Thursday, March 23, 2023

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXXIV – Book of the South

Libro del Sur

André Heller *22 March 1947

Today ten years ago

Today ten years ago, "out of the blue" my friend Jams died, seven days before his 50th birthday.
I am still sad. And grateful.

Thanks for being, Jams.

Friday, March 17, 2023

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Laughing Lhursday*

Another torn knee patch.
The third in two months.
What luck that granny lives vis-a-vis.


Let's see how long this one lasts.

 

 * [For first time visitors]: Typo in the title? Nah. It's just that
I would not let a tiny T spoil an avantgardistic alliteration.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXX – Small Anthology of Poetry in Spanish

This small anthology of poetry in Spanish
makes me looking forward to July 19th
when the following will be published:
Surveying a poetic continent.
 

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXVII – Good Climate, Nice Neighbours

Stories
[engl.: Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants]
 

Nadine Gordimer (20 November 1923 – 13 July 2014)

Wednesday, March 08, 2023

Monday, March 06, 2023

Mo(o)nday Poetry

Cuando sale la luna
se pierden las campanas
y aparecen las sendas
impenetrables.*
* From Federico García Lorca's Canciones de luna

Sunday, March 05, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXI – Niemandstal

Niemandstal / No Man's Valley
Young Literature from Iceland

Friday, March 03, 2023

Thursday, March 02, 2023

In memoriam Claude

Claude, February 2020
A MAN MUST FACE HIMSELF
 
I hung two sealskins on my wall....
 
Some people say
'Oh! the poor dear things!'
with pity in their hearts,
while chewing bloody steak
and cuddling in fur coats.
 
And I think of **
Jonahsie
magnificently himself: a Man,
hunter by destiny
spearing the seals,
with no guilt in his soul,
no pity in his heart,
but beaming pride
that his day-work was done:
the best for his kin---
and that's all he could do...
 
And I think of
Kakee, his wife,
cleaning, stretching, smoothing, sewing the skins
with a skill
as old as the Woman called Eve,
and bringing me the gift
with beaming pride:
the best for a friend---
and that's all she could give...
 
And I wonder why
we worry about who eats whom
when Life is a cycle?
We all prey, and we grow
feeding on each other.
 
A seal
a breathing tomato
an egg that could be born
a drink of pure water
a flower for a vase
some grass to walk upon
the warmth of the sun, of a smile, of a body
a poem for a soul
and stars to fill a dream.
 
I hung two sealskins on my wall...
 
A Man must face himself
and accept it!
 
Claude Prévost Gamble
 (June 1970)


** And I think of Claude who died today two years ago.
Thanks for all. De tout coeur!


Claude during a storm on Moose River,
whilst working as a nurse
at an Indian hospital;
James Bay, Winter 1955

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Friday, February 17, 2023

Beers & Books CCXCVII – Lucia Berlin: Selected Stories

What will you do when you leave?
*
A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories.

Lucia Berlin (12 November 1936 – 12 November 2004)

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Unforgettable Carlos Saura

¡Esa Luz! / This Light!

In one of his late interviews, Carlos Saura asked that when he died, no one should remember him. It was only important for him to be remembered as long as he lived.
Ah, Señor Saura, this wish will remain unfulfilled.
Thanks a lot. Rest in peace.

Carlos Saura (4 January 1932 – 10 February 2023)

Thursday, February 09, 2023

Wednesday, February 08, 2023

Beers & Books CCXC – Frans Eemil Sillanpää

Hurskas kurjuus (1919)
Should be translated a Pious Misery

Frans Eemil Sillanpää (16 September 1888 – 3 June 1964)

Tuesday, February 07, 2023

Beers & Books CCLXXXIX – The Road to Brightcity

Nine stories, translated by Eoghan Ó Tuairisc,
in 1981 made accessible for the first time
to an English speaking readership
exquisite masterpieces of Ó Cadhain's writings.

 

Máirtín O'Cadhain (1906 – 18 October 1970) 

Monday, February 06, 2023

Mo(o)nday Poetry

Colmena
iVivimos en celdas
de cristal,
en colmena de aire!
Nos besamos a través
de cristal.
iMaravillosa cárcel,
cuya puerta
es la luna!
- - -
Beehive
We live in cells
of crystal
in a beehive of air!
We are kissing each other
through crystal.*
Wonderful prison,
the door of which
is the moon!
* cristal: glass, crystal, water (poetical)

Federico García Lorca (5 June 1898 – 19 August 1936)

Sunday, February 05, 2023

Beers & Books CCLXXXVIII – An Eochair / The Key

A mixture of kafka-esque satire, farce, black comedy and tragedy.

Máirtín O'Cadhain (1906 – 18 October 1970)

Saturday, February 04, 2023

Friday, February 03, 2023