DVDs on a stormy night

Took time out to watch two of the DVDs I recently borrowed from Surry Hills Library.

The first was a documentary about the Kalash of North-West Pakistan made in the mid 1980s.

The culture of Kalash people is unique and differs drastically from the various ethnic groups surrounding them. They are polytheists and nature plays a highly significant and spiritual role in their daily life. As part of their religious tradition, sacrifices are offered and festivals held to give thanks for the abundant resources of their three valleys. According to one of their legends, Kalash people are the descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers who settled and ruled the area after the expedition. Kalash people have similar mythology and similar rituals, games, feasts and dances as the people of ancient Greece. The following statement made by a Kalash named Kazi Khushnawaz indicates Kalash people main belief for the origin of their culture:

Australian poem: 2008 series #8 — Indigenous poetry

A recent comment on my Indigenous Australians page was followed by an email from the commenter with a request:

I am located in United States and I have been trying to find Australian Indigenous poetry, but it is kind of hard.

There are some leads on this overview of Australian poetry and more here. Paperbark : a collection of Black Australian writings edited by Jack Davis, Stephen Muecke, Mudrooroo Narogin, Adam Shoemaker has been around for quite a while now; it is very good. It is one of the books listed on this useful Queensland Government site, from which today’s poem also comes. Best of the lot, though getting old now, is the complete e-text of Black Words White Page: Aboriginal Literature 1929–1988 (ANU 2nd ed 2004) by Adam Shoemaker.

Today’s poem is one I had never read before.