Saturday, 11 June 2016

Kenneth Patchen: Egypt ("The terrible thing somehow happens / in the air")

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Beyond damaged buildings in Idlib, Syria, a clear, starry Wednesday night: photo by Ammar Abdullah/Reuters, 10 June 2016



Beyond damaged buildings in Idlib, Syria, a clear, starry Wednesday night: photo by Ammar Abdullah/Reuters, 10 June 2016

Cle --
1600 men to a stone. Please mention
the Nile. Croco -- but the slow thing
happens in the air.
Tree slender as light.
Did Cae -- ? I don't remember
that he came.
I remember the sand.
The limping slaves.
The exact condition
of their death.
The terrible thing somehow happens
in the air.
Night in that Egypt. God! How cold
the stars must have been.

Tree slender as life
and as tall
-- green then. Where are the leaves
of that time? Why can't I think
these stars are the same stars?
Where do the souls of men have their spaces?
Shall I be obedient in that silver nudity?

Kenneth Patchen (1911-1972): Egypt, from Cloth of the Tempest, 1943

 

Afghan migrants stranded in Greece pray in front of a docked ferry at the port of Piraeus, near Athens on the first day of Ramadan: photo by Petros Giannakouris / AP, 6 June 2016



Muslims gather around the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Mecca, Saudi Arabia: photo by Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters, 8 June 2016

A young Palestinian waits at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt 
A young Palestinian waits at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, after it was opened for two days by Egyptian authorities on Thursday: photo by AFP, 12 May 2016

A young Palestinian waits at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt

A young Palestinian waits at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, after it was opened for two days by Egyptian authorities on Thursday: photo by AFP, 12 May 2016


Photographs of Muhammad Ali were shown on a screen atop an arena in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, the culmination of a two-day farewell. Ali, a native of Louisville and a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, died last week at age 74.: photo by Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse, 10 June 2016


 Photographs of Muhammad Ali were shown on a screen atop an arena in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, the culmination of a two-day farewell. Ali, a native of Louisville and a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, died last week at age 74.: photo by Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse, 10 June 2016

World in focus — best photos for June 10, 2016

Akera Price-King, 9, carries a sign saluting Muhammad Ali on the street in front of Ali’s boyhood home, in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali’s funeral procession is scheduled to pass by the house.: photo by Mark Humphrey / AP, 10 June 2016

A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky: photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters, 10 June 2016

A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky: photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters, 10 June 2016

TOPSHOT - South Korean marines react as they watch a performance of K-pop girl group Laboum at a military base in Gimpo near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas on June 10, 2016. South Korean girl group Laboum performing a month-long event as part of "Thank You! Soldiers" campaign organized by the Defence Ministry to help boost troop morale in the country's frontline troops through performances, autograph sessions and other events. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JEJUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images

South Korean marines react as they watch a performance of K-pop girl group Laboum at a military base in Gimpo near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas: photo by Jung Yeon/AFP, 10 June 2016

TOPSHOT - South Korean marines react as they watch a performance of K-pop girl group Laboum at a military base in Gimpo near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas on June 10, 2016. South Korean girl group Laboum performing a month-long event as part of "Thank You! Soldiers" campaign organized by the Defence Ministry to help boost troop morale in the country's frontline troops through performances, autograph sessions and other events. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JEJUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images

South Korean marines react as they watch a performance of K-pop girl group Laboum at a military base in Gimpo near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas: photo by Jung Yeon/AFP, 10 June 2016

England fans chant in Marseille Old Town, ahead of their team's first match of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament against Russia on Saturday.

England fans chant in Marseille Old Town, ahead of their team’s first match of the Euro 2016 football tournament against Russia on Saturday: photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters, 10 June 2016

England fans chant in Marseille Old Town, ahead of their team's first match of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament against Russia on Saturday. .

England fans chant in Marseille Old Town, ahead of their team’s first match of the Euro 2016 football tournament against Russia on Saturday: photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters, 10 June 2016

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in a state car for a national service of thanksgiving for the Queen's 90th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral in London

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in a state car for a national service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s 90th birthday at St Paul’s Cathedral in London: photo by Alex Lentati/AFP 10 June 2016

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in a state car for a national service of thanksgiving for the Queen's 90th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral in London

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in a state car for a national service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s 90th birthday at St Paul’s Cathedral in London: photo by Alex Lentati/AFP 10 June 2016

In this photograph taken on June 9, 2016, Afghan children hold dishes as they wait to receive food donated by a private charity for the needy during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the city of Jalalabad. Across the Muslim world, the faithful fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious during the holy month, which ends with the Eid holiday. / AFP PHOTO / NOORULLAH SHIRZADANOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP/Getty Images

 Afghan children hold dishes as they wait to receive food donated by a private charity for the needy during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the city of Jalalabad: photo by Noorullah Shirzada/AFP, 10 June 2016 

In this photograph taken on June 9, 2016, Afghan children hold dishes as they wait to receive food donated by a private charity for the needy during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the city of Jalalabad. Across the Muslim world, the faithful fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious during the holy month, which ends with the Eid holiday. / AFP PHOTO / NOORULLAH SHIRZADANOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP/Getty Images

 Afghan children hold dishes as they wait to receive food donated by a private charity for the needy during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the city of Jalalabad: photo by Noorullah Shirzada/AFP, 10 June 2016 


 Visitors to Kart-e-Sakhi Cemetery in Kabul, Afghanistan, encounter young children who earn money by caring for the headstones and sprinkling water on graves -- an Afghani custom. There are also cockfights and a cotton candy salesman.: photo by Adam Ferguson for The New York Times, 10 June 2016



 Visitors to Kart-e-Sakhi Cemetery in Kabul, Afghanistan, encounter young children who earn money by caring for the headstones and sprinkling water on graves -- an Afghani custom. There are also cockfights and a cotton candy salesman.: photo by Adam Ferguson for The New York Times, 10 June 2016

Britain Cricket - England v Sri Lanka - Third Test - Lord’s - 10/6/16 General view as MCC members walk into Lord's Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

MCC members walk into Lord’s to watch the cricket Third Test, as England play Sri Lanka: photo by Andrew Boyers/Livepic/Reuters, 10 June 2016 

Britain Cricket - England v Sri Lanka - Third Test - Lord’s - 10/6/16 General view as MCC members walk into Lord's Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

MCC members walk into Lord’s to watch the cricket Third Test, as England play Sri Lanka: photo by Andrew Boyers/Livepic/Reuters, 10 June 2016 

TOPSHOT - Riot police stop students of the public Central University of Venezuela during a demonstration in demand of the referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on June 09, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDTRONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
 
Riot police watch a dog cross the police line as they stop students of the public Central University of Venezuela during a demonstration in demand of the referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas: photo by Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP, 10 June 2016

TOPSHOT - Riot police stop students of the public Central University of Venezuela during a demonstration in demand of the referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on June 09, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDTRONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Riot police watch a dog cross the police line as they stop students of the public Central University of Venezuela during a demonstration in demand of the referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas: photo by Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP, 10 June 2016

World in focus — best photos for June 10, 2016

Children rest in front of a restaurant in Manila: photo by Noel Celis / AFP, 10 June 2016

World in focus — best photos for June 10, 2016

Gorilla mother Safiri holds her still nameless one-week-old baby at the zoo in Duisburg, Germany: photo by Roland Weihrauch / EPA, 10 June 2016
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2 comments:

  1. Mose2311 June 2016 at 00:33

    One thing that always impressed me about Ali is he had a critical sense of his own sport, the ugly roots of its mythos.

    Meanwhile, in the 51st state, we wave flags and cheap seat hearts at a 90 year old mediocrity.

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  2. TC11 June 2016 at 00:54

    Well, she is at least able to turn her head in the limousine so as to look out upon the laudatory throng.

    The Ali services in Louisville had the showman's touch writ in the script by Ali himself who orchestrated everything in detail in advance of the event.

    Remarkable moments, in particular, for me, the very moving appearance by Betty Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X.

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