The Currency of the Imagination

“Are there gonna be strobe lights?”
“Yeah… in their hearts!”

This review is a bit delayed, but I attended a poetry reading by Suheir Hammad and the Palestinian Audiovisual group Tashweesh recently on the Southbank Centre’s “Imagining Peace” Poetry International 2010 event.

The introduction to Suheir Hammad, renowned Palestinian-American poet, and Tashweesh, audiovisual Palestinian group mentioned something about poetry being the currency of the imagination.  A very nice description I think… in a philosophical kind of way which can mean very different things to different people, but that’s what poetry is right?

Anyway… I’ve always loved Suheir’s poetry and the way the event was sold regarding Tashweesh, the audiovisual elements, etc. I was expecting something great.  The DJ of the group, MC Boikutt, is known to me too where a few years back I downloaded mp3′s of his work and his group, Ramallah Underground.  Well… I got something I really didn’t expect… you know the weird artsy thing some artists do where they use static and weird sounds as music, well this was something like that. With an added visual element, the images were jittery, incoherent and sometimes really scary.  I got a few pictures in my head which made sense… riding between two huge walls which looked like the Apartheid Wall in Palestine, and the other being a silhouette of flying birds against the backdrop of a picture of a leaky, dingy sewer.

The sounds also had the heavy constant bass in the background with the front notes being the scratchy static, which gave the unmistakable impression and feeling of oppression and anxiety. I think that is what they were going for but it went on a bit too long and later on in the set there was some elements showing of Boikutt’s previous work which actually had some beat to it before falling back into what eventually just became really irritating sounds and images lacking any further meaning.

Unfortunately in this context I feel that Suheir’s poetry suffered as well in terms of having that dark edge to them instead of the usual meaning.  Suheir, however, did save the show with her humour and personalising the event,,, “Yo London, make some noise! Thanks for your rainy Friday and the river”. The added element of randomly choosing her poetry did work in a way with Tashweesh and some of the audience picking random numbers which she then used to choose poems from her books.

It’s not just her words… but the way she delivers the poetry which makes the impact all the more potent.  The meaning becomes much clearer with her presentation than from plainly reading her work.

This always inspired me…

Before the movie came out I didn’t know Mandela used it to inspire him when he was at Robben Island. For years now this has been one of the poems I’ve used when I was down and needed to get up and get going. And I still think it worth posting up on various forums again and again.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Words

I hope these words spring worlds
For those who read them.

Break chains and change lanes
Amongst the current ideas which plague them.

I want to change systems
Overturn systems
Question the assumptions.

Break bread with uncertainty
And always strive for the epitome.

The poster of my life will show a huge boot
Stamping on the face of negativity, forever.
The imprint would show a path to a different future.

I’ll be standing with the strange,
Who were estranged for embracing change…
And now travel on new lanes, without chains
To different worlds
Sprung from words.

Tags: Poetry, Words, Change

Duality of Humanity Exhibition

Obey has this cool new exhibition in the spirit of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket i.e. the peace sign with “Born to Kill” next to it.

The title of the show is the picture above called “Duality of Humanity” of a kid soldier with a flower in his hat.

Very interesting imagery and something I love… Artistic criticism and commentary, all in one. The website looks pretty cool too :)
: Art, Activism, Obey

What was your favourite Limmerick as a kid?

I can still remember English Class… getting an entire lesson in the poetry section devoted to Limmericks. I also remember my favourite becuaause it was so ingenious…

There was an old man from Nantucket,
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
He had a daughter named Nan,
but she ran away with a man.
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

I loved that one and remember repeating it to everyone I met after that… as most kids do, some things never change :)

So what was your favourite Limmerick? or Haiku even… pick your poetic structure, just tell me. I love language and ingenuity.

And here’s a modern one you might not get, but its pretty cool.

: Limmericks, Limmerick, poetry, Language, Writing

Real Hip-Hop: Immortal Technique’s “The 3rd World”

Immortal Technique just released his new album and it’s available for Pre-order from CDUniverse.com.

This CD’s was supposed to have been released like in June 2007 under the title “The Middle Passage” I guess he title has since changed. I’ve been waiting for this one for ages, Immortal techniques lyrics are the most hard-core I’ve ever heard and he does it with passion and style. Definitely a wake up call to the blinged-out , instant self-gratification generation which commercial hip-hop culture has spawned. This is REAL Hip-Hop.

He has since also released 3 mp3′s to give you a taste.. and here they are…
1) “The 3rd World”
2) “The Payback”
3) “Reverse Pimpology”

Enjoy!
: Immortal Technique, 3rd World, New Album, The Middle Passage, MP3

God’s Plan

I though this was too beautiful not to put up.

Some things are beyond planning.
And life doesn’t always turn out as planned.
You don’t plan for a broken heart.
You don’t plan for an autistic child.
You don’t plan for spinsterhood.
You don’t plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love – and be loved forever.

You don’t plan to be sad.
You don’t plan to be hurt.
You don’t plan to be broke.
You don’t plan to be betrayed.
You don’t plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy.
You don’t plan to be shattered.

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.

We, mortals, plan. But so does Allah in the heavens.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand Allah’s plans especially when
His plans are not in consonance with ours.

Often, when He sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot
choose what Allah wishes us to carry, but we can carry it with courage
knowing that He will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope
with.

Sometimes, Allah breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, He allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, Allah sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, He allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
And sometimes, Allah takes everything away from us so we can learn the
value of everything He gave us.

Make plans, but understand that we live by Allah’s grace.

Peace,

M.

Buy This Album.

Technorati Tags: Amir Sulaiman, Myspace, Like a Thief, New Album, May 15

I don’t know why…

The truth lies behind those who hide
She asked the questions, but they all lied.
“Girls who swallow can’t stomach their pride.”
She wanted to escape and yes… she tried
But all she could manage was to sit… and cry.

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