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“Poems…. cross the battlefields, tending the wounded, listening to the wild monologues of the triumphant or the fearful.” — John Berger

“You say, end this poem here, and wait for what is next. I will. Poems are rough notations for the music we are.” — Rumi

For centuries, poetry has been the literary form that has told the stories of our times. Poets have been the chroniclers of our battles, the heralds of our celebrations and the ones who have offered us solace in times of need. A series of intimate readings by outstanding poets from around the world, offer us literature as shelter, medicine and mirror.

Join hosts Anjalica Solomon (poet, spoken word artist, organiser) and Sirish Rao (ISF Artistic Director) as they take you around the world to listen to:

Featuring:
Shabana Azmi – Indian cinema icon and theatre actor
Sadhu Binning – Bi-lingual author, editor, educator and influential advocate for Punjabi literature
Christie Lee Charles – Global Musqueam performer and Poet Laureate of Vancouver
Jillian Christmas – Celebrated poet, organizer, and activist
Ivan Coyote – Award winning author and natural born storyteller
Tishani Doshi – Writer and dancer, winner of the Forward Prize for poetry
Phinder Dulai – Noted author of three books of poetry
Arthur Flowers – Novelist, performance poet and literary bluesman
Meharoona Ghani – Writer, poet, public speaker, truth seeker
Sheniz Janmohamed – Writer, spoken word artist and land artist
Chelene Knight – 2019 Writers’ Trust ‘Rising Star’
Aja Monet – Surrealist blues poet, storyteller, and organizer
Bif Naked – Celebrated and notorious performer, and tireless humanitarian
Shazia Hafiz Ramji – Winner of the City of Vancouver Book Award
Ajmer Rode – Winner of the ‘Best Overseas Punjabi Author’ award
Renee Saklikar – Poet Laureate of the City of Surrey
Leanne Simpson – Renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer and artist
Jeet Thayil – Booker Prize nominated writer, poet and musician

Watch it on Facebook or YouTube.

Accessibility information

This event will be live-captioned on all platforms.

About Indian Summer Festival

ISF is committed to continuing programming in the virtual world during the COVID-19 crisis. We strive to bring our customary care and quality to our work, and ensure that artists, vendors and team members are paid fair wages. Your support in this time helps us to keep the arts alive. Please consider making a donation: www.indiansummerfest.ca/supporter/

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