Posted on: August 23, 2012
Who owns our myths? If we alter them, do we undo the sacred? Do we show hubris unaccountable? Do we strike down the work of great poets against their will, when they are forever unarmed and can not defend themselves or their honor?
Complications, of course, exist, perhaps even explode on the scene of the first, next and last myth. They were once merely spoken and endlessly passed down from generation to generation, never finding their way onto paper or parchment, never once locked in, set in stone, tamed. And when finally written down, these markings of our cultural, collected soul were often distorted, revised beyond recognition, generally conforming with societal and political norms centuries removed from the oral tradition. Though there were exceptions to this template.…
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Posted on: August 1, 2012
Panther Unbound. Photo by Quilinmon
Spinozablue’s August edition features a new film by Shabnam Piryaei, art by Mark Zlomislic, fiction by E.K. Smith, and poetry by Valentina Cano, Howie Good and Jack Galmitz.
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The story of Cuchulain has me thinking about panthers. Black panthers. Not because they appear in the myths. As far as I remember, none do. Nor do we see lions, leopards or tigers.
Panthers are relatively small and powerful, sleek, taut and coiled, and they explode from what looks deceptively like a relaxed state. They look at ease, always, until they pounce. And then they just look … triumphant.
No apparent anxiety. No fear. If everyone were a panther, there would be no need for Woody Allen films.…
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Posted on: August 1, 2012
Copyright © 2012, by Shabnam Piryaei. All Rights Reserved.
My book ode to fragile was published by Plain View Press in 2010 and my book A Method for Counting Days is forthcoming from Furniture Press Books. I have been awarded the Poets & Writers Amy Award for Poetry and the Transport of the Aim Poetry Prize, as well as grants from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, and the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund. Most recently I’ve been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. My short films have been screened at film festivals and art galleries internationally.
http://www.shabnampiryaei.com/
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