Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Webinar: Harryette Mullen's "Sleeping with the Dictionary"

 I started this blog today during a webinar on Harryette Mullen's Sleeping with the Dictionary held at the University of Lusaka, Zambia, together with my best friend, Dennis Tembo, in order to provide the students and staff who took part in the event with a platform for further discussion. I am confident that this is just the beginning. 
One of his brilliant students asked me what the use of poetry, of language, of words was in a world like ours. The answer that came to my mind was the one I normally use when I am not able to find a better answer on the spot (as if there actually were such a thing):
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
At the end of the webinar, students were asked to contribute a verse (read: post!) to this blog in response to one of the activities I suggested during the two ours we spent together talking about dictionaries, poetry, and the world.
Any  comments, suggestions, thoughts are welcome from those who were part of this, or from anyone else who has anything (at all) to share!

 Pictures from the seminar room:




Posted by at

11 comments:

  1. Cesar KlauerJune 10, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Way to go, dear friends Ovidiu and Dennis. And let there be many more seminars, webinars and meetings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ovidiu MatiuJune 10, 2015 at 7:16 AM

      Thank you, Cesar. You're welcome to become part of this little project of ours.

      Delete
  2. Cesar KlauerJune 10, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJune 10, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    So happy to see this. Congrats you two.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJune 12, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    Thank you professor
    I am the student that asked the question about the necessity of writing poetry.
    I am grateful for your response. It is very helpful. The view that It is essential to write poetry by virtue of existence is one which can be supported by many

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 15, 2015 at 5:35 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJune 15, 2015 at 5:40 AM

    Since 2005 I have been trying to complete this poem but I can't. All i'm left with are these words that seem to have turned into a saying. Not really, more like a motto I live by or try. It began:
    "Life is a mystery,
    NOT to be lived in misery"
    but couldn't go on though I have tried to complete it. I'm tired of waiting on my innovation, so I thought I'd ask the poets and those vested in poetry to do me the honour of bringing this barely begun work, to it's final end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ovidiu MatiuJune 15, 2015 at 6:22 AM

      Well, this is interesting! You've got something there, which, I think, shatters your theory about what's stupid and insipid in this world/poetry. It reminds me of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" lyrics. I wonder why you really want to bring this poem of yours to an end, but it's good that you opened this one to the public. I'll start a new page, to honor your brilliant idea, titled, with your permission: "Sazja's Challenge". How about that?

      Delete
  7. UnknownJune 19, 2017 at 4:16 AM

    WOW

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJune 19, 2017 at 4:17 AM

    memories are a funny idea ...but literature though is one memory beyond time and space

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)