what happens to a dream deferred? - langston hughes, as quoted by a.
time is malleable.
the past while - after z sent me his translation and a recording of laysa'l-ghareeb i was thrown into a daze of sorts and spent time reciting arabic sufi poetry i only partially understood to the walls of my room; then, trying somehow to sort my life in paper form, all the notes brochures letters scribbles and drafts i have, which as a whole become oppressive and overwhelming leaving me to drift from one stack to another, trying to keep from reading and rereading everything. new bookcase looks beautiful, oak plywood, have worked on every inch of it; and worked outside to plant trees and lay railway ties.
plans for the weekend include the madrassah rehearsal and yearend-presentation, planting more spruce trees, watching ghosts of rwanda and paradise now, and acting as chauffeur.
as for upcoming, t and z, two more of those i am closest to on the face of this earth, are to be married. people i know, they are "dropping like flies".
have been reading about the LRA, its raids into villages, children-escapee testimonies...it is absolutely horrific. i cannot believe, understand, how such things are happening in this same world.
for purpose of this post, though - in july? at the rock ethics institute. (: my application accepted at PIKSI. and thus i can soon discuss feminist liberation and queer exile. ha. hum. alas. the beauty of irony.
and secondly - 48 baby chicks.
and then our exile
Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 12:02 a.m.
The Wayward Seeker said...
Salaams Akhi
Congrats on the PIKSI acceptance. Sounds pretty plush. That reading list is looking pretty interesting. Tread lightly man...the readings seem to hint at some sensitive subjects...Inshallah, they'll make for some interesting points of view.
Is it this recording by any chance? -->(WARNING...RM LINK)
I actually heard it some time ago thanks to a friend of mine but I've never heard the translation. Is there an online copy of it (the translation)?
BTW...where's Rooq and Salwa these days? They seemed to have disappeared...
Jazaks
Salaams
-TWS
~
basit said...
wasalam!
ha that is a delicate way of putting it. they didn't put up the reading list till after i'd applied - i didn't know what i was getting into. probably would have applied anyways, but still. hum.
also, they pay for flight and so on, and i have good friends from sham in the area to see on off-times.
i hadn't heard this recording before - it's also good, but the other one gives me goosebumps. i'll email it you with the translate.
as for rooftop & salwa - even here, they disappear and reappear like fireflies. or something. but apparently they are to visit wuddistan tomorrow, i'll be able to verify they actually still exist.
they invited me to come to tee dot with them, but scheduling and so on didn't work out. it would've been nice though, to see you on your home turf.
~
The Wayward Seeker said...
Salaams
Jazaks for the recording and the translation. It was extremely moving, even before the late hours of reflection (usually from 2 A.M. onwards) have set in. Those final words ("Leave me to weep these tears unceasingly – It may be that by this exertion I will attain to purity") are hauntingly beautiful and far too true.
And you're always welcome in Toronto! In fact, I demand your presence (as your schedule permits). You've been to T.O. before right?
Do you know which selections of Hume will be featured? Will they feature the more skeptical or naturalistic aspects of Humean (man...that sounds ugly) ideas? I find the absence of Berkley (David) and Occam( William of Occam) a bit surprising though. Damn...it has been too long since I've visited these philosophers. I fear I'm beginning to muddle up their individual contributions (or perhaps that's the departure of exuberant youth).
BTW, when you do see 'Rooq, tell that punk to give me a ring. And next time I come down, I've gotta see Wuddistan. I've heard/read some beautiful things. As per Farooq's/Salwa's (they're now either Falwa or Sarooq) disappearances...such is the life of the married ones...so it would seem.
My salaams to your family. Hope all else is well.
P.S. Sorry for the long comments...I just couldn't Help myself and by the time I realized...it was too late
Salaams
-TWS
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basit said...
wasalam\\
toronto...i was there eleven years ago? i think. but remember very little.
today farooq was telling me stories about when you & he were small. they made me laugh. (mail-order guns!)
no idea on which hume readings. despite his extremism i find him fun for debates ("Bah! It's all conjunction! You're using the inductive circle to further buttress your hollow illusions!")
the salrooq-unit was here today, so they do still exist. and seem very happy. :)
ps. no apologies for comments allowed.
~
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