Cast of Characters: Professor Zero, a male Student, and the student’s Son. Son, 4, is wearing baggy jeans, hi-tops, and a T-shirt. Sticking out of his backpack is his bilingual alphabet book. Student: Professor Zero, I have come to introduce myself and my son. I have a very great favor to ask you. May I … More C’est Charmant
This is the real Professor Zero. The coup has been defeated, and I am back! First we will read Alice Walker on Barack Obama, H/T Anxious Black Woman. then we will read an important post on “marriage strengthening” as a solution to economic devastation by Elle PhD. Now we will sing: Minha terra tem palmeiras, … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Gonçalves Dias’ Song of Exile
This is Professor Zero, and it is the weekend. I am still in parish prison but my trial has gone well so far and the Director is asleep, so we will sing. I am singing Fern Hill. We can also hear Dylan Thomas read from it. “Now as I was young and easy under the … More Fern Hill
Referring ironically to the Romantic tradition that “nature teaches” César Vallejo called a linden tree murmuring in the wind a “professor of sobbing” and a “technician of shouts.” He ends this poem suggesting the tree is actually no such thing. I, however, really am now an engineer of poetry. My introduction to literature is intended … More Poetic Engineering
Our official Easter post is by the Anxious Black Woman. Read it, it is important. Meanwhile I am singing the first laisse of the Song of Roland, which I like. Carles li reis, nostre emper[er]e magnes Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne: Tresqu’en la mer cunquist la tere altaigne. N’i ad castel ki … More Une vieille chanson
Now it is the weekend, and we are stomping our feet with Henry Gray and the Cats. If I were another blogger, I would be Stephen Bess, because he goes to the most galleries, readings, bookstores, cool cafés, and interesting urban corners, and he has the best records. When I still lived in town, and … More Henry Gray
For Maundy Thursday and the Spring Equinox, which coincide today, we are listening to the Easter Saga of 17th century Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson. Unless I am gravely mistaken there is footage of both Iceland and the Faroes, where I would love to be this spring. Via Rebel Girl we are also reading Kenneth Rexroth, … More Hallgrímur Pétursson
Now it is the weekend, so we will sing: Yo soy aquél que ayer no más decía el verso azul y la canción profana, en cuya noche un ruiseñor había que era alondra de luz por la mañana. El dueño fui de mi jardín de sueño, lleno de rosas y de cisnes vagos; el dueño … More Cantos de vida y esperanza
“It’s a pity nation-making moves only through a single groove like a one-track brain that is obsessed with the one thing. It is not enough to be in power but to be power itself and there is no such thing except in the minds of people with religious notions. We are a devastated garden in … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Nation-Making Moves
Dentro del vergel moriré dentro del rosal matar me han. Yo me iba, mi madre, las rosas coger, hallara la muerte dentro del vergel. Yo me iba, madre, las rosas cortar, hallara la muerte dentro del rosal. Dentro del vergel moriré, dentro del rosal matar me han. In the garden I will die In the … More Dentro del vergel
