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Sri Lanka – Edward Lear Prize for Poetry
Edward Lear was a 19th Century English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet. He is known mostly for his literary nonsense poems and prose and especially his limericks. His poetry takes an irreverent view of the world. Lear’s nonsense poems delight in the sounds of words, both real and imaginary. A stuffed rhinoceros becomes a “diaphanous doorscraper.” His heroes are Quangle-Wangles, Pobbles, and Jumblies. My favourite Lear poem is the Dong with the Luminous Nose.I think it is the words “Jumbly Girl” that triggers a happy memory and makes me smile. But when the sun was low in the West, The Dong arose and said; “What little sense I…
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Sri Lanka – Galle Fort Literary Festival begins
An evening of culture, featuring an extravaganza of dance and movement opened the Galle Fort Literary Festival in Sri Lanka. Guests sat in front of an iridescent red stage, while a crowd of onlookers stood behind newly erected barriers as an orchestra played music. Dressed in traditional costumes performers from the army, airforce and navy, became acrobats, fire eaters, swans, and peacocks. The presenters thanked the main sponsor Fairway Holdings and also the founder of the festival Geoffrey Dobbs, along with the Minister for Law and Order who sent a representative to the two-hour show. The last event included numerous costumed acrobats and the appearance of a “constructed” elephant. After…
