Poetry On the Border June 28, 2010

Imtiaz Dharker & Dr Rowan Williams.

Poets have always held a traditional, bardic role in world culture. Standing for something unspoken in the community, and speaking against the flow of the times. This calls for courage and tenacity, as well as an acknowledged skill with words. It gives them a quality and a unique presence, both as poets and speakers of their poetry. We are delighted to present two such individuals, the one quietly defiant, the other rich and restlessly imaginative.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has published three collections of poetry and is known in the poetry world as a fine translator. He is a poet of great skill and heart, standing in that remarkable British tradition of “poet-priests’ which includes, John Donne, Henry Vaughan, Gerard Manley Hopkins and R.S. Thomas. That said, his is not so much a “religious poet” as a poet to whom religion matters deeply. “Reading this poet”, said AN Wilson recently, “is like feeling the first drops of rain after a long season of drought”. This is rare opportunity to hear Dr Williams reading his remarkable and lucid poetry.

Imtiaz Dharker, who calls herself a Scottish Muslim Calvinist, is a true internationalist. She was born in Pakistan, raised in Glasgow, and now divides her time between London, North Wales and Mumbai. She writes clearly and powerfully on her chosen themes of transition, exile, displacement, religious strife and terror. Ms Dharker is also a renowned artist and illustrator., and is well known in India as a documentary film maker. Her poems are currently part of the national curriculum and she reads often for Poetry Live!, founded by her late husband, Simon Powell.

Join us for a unique evening as two brilliant speakers of their work read poems of power, insight and delight.

Official Website: http://www.poetryontheborder.org/index.htm