magician

Seckou Keita returned to the island, with his koras, smiles and magic. A privilege, I felt, deep in my heart, as his hands began to weave the most ethereal sounds out of those 22 strings, fisher’s, musician’s dream. The man has a story to tell, fingers & voice to unleash. To listen to him and his beautiful vibes from Casamance, Senegal, blended with hints of nomadic spirit from his native Africa to Wales, is a delight. A joy to treasure in your heart.  If you have not yet discovered his art, please, go find it!

To listen to the magician live remains a privilege.

With grateful thanks to Shetland Arts for bringing Seckou, as well as Gwyneth to the island. Magic moment tonight.

What a fabulous way to slide from Hairst – the harvest season – to the start of winter. Happy Samhain, everyone 🙂

And in response to his great show at Lerwick’s Art Centre, Mareel, a short poem woven from his music.
Fisherman’s Strings

Hear his fingers on stretched nylon –

Calebasse-skin from 

Casamance,

each note travels through

waves & wind,

inside his heart shines Sénégal,

his grand father’s wisdom

so sharp,

the 

taste of

dust South of his dreams;

his father’s eyes 

locked inside

his,

travelling chords of he-nomad,

toute la souffrance des 

harpistes.

© Nat Hall 2015 

poets in arms

They came, they shared, they went…

Let’s re-phrase.

They came, they spoke, we shared, they went… We are now connected.

Visiting poets on our home turf – Mareel, Lerwick, Shetland for a few hours – met with familiar faces, thanks to Shetland Art’s Literature Development Officer, Donald Anderson. On a particular trail, that of “Auld Enemies“, the brainchild of Steven J Fowler and Ryan Van Winkle, who notably brought along Colin Herd and Ross Sutherland in the Green Room where a few dared to step for an hour of poetry. Their six date tour around Scotland – taking in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Lerwick, and Kirkwall – concluded in London.

So we, the featured Shetland poets, L.J. Friedlander, D.S. Murray, J.A, Sinclair and I, joined our visiting poets in some battles of the spoken word before we ceased fire, chatted and smiled. Unique, electric, unusual & memorable event which enabled us to share in a different format, and, for James & I to actually write together for the first time since we have been united by literature. My thanks go to Steven and Ryan for providing such an opportunity. With very best wishes for the upcoming Auld Enemies – Ireland!!! 🙂

Auld Enemies, Shetland 2014 – Photo courtesy of Steven J Fowler

What a trek! Before they came to us, they had pit-stopped in Aberdeen, where they blended with other familiar faces & voices, including those of Catriona McLeod and Haworth Hodgkinson – then they stayed a couple of days, to ensure Mr Melville was okay again – and then they joined in other familiar faces in Kirkwall, notably including Pam Beasant.

My thanks go to Steven and Ryan for providing such an opportunity, as well as to Donald Anderson & Shetland Arts for making it happen on our latitude.

With very best wishes for the upcoming Yes But Are We Enemies? -an Irish Enemies Project! 

musical

Went to Mareel last night for something very special.

Not only was I treated to sheer fiddle & piano extravaganza with Hansel, a group of young talented musicians led by no other than Margaret Scollay, but Inge Thomson opened up uncharted musical scapes through her collaborative project entitled “Da Fishing Hands”.

And what a feast for the ears & heart.

Her creative realms encompass not only Lise Sinclair’s poetry which Inge (Lise’s own cousin) sprinkles with flair & beauty, but the sheer musical habillement defies the laws of musical poetics.
Accompanied by a string of musicians whose dexterity flows through any musical venue, Inge is as bold – and this is by no means any pun – creatively as (and I shared this thought with her after the show) my own music heroin, Kate Bush (to name but one).
Other names could include Bjork, herself a offshoot of Kate in terms of sheer musical boldness.
Inge’s Da Fishing Hands felt a true voyage of musical & poetical discovery. Inge creates fantastic poetical scapes through both voice & instrument. I felt back in Fair Isle. Lise was back in the auditorium with us. So emotional. It was so ethereal.
With grateful thanks to Mareel & Shetland Arts for such a hansel, it was magic.
Now eager to delve back into Inge’s constellation through sound files / a CD.
Am hooked!

True, vibrant, as luminous as this phosphorescence at sea. 🙂

live from Mareel

Sunday split by a very undecided sky…
Listening to live jazz at Mareel,

Here, inspiration

Live from Mareel

Two flower pots
shelved against glass –
two musicians glued to tied strings,
two herring gulls above
hay’s dock,
behind
rain
drops –
here,
wild as jazz.
#micropoetry fae #60N