESDAY 05/14/08: Out Here On My Own

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Fame was one of my favorite movies growing up. It was funny and serious at the same time. Fame is a 1980 musical film conceived and produced by David De Silva, directed by Alan parker, and written by Christopher Gore. The film follows a group of students through their studies at the New York High School of Performing Arts beginning with their audtions all the way to their graduation.  The film is split into sections corresponding to auditions, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.  Irene Cara, one of … Continue reading →

POETRY WEDNESDAY 08/13/08: Paradiso by Dante Alighieri

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Right: Dante Alighieri painted by Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510). Click to enlarge. Dante Alighieri, or simply Dante (mid-May to mid-June 1265 -September 13/14, 1321), was an Italian poet from Florence. His central work, The Divina Commedia (originally called “Commedia” and later called “Divina” (divine) by Boccaccio hence “Divina Commedia”), is considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature. In Italian he is known as “the Supreme Poet” (il Sommo Poeta). Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio are also known as … Continue reading →

Poetry for the loss of a pet: Rainbow Bridge

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Rainbow Bridge author unknown There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth. It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills, valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies , the pet goes to this special place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 10/29/08: Three autumn poems by Robert Frost

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Autumn Trees by Laurita A New England October can have days that seem like winter. In this poem, frost wants to put off those wintry days and keep the golden fullness of autumn. He speaks directly to October, in a kind of prayer.   October by Robert Frost  O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall To-morrow’s wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call To-morrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 09/03/08: Daniel Pearl remembered through poetry and music

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Daniel Pearl recognized the ability of music to bridge differences among people. In the spirit of Pearl’s love of music and commitment to dialogue, the Daniel Pearl Foundation (formed by his family) launched the first Daniel Pearl World Music Days on October 10, 2002, which would have been Pearl’s 39th birthday. World Music Days is an international network of concerts using the power of music to reaffirm our commitment to tolerance and humanity. It is an “awareness raiser,” not a fundraiser. There is no financial … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 03/18/09: Piedra de Sol (Sunstone)

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Piedra de Sol’ (Sunstone) is a poem by Octavio Paz, written in 1957. It was praised as a “magnificent” example of surrealist poetry in the presentation speech of his Nobel Prize. It has been translated into English by Eliot Weinberger, this translation was published in 1987 as part of the collection The Collected Poems of Octavio Paz, 1957-1987. In 1991 this translation was joined with the original poem in a single volume published by New Directions Books (New York). This edition also featured illustrations of … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 03/04/09: Crucifixion

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Introduction: The Crucifixion,” an epic tragedy supposedly inspired by the lives of Jesus Christ, John F. Kennedy, and Dylan that still stands as one of the most relevant, poetic, inventive, and defiantly ahead-of-its-time pieces of music from the entire 1960s decade. To say the track is “apocalyptic” is to put it mildly: lyrically Phil Ochs manages to perfectly illustrate (even through the most surreal and chaotic imagery) the perverted desire of humanity to have someone be simultaneously hero and scapegoat.  Crucifixion by Phil Ochs And the … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 08/06/08: Only Breath by Jalaluddin Rumi

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My friend, Heidi, posted this poem, “Only Breath” by Jalaluddin Rumi for Poetry Wednesday many months ago. I was very moved and inspired by it, and I would like to repost it and dedicate it to the Poetry Wednesday group.     Jalal-ud-din Rumi is the most popular poet in North America. Nearly every poetically minded person who is anyone quotes him. However, he is not an American. Furthermore, he did not know anything about America when he was alive. He was born Mawlana Jalal-ud-din Mohammed on 30 September, 1207, 285 … Continue reading →