RICHMOND – Writers International Network (WIN) Canada held its Third Annual Autumn Dance Poetry at the Council Chamber of Richmond City Hall to celebrate colorful season of autumn. It is the passion for poetry and creative writing that binds people together.
Ashok Bhargava said in his welcoming address, “I believe all of us are born with amazing creativities and skills, some different than others, however, all of these skills, potentials and predispositions shall be used for the good of humankind to build bridges among cultures, languages and especially among poets.
A few weeks ago while surfing Internet Bhargava stumbled on a story of Anna Frank a Jewish girl who had to go into hiding from the Nazis during the Second World War in Amsterdam. She was a teenager in enforced imprisonment in a cramped space with no friends. I was moved by her story and would like to read a quote from her. She wrote that “paper is more patient than man”. She must have realized that there was no response from the paper which was, like her, held in a cramped space. She wanted to be a writer. She wrote that, “My wish is to go on living even after my death.”
“My friends, paper is the perfect listener, you can write and write and tell it whatever you want. Paper let you write as long as you care to, without making any remarks or stopping you. Whatever we write will outlast us. But at the same time we must realize that the world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness.”
I will like to make another point here, what you write does not belong to you but to those who need it and more appropriately, “poetry does not belong to those who write it but to those who need it”.
This quote is from The Postman (Il Postino), a 1994 film about a simple Italian postman who learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, Pablo Neruda, who was exiled from Chile to Italy.
Deborah Kelly said, “What an amazing afternoon – so many fantastic writers, poets, musicians and dancers. Autumn Dance Poetry is such a wonderful celebration of the changing season. A big, heartfelt thank to WIN, for making it all possible and bringing together the best of the best”.
Janet Kvammen said, “we had a wonderful day of poetry at the at Autumn Dance Poetry event. So cool to be a part of this type event! Sometimes I think I must be dreaming”.
Phinder Dulai said, “thank you so much for creating a space for poetry with a deep centre of generosity”.
Other than poetry recitals, Barj Dhahan was there to present “Distinguished Writer & Poet Award” to Robert (Max Tel) Stelmach. Phinder Dulai was recognized for his recent publication of “Dream / Arteries” a book of poems to capture the essence of Komagata Maru. Lilija Valis & Secret Messengers was recognized for her poetic musical CD.
The program was drawn to a close by a dance performance titled Ja Ja Mambo by Chinese dancers Vivian Lau, Vivian Chan, Jody Yeung and Irene Shum.
For more information please contact Ashok Bhargava, president Writers International Network Canada at [email protected]
Photo 1- Welcoming to Council Chamber of Richmond City Hall a celebrated writer from Lahore Pakistan. (left to right) – Irma Matalog, Aida Bhargava, Celyna, Zubair Ahmad and Ashok Bhargava
Photo 2 – Presenting Distinguished Writer / Artist Award (left to right) – Barj Dhahan, Ashok Bhargava and Robert (Max Tell) Stelmach
Photo 3- Recogniaing Komagata Maru poetry “Dream / Arteries” (Left to right) – Phinder Dulai, Ashok Bhargava and Bernice Lever
Photo 4 – Poetical Musical group – Lilija & Secret Messangers
Photo 5 – Beautiful Devil Dancers – Jody Yeung, Irene Shum, Vivian Chan and Vivian Lau
