Written by Shyama Persaud on April 30, 2020
pandemic as portal
Uncategorizedpandemic as portal ‘What is this thing that has happened to us? It’s a virus, yes. In and of itself it holds no moral brief. But it is definitely more than a virus. Some believe it’s God’s way of bringing us to our senses. Others that it’s a Chinese conspiracy to take over the
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 27, 2020
in a dark time
Uncategorizedin a dark time For various reasons, I’ve been unable to finish any more of the writings I’ve been working on. This poem seemed a particularly fitting – and superior – substitute. To me, it captures the sense of a potentially creative space that we, humankind, find ourselves in and that we might refind
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 26, 2020
the day my voice broke
Uncategorizedthe day my voice broke (2008) i told her i knew it was over. i went home; a place i shared with a lover i did not love. i sang to remain, but my throat declared its pain. released, eased, my heart unblocked; unlocked, I became a woman. © 2020 Shyama Persaud
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 24, 2020
a dream life
Uncategorizeda dream life Below is my all-time favourite quote. I love quotes. I really do. So much so that I created a ‘quotabase’ ten years ago containing around 150 morsels of wordy deliciousness. I rediscovered it recently and have a mind to try and add to it as many of those I’ve discovered since; a
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 23, 2020
burn, baby, burn
Uncategorizedburn, baby, burn I’ve just finished watching Birmingham Royal Ballet – Home from Home on BBC iPlayer, part of a BBC Arts Culture in Quarantine showcase. My jaw muscles got a good workout from stuffing my face with stir fried rice whilst witnessing 20+ professional dancers take part in one of their daily online classes
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 21, 2020
so not bored was I
Uncategorizedso not bored was i https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBmAmqj74u8 I love this song but also the roughly hewn quality of the video with its endearingly wonky performance… He looks like a busy university lecturer who’s just returned from popping outside for a post-lunch fag to squeeze in a quick jamming sesh with his technician housemate in the Faculty
Written by Shyama Persaud on April 21, 2020
chewing gum balloons
Uncategorizedchewing gum balloons “We never listened to my mother and always insisted on swallowing the chewing gum thinking that it might, one day, become a balloon that would transfer us to God.” Yousif M. Qasmiyeh Yousif is a poet, Arabic translator and academic. He was born and raised in a refugee camp. I