myspace hit counters

 

 

 life header

Adnan Al-Sayegh and Stephen Watts are the Write Angle Guests of Honour

01/10/2013

Adnan Al-Sayegh (writer of a 500 page poem translated into many languages)

The talented and internationally renowned and esteemed Iraqi poet, Adnan Al-Sayegh (writer of a 500 page poem translated into many languages) had less opportunity to be seen and heard as the audience was unfortunately, not as large as usual.But Adnan's reaction was: 'I've performed before audiences from only two' (we did far better than that) 'to five thousand. If people take the time and effort to come and hear me, no matter how many, they deserve my best'!  There's no question, they got it!.

With fewer open mikers than usual, it was still a very enjoyable and special evening, as  quality exceeds quantity,  Adnan read each poem in Arabic conveying deep emotion  – followed by Stephen Watts, poet and performer in his own right, reading the poem in English. Stephen has worked with Adnan for five years, refining the translations done by Marga Burgui-Artajo – re-creating poetry from one language to another is no simple feat! It's important to maintain the meaning while somehow keeping the rhythm and mood.

With 'tongue in cheek',  Adnan 'threatened' to read his entire 500 page poem. He did read paragraphs, much of it pertaining to life under one dictatorship after another. He referred to countries where people have no freedoms 'while the president does and owns whatever he likes. Adnan's poetry portrayed the ravages of war. He had been a soldier in Saddam's army when Iraq fought Iran. Much of his poetry reflects that all war, wherever fought, is the same. The generals get medals; the soldiers die.. He saw his friends blown up. In 'the Garden of the Unknown Soldier', he describes how the soldier, 'who forgot to shave his hair, was punished by his Sergeant, left in the dust of battle – the beautiful soldier, his thick hair, after ten years, a forest of tangled bush, where nightingales sang in the branches and children played on swings; lovers came closer in his shade; grew into a park for the whole town. What if he'd shaved his head...?' Then, 'Haven't you seen my lungs blackened with slogans. Where will she bury her sons. This earth, smaller than my mother's tears'.....

Adnan had been invited to perform in Iraq in 2006 and when he read one poem which spoke of 'God being everywhere...in the trees, in the air...' he was swiftly attacked by soldiers who threatened to cut his tongue out. Fortunately, a group of friends pulled him away, and managed to get him out of the country before he was caught.

In 'Ulysses', his 'goodbye to a window in the land of devastation, he spoke of  'the palm pared of their green by war-planes', to 'the clay oven of my mother, to our history rusting on its racks.'..'we're leaving a bitter land. But, going where? All exile is bitter...' It's little wonder he received several international awards, including the Hellman-Hammet International Poetry Award(NY), Rotterdam Int'l Poetry Award, 'Swedish Writers Assoc Award'. His poetry has been translated into many languages and Adnan was invited to read in many countries. His work, original, sharp and crafted with elegance, shows an 'intense passion for freedom, love and beauty'.

The Open Mic had Michael Usuwana donning a hat, doing 'Faces and Places', his latest poem. 'I want to be seen, to see, not be judged. On stage, I'm free'. He took the words, 'love' from Adnan, while Stephen suggested 'Tower Block' and created instant poems!

JeanAnne Niemcyzk read 'Numbers', a relationship occurring through the hours of the day. Then, 'Surprise on a Plate', about tin miners pie. 'Don't put mustard on the apple pie.'   Finally, 'Dancing with Dustcarts' – how winding roads, going to work and those big trucks do not blend well together!

Chris Sangster read some meditative poems from his book, 'Now we're Coping' -The Gentleman of the Road' (be grateful for what we have). 'Another poem, 'Don't Mistake The Weather for the Sky'- no matter how bad the weather, the sky is all around'. - interesting concept!   Sven Stears did poems from three epics, 'The Life and Times of the Immortal Chaffineh' a nonsense poem making light of death. 'Sheep and Shepherds are Never Friends' – Sven has a 'softness for Westerns. Then, 'King, Queen, Jack', a love poem involving a dad, mum and son, which he performed at the Canterbury slam. Sven uses metaphors that stay with you. 'I wanted to eat you alive', 'Let's build a home from more than playing cards', 'I'm still feeding that fire that started when you left.'

Jake, compere, slipped a few poems in. 'On the Soft Verge', 'Pet Paradise' (about his cats, what else?), 'My Gig  (take-off on 'My Shed') and 'The English'..emotions...going through the motions avoiding commotions...'. . Leah following with 'Instinct', coincidentally about the 'same' cats. Phyllida Carr played harmonica, adding some variety to the evening. Everyone sang and clapped along with 'Saints marching on' and 'Clementine'. Her first song showed that her repertoire and talent is expanding and very well, too!  Tasha Finn, pretty new at the mic, shared 'There are plenty more fish in the sea' – (on internet dating) and 'There's a girl over there in deep conversation'. We hope she goes on to do more – she has a 'natural rhythm and style' that comes over very easily.

Jilly Funnell followed with guitar and three songs. The first, about internet dating – was  started from a woman's point of view but Jilly realised it worked better from a chap's. All about 'what if...' The second opted for alternative way to meet men. 'One day the funfair came to town' and finally, 'My daughter says 'you still have wings. Fly to the sky, my butterfly'.

Finally, Guest performer, Stephen Watts, who did translation to English for Adnan, did a 'switch'. He read one of his own poems which Adnan then translated into Arabic! Called, 'Brick Lane', it gave a very visual picture of the 'seamless street' of 'vital sellers', past the curry house, Synagogue, becoming a Church and then a Mosque – 'the blood and exhausted flesh of it', ending with 'The life to be fought for, never to be taken away!'. A good addition to an interesting eclectic evening.

The prize for a free meal for two, at the Pub of the Rising Sun, Clanfield, was won by a member in the audience and - .in October, Richard Tyrone Jones will be our special guest.

We hope those on holiday will have returned and will be prepared for an evening of laughter, clever wit, and talent!



 

 

 

 

 

   
   

Write Angle logo, Website and graphics designed by Aaron Jell.  Site maintained by Jake Claret.  Copyright reserved.