Poetry Chaikhana Blog

I am really pleased to announce the first poem video from my collection Real Thirst.

Actually, this is my first video ever. I had a delightful time figuring out how to do everything. I discovered, for example, the fascinating world of royalty-free audio clips and sound effects. Virtually any type of sound you can imagine is available; the challenge is to unleash the imagination, to hear the empty spaces and imagine which sound wants to fill that space. It is like creating a painting with sound.

I had fun putting it all together over a couple of afternoons… a handful of images, use of camera pans, sounds and music, text, voice, a few added effects, all layered and woven together to tell a story, or evoke a visionary dream.

I hope this short video inspires and brings a smile.

Let me know what you think. And please feel free to share this video around on the Internet.

A couple more videos to come, as time (and creativity) allow…

A wooden ball rolling through a long marimba-like track beneath a forest canopy — playing Bach. Art, engineering, the beauty of nature. Stunning.

Billy Collins, animation and poetry, and some advice to teenaged children.

When I was Poet Laureate…

Bugs Bunny was my muse.

We need a world with more creatively subversive poets. Break out your sewing kit and head to the mall.

Shared by a friend. Sweet Pakistani grooves. Give a listen…

Mary Oliver reading “Wild Geese” and a few other poems…

…including a new way to honor the natural world with a pinecone.

The creators of this animated piece describe it as, “A visual poetry, animated and directed by Pouya Afshar and Will Kim. This film was made at UCLA animation workshop in 2007.”

I hope you enjoy this meditative animated collage.

If you want more of a reminder of how powerful and introspective the animated art can be, visit Will Kim’s excellent YouTube page.

Following this morning’s post on Sachal Sarmast, a friend from Pakistan shared this video with me from Sachal Studios — a reinterpretation of the classic jazz piece “Take Five,” made famous by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Even if you don’t know the name of the song, you’ll probably recognize the melody. But something about hearing it played with sitar and tabla just makes you want to smile… and maybe get up and dance!

I found a related article on the NPR website you may want to check out: Pakistani ‘Take Five’ is the Best Selling Jazz Thing on iTunes

Apparently this has become one of the top selling musical downloads on iTunes. Once you’ve listened to it, you’ll see why.

In recent years, the movie industry in Pakistan has been struggling. And many of the country’s best studio musicians once employed in the industry have been forced to find new outlets for their talents. This is one of the more delightful examples. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Maybe it’s worth a trip to iTunes…

A friend introduced me to this video:

http://www.porcelainunicorn.com/

This is the grand prize winner of a film competition dubbed “Tell It Your Way.” The entrants were given freedom of expression with two strict rules- there had to be only six lines of dialogue and the film could only run three minutes or less.

Just a few short minutes — an old man, a flashback, a handful of words… and a porcelain unicorn — yet such a powerful story. I hope you are as moved as I was.

http://www.metmuseum.org/connections/poetry/

A friend sent me this link, a narrated slideshow from the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art that explores the relationship between poetry and art. My only criticism is that it’s too short. Maybe we can get PBS to produce a whole miniseries on the subject.

Check out the link, give it a moment to load, and click ‘Play.’ I think you’ll enjoy it.

Laurie Blum from Sahar Sarshar on Vimeo.

Laurie Blum, an American painter and gardener, visited Iran three times from 2003-2005. She was the first person allowed to paint on the grounds of the Garden of Paradise, Hafez’s Tomb, and Sa’adi’s Tomb after the guards fell in love with her work. She has met dignitaries from Iran and has been invited to exhibit at The United Nations, The National Arts Club, and Hafez’ tomb. Her love for Persian Miniatures, Hafez and the Persian language began when she was young and continues today.

A few qawwals for you — the ecstatic devotional Sufi music of India and Pakistan — composed by Amir Khusrow Dehlawi, the “father of qawwali music.”

The first is performed by the late master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. If you’re not familiar with his music, then you have to give a listen. And if you are familiar with his music, then you know to give a listen…

A translation of the words sung:

You’ve taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.
By making me drink the wine of love-potion, You’ve intoxicated me by just a glance;
My fair, delicate wrists with green bangles in them, Have been held tightly by you with just a glance.
I give my life to you, Oh my cloth-dyer, You’ve dyed me in yourself, by just a glance.
I give my whole life to you Oh, Nijam, You’ve made me your bride, by just a glance.

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And next, a song of Amir Khusrow Dehlawi performed by Niyaz, with lead singer Azam Ali. Also a must listen…

A translation of the words:

Arise and prepare to rejoice
Let the wine take root in our cups
As would a flower in the soil
Let us become intoxicated with bliss
For till when shall we dwell in sadness
Those drunk with love
Will break this unending wheel of sorrow
For the treasures of the beloved
belong to those celebrating with us.

I think this is lovely, a dance in sketches…

A short excerpt of a talk by Alan Watts on music and the purpose of life… with some playful animation to illustrate his points. I really like this one

I remember seeing this animated version of Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” as a four-year-old child with my mother at the University of Oregon in the early 1970s. In fact, it’s one of my earliest memories.

“The Giving Tree” is simple enough for a child to understand, yet rich enough for an adult to appreciate. The patient, selfless sacrifice of the tree for the boy’s happiness broke my heart as a child, and has haunted me ever since. It taught me early on how a broken heart can be a beautiful thing… and how we should never take for granted the endless gifts of the natural world.

A friend recently introduced me to this music video by Dr. Satinder Sartaj. Soaring Sufi vocals, uplifting words. And if you pay attention to the video, you realize that he features Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians… a vision of universal spirituality.

I am unable to understand
what name to give
this Player of swirling universes…

I hope you enjoy!

It’s been too long since I’ve shared a video with you. This was sent to me by a reader, and I thought I’d pass it along. This is Shankara’s Nirvana Shatakam mantra, sung so sweetly by Uma Mohan. Watch for a few minutes and bring an easy, gliding meditation into your day…

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Shankara India (788 – 820) Timeline Yoga/Hindu : Advaita/Non-Dualist

The video’s text is in Italian, but here’s an English translation:

I am not mind, not intellect, not ego, not thought.
I am not the ears, the tongue, the nose or the eyes, or what they witness,
I am neither earth nor sky, not air nor light.

Truly, I am Shiva, pure awareness.
Shivo Ham! Shivo Ham!