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Nahar Islam
(Nurunnahar Islam)
Nahar reading her found poem Protest!
from the Purple Poets' poem cycle TO ALL WOMEN
at the Purple Poets and Peace reading
(click above to see other poets and poems from reading)
Quaker Centre, London 22.04.2010
photo credit: Miriam Halahmy
Nahar's Poetry-In-Progress:
TRITON FESTIVAL POEM (July 1st
2010)
MY FAVOURITE FOOD: THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER
(recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad; a colouring book for children)
PURPLE POETS AND PEACE: TO ALL WOMEN!
Quaker Center 22.04.2010
EVERY MOTHER IS A HERO
National Poetry Day Camden Heroes 2009
FIRST DRAFTS:
MY FAVOURITE FOOD: THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER
TWO WOMEN TALKING: A GOOD MAN
MY MOTHER TONGUE
SONG INTRODUCTIONS
FOR THE PIRATES OF BANGLADESH
(All poems © Nurunnahar Islam. All rights reserved).
Latest
Poems
TRITON FESTIVAL POEM
(first draft written at the Triton Festival)
on July 1st , 2010 - 11:30 to 1:30
July 1st 2010
Nurunnahar Islam
Dancing For My Sister
I remember my sister's marriage
The Yellow Festival - Gaye Holud
Romantic, Exciting, Dramatic and Happy, so Happy.
Everyone is beautiful,
Everyone brings food, everyone dances-
People are very, very happy-all around.
I was only ten, but I remember
The dance and the beat of the drum
and the smell of the Pillow, Korma and Biriani
The deep fragrance of Gada Flower;
The bride with the yellow garland
all over
on her neck,
on her wrist, around her head,
like a crown.
Everything golden,
everything happy,
everything flowers and music
and joy- and me
dancing for Sister, at her wedding.
NAHAR ISLAM
MY FAVOURITE FOOD:
THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER
(poems for a children's colouring book)
03.06.2008
My favourite food
Cooked by my mother
Everything fresh
Bought by my father!
Pineapple and Guava,
but Bananas were best.
The King of Fruits
-- even better with the rest!
How tasty they were.
The best food you could wish!
I can't forget them,
Their taste was so good.
I remember my parents
And - Mmmm - delicious food! |
 POEM FOR
MY MOTHER
AND ALL MOTHERS:
Every Mother is a
Hero
By Nurannahar Islam
01.10.2009
every mother is a hero to her child
and every child thinks their mother is the best.
every time a mother offers love and care
a child sleeps
such a happiness you cannot compare
it is like paradise
for mother and child.
every mother is a hero in the world
defending her child
no one could love more
than a mother
and no arms are safer
for a child.
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TWO WOMEN TALKING: A GOOD
MAN
By Nurunnahar Islam and Eppie Caredda
02.10.2008
A good man is he who cares,
Who brings bread home to share,
He listens and understands
His lover is safe in his hands.
HE is respectful and kind
He protects and doesn't talk behind.
A bad man is he who shouts!
Always in command.
He never listens to anyone
Except himself.
A bad man dominates
And controls everyone.
Rude, cunning, violent
And vile ….
I married
The bad man
But I wish
I had chosen
The good.
I left the man who was good.
I married the man whom I loved
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FIRST DRAFT:
NAHAR ISLAM
MY FAVOURITE FOOD: THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER
first draft 01.04.2008
My favourite food
Cooked by my mother
Everything fresh
Bought by my father!
Lovely beef, korma and Pillou
Fried Koi and Hilsha fish
How tasty they were
The best food you could wish!
Ripe pineapple, guava, papaya
Bananas were the best
The king of Fruits
Better than the rest!
The pitha and puddings
My mother put aside
We found out and ate -
She wasn’t able to hide!
I can’t forget them
Their taste was so good
I remember my parents
And – Mmmm – delicious food!
SECOND DRAFT (REVISED FOR THE CAMDEN GREEN FAIR 2008)
MY FAVOURITE FOOD:
THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER
(poems for a children's colouring book)
03.06.2008
My favourite food
Cooked by my mother
Everything fresh
Bought by my father!
Pineapple and Guava,
but Bananas were best.
The King of Fruits
-- even better with the rest!
How tasty they were.
The best food you could wish!
I can't forget them,
Their taste was so good.
I remember my parents
And - Mmmm - delicious food!
This poem was devised as a book for children (two lines to a page).
Nahar read her poem 'MY FAVOURITE FOOD: THE FOOD OF MY MOTHER' at the Camden
Green Fair 2008 (in a group reading with the Purple Poet's poet-in-Residence
Kim Morrissey and Purple Poets Bithi Das, Carol Moon, Ferdous Rahmann,
Islam Molla, Patsy Futatsugi and the Purple Poets' very special honoured
guest, poet and editor Sudeep Sen). Nahar also read her poem at the Tea Dance
and Garden Party at Dick Collins Hall, Cumberland Market, on June 13th
2008.
On June 23d, 2008 the Purple Poets' tutor, Kim Morrissey presented a DVD
of poems by Purple Poets (including Nahar reading 'My Favourite Food: The
Food of My Mother') to Time Bank Founder Edgar Cahn (co-producers meeting,
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House. 6:30 p.m. ) |
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MY MOTHER TONGUE
By Nurunnahar Islam
12.06.2008
O my mother tongue
With you, I share my music
And live my songs.
You are absolutely mine,
With other's languages-
I can't write a line.
O mother tongue
You are my breath --
You stay with me to death.
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SONG INTRODUCTIONS FOR THE PIRATES
OF BANGLADESH
By Nurunnahar (Nahar) Islam
in 2008
The Programme of 26/07/08 at Triton Square
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to you all.
My name is Nahar,
On behalf of Camden Third Age Project, we offer you a warm welcome in our
show.
The name of our Music group is 'The Pirates of Bangladesh.(E2)
With me are
Mr. Mustafa , our music Teacher.
Mr. Farook
Mr. Miah
Mr. Khan
Mr. Miah
Mr. Haque.
We are going to sing a couple of Spiritual, Corus Songs. All of them have
been written by some song writers, who are the saints of Bangladesh. In these
songs Radha, the goddess of love of (Hindus) is either happy to see Krishna,
the god of love or she is missing him, which breaks her heart:
1. The first song is Krishna aila radhar kunje fule paila vromora-this song
is written by Arkum Shah.
The meaning of the song is:
That when Krishna, The god for Hindus, had arrived in the Brindabon, the
holy land - By seeing Krishna, Radha the goddess, and her female friends
felt extremely joyful and started singing and dancing around Krishna, by
wearing the garlands.
2. Now we are going to sing another Corus song -the name of the song is Bologo
bologo shakhi, kon ba deshe jai. This song has been written by Radha Romon.
The meaning of the song is:
That Radha, the goddess of love, loves the god Krishna, but he is not a visually
seen by her-so she misses him and feels extremely sad, as she can't see or
love him-her heart cries for him.
AUGUST 2008- SONG INTRODUCTION
The song ' Pran Shokhire Oi Shono Kadamb Tole Bongshi Bazai Ke' 19.08.2008
The song I am going to sing is a very beautiful one.
This song is, actually a spiritual love-song.
It has been based on the Hindu Goddess Radha and Goddes, Krishna's spiritual
love. Their love story is well - known as a Hindu Religious Mythology.
In this song Radha's deep desire has been expressd to meet Krishna.
Radha is saying to one of her female friend that, she is hearing the sweet
tune of Krishna's flute - she thinks that Krishna is playing the flute by
sitting under the Kadamb flower tree (kadam is a unique beautiful flower
tree) She can also hear the sweet jingling sound which is made by the jewellery
of Krishna's feet.
Radha requests her female friend to take her hair plat, and necklace to help
her fetch Krishna or she can even throw t hem on to his way which may make
him to strop over and halt, when Rahaha will have a chance to see him.
Radha says that she can not believe that a mare fluit , made out of baambo-stick
can play such a sweet tune, that is making her soo bemused that, she is feeling
totally bewilder and is unable to stay at home.
The words of the song starts like this :
Pran Shaki re oi shono kadamb tole bongshi bazai ke
JUNE 2008:
I am going to sing a spiritual song.
This song has been written by a famous saint of Bangladesh, named Hason Raja.
The words starts like this -Loke bole bole re ghor bari bala nai amar.
The meaning of the song is that some people mourn, that they do have decent
house to live in. But Hason Raja does not see the meaning of living in a
decent house in this mortal world. Rather he is worried about his long lasting
next life after death, as to whether he will have a safe, peaceful life there.
Here is the song: … [SINGS SONG] |
................................................................................................................
PURPLE POETS
DIWALI LIGHTS
08.11.2007
30.10.2008
(KIM, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT)
One tiny light lights other lights
Like stars, rejoicing
We share India's joy.
(EPPIE, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT)
DIWALI LIGHTS
Star lights, star bright!
How I wish I could reach them out!
Like this candlelight
That I could touch
And feel the warmth
Of the flame in my hands
And the feeling of joy
In our hearts!
(SHELAGH, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT):
DIWALI
Candlelight, starlight
Like the first dawn
The beginning
Everything new, fresh, bright
(NAHARLIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT):
DIWALI LIGHT
Oh, God, give me enough light :
I want to see happy people with a lot of laughter.
I want to see all people as brother and sister.
Give me heartful of love like the great waterfall,
Create in my heart, a loving Taj Mahal.
(ISLAM):
DIWALI LIGHTS
I am holding my God in my hand.
I can feel His Warmth
In my body and soul,
God is Light to me.
God is everything
From Cradle
We dedicate this performance
to our dear friend and Purple Poet Kathy Randle,
who died November 7th, 2007.
Her flame of inspiration
still burns bright.
from DIWALI LIGHTS:
A POEM PERFORMANCE 2007 --2008
performed for Councillor Nural Islam, The Worshipful Mayor Of Camden, West
Euston Time Bank Eid and Diwali Celebration at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market
at 2:30 p.m. on 30.10.2008
This poem is part of a poem-sequence, composed and performed by Kim
Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Shelagh Beale, and Islam Molla at the Diwali
Celebrations and T.A.P. Tenth Anniversary Tea-Dance of the West Euston Third
Age Project on 09.11.2007 at the Dick Collins Hall. It was also performed
by Kim Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Ferdous Rahman (reading for Shelagh Beale),
and Islam Molla for the Worshipful Mayor of Camden, Nural Islam, on
30.11.2009 as part of the West Euston Time Bank Eid and Diwali celebrations
at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market.
(In 2008, as Shelagh had to leave the celebrations early, she opened the
celebration with her poem 'How To Read a Poem' and then left to prepare
lunch for her friend. Shelagh's Diwali poem was read by Ferdous
Rahman.)
Purple
Poets and Peace
(Islam, Patsy, Nahar, Bithi)
Quaker Centre 22.04.2010
photo credit: Miriam Halahmy
TO
ALL
WOMEN!
(WAR Box 1, pamphlet 5, 1917)
a found poetry cycle by
The West Euston Time Bank Purple Poets
ISLAM
READS:
1. THE FULL HORROR OF WAR:
From One Who is in the Midst of It
(A German Soldier's Appeal to Women)
First draft Purple Poets 21.01.2010
I've several times wondered
Why Women do not demand Peace.
This is the business of Women:
To see to it that the ground is cleared
For a mutual understanding.
To put a stop
To the bitterness
Of National Hatred
And for all women
To say to each other:
We will save our men
Further bloodshed
is senseless.
We will save our men
Of all nations.
PATSY
READS:
2. TO ALL WOMEN!
The Call of a Higher Humanity.
(a found poem from the writing of Emily Hobhouse)
First draft Purple Poets 21.01.2010
Fellow women -
The War is crushing
Helpless millions.
The people
are perishing.
These are mostly Women
And children.
The well-being of children
Touches all.
We ask: must it continue?
We ask: why must it continue!
We ask: why?
NAHAR
READS:
3.FROM A GERMAN WOMAN
(Lida Gustava Heymann, Munich)
first draft West Euston Time Bank
Purple Poets 28.01.2010
All Europe was set on fire
This summer past
Autumn came and went
We are now in midwinter
And millions of men
Have been left on the battlefield
They will never see home again
No human speech is rich enough
To express such depth of suffering
Women!
Where is your voice
Sowing seeds of Peace?
Are you only great
In suffering and patience?
Come together!
Protest with all your might
The murdering of nations.
BITHI READS:
4.LETTER
FROM A FRENCH MOTHER
November 21st, 1914
first draft Purple Poets 03.02.2010
My two sons
Have been in the trenches
Since the end of September
And have never slept
In a bed
It would be nothing
If the cold
Had not set in
So dreadfully
Many will never survive
They have nothing
To protect them in the night
And I think
What it must be like
In Russia
Helpless cripples
Their frozen limbs
Amputated
If you cannot make Peace
At least make a truce
And save thousands and thousands
Of human lives.
ISLAM READS:
8 FROM RUSSIAN
WOMEN
first draft Purple Poets 11.03.2010
Sisters,
Why is it that Kings
and Rulers of the Earth
Have a passion for freedom
Of other lands, but not their own?
Over the heads of the battling armies
Let us stretch out our hands
Comrades and sisters
And let our demand
Be heard throughout the world
We demand peace
W want to stop the war
NOW.
PATSY READS:
9 FROM A HUNGARIAN WOMAN:
THE LAST HOUR
(by Madame Gravé)
first draft 11.03.2010
As you, our Mother Earth
Grow young again
Every murder-battalion
Is arming for the Spring.
Let a hundred thousand
mother voices
Raise your voices
in overwhelming might.
The time is short.
Let us bring the champion cry!
Down With Your
Arms!
NAHAR READS:
7 FROM A GERMAN WOMAN
(Marie Engelmann, Dresden, 1914)
first draft Purple Poets 12.02.2010
Protest!
Protest!
Protest!
Protest, You Women!
Where-ever you see WAR
Underneath God's Sky
Raise your voices high!
Protest!
Protest!
Mankind is bleeding blood!
That blood is ours!
Mankind is killing life,
Those lives are ours!
Protest!
Protest!
Protest!
BITHI READS:
5. FROM A QUAKER WOMAN
(Theodora Wilson Wilson)
First draft Purple Poets 01.04.2010
The Egyptians were behind
The Red Sea in front.
The Red Sea did not part
Until the forward march began.
In every land
The peoples are crying out
Against this War
The Pied Piper, alluring the youth
With heroic and patriotic music
To destruction
Stop the music!
The continuation of this war is a crime
And a blunder
Friends, prove to the world
The principle of Peace
Is vital to our vision.
Go forward!
Make the first step to conciliation.
Blessed are the peace-makers!
They will be ranked sons of God!
PATSY READS:
6. MANIFESTO OF SWISS WOMEN, 1915
first draft Purple Poets 28.01.2010
Women's Day is overshadowed
By the Sign of The War
All around are burning towns
And villages.
The wounded lament
In pain and torment
Women and children
Weep in sorrow and misery
At the loss of their Brothers,
Husbands and Fathers.
Shall we wait for The Vote
For better times?
No! Our demand resounds
Stronger than ever!
We wish our sons and daughters
To be heroic
But not on the battlefield
Where people murder
And are murdered.
Swiss Women raise their voices
To the call of Votes for Women
And Peace.
Down with War!
first draft, January-April 2010, The Purple Poets
Purple Poets and
Peace
Rehearsing at 2 p.m.
Quaker Centre 22.04.2010
under the direction of
artist Jo WOnder
left to right: Nahar, Patsy, Bithi, Islam, Jo
photo: Miriam Halahmy
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© resides with the author. All rights reserved.
For permission to use any of this material
or to contact the Purple Poets regarding readings,
festivals, workshops or permissions to print or perform,
please contact The Purple Poets
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Kim Morrissey
poets AT purplepoets.com
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Rahman, Serajul Islam Molla, Jean Watt, Kathy Randle, Nahar Islam, Norah
Platt, Patsy Futatsugi, Shelagh Beale, Sheila Green, Steve Maly. The Purple
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The Bloomsbury Time Bank, The West Euston Time Bank, The Third Age
Project Drama (The TADs) directed by Gary Kielty and T.A.P.'s
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