Culture and Arts Notebook

Poetry       Yesterday while I was sleeping in the dark Many voices stalked my tranquility And the fire inside me burned my hope   Screams of hatred erased my memory Among the shadows of monsters he drew me…

POEM           For growing old For filling –rather spilling—out For the karma of going unnoticed For a rate of success with men since age 48 of: record negative double digits …and still falling (oh my god)…

POEM           I know all too well that living often seems to bring nothing but grief. Nevertheless on this extraordinary day I give thanks, and thanks, and more thanks because somehow for no reason at all…

POEM             Each day that comes into our lives Brings some beauty and some sorrows too.   With the sun in its sky And the ground beneath our feet   There, we go on With…

LITERARY EVENT Last March 8th, Pen Norway celebrated Ilhan Sami Çomak’s birthday. His lawyer, Ipek Özel, said that when Ilham was told about his birthday celebration, he said, “Tell them that after 27 years in prison, I’m still 22.” Ilhan…

POEM           by Erlie A. Lopez Morn Re-born   No screech no gnash no scuffles of the daily rush, instead, tweets and rustles on the summer breeze.   I breathe deep and dreamily hum a nymph’s…

CULTURAL ONLINE EVENT Recently, I attended an online event that tackled the topic of cultural rights across the world affected by a pandemic that has brought on a “cultural catastrophe”. According to the UN special rapporteur in the field of…

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S CULTURE         by Genevieve Balance Kupang Resolved with the belief that mutual understanding, ecumenical, inter-religious and [intercultural] dialogue constitute an important dimension of a culture of peace, a special gathering was held at Bauko Catholic…

POEM         by Rem Tanauan In the hundreds of twisting, stretching legs and arms, this is the only pose I remember among all: To lie down, flat out on the ground. Open palms to the sky, fully…

FILM TIP         Atlantics is Mati Diop’s first feature film for which she became the first black female director to vie for the Cannes Film Festival’s most coveted prize, the Palme d’Or. She was only one of…