The poem was read with some gusto and good movement, so it actually stopped the traffic, including a red Hop-On-Hop-Off … Read More
Reading a poem by Flavien Ranaivo on the corner of Long and Wale Streets
“So tell me. What kind of crowd do you pull?” asks the man who stops to listen. “I mean how … Read More
Reading a poem by Andries Walter Oliphant outside Bob’s Bar in Long Street
“What’s this all about?” asks the man who stops to listen. “It’s poetry.” “And so?” “Poetry is a bowl of … Read More
Reading a poem by Mario Garuti on the slopes below Trappieskop
The poem was read aloud. The words were carried by a light wind over Clovelly, Fish Hoek and beyond. Mairo … Read More
Reading a poem by Olive Schreiner on the way to Bob’s Bar in Long Street
Imagine, in place of every weapon, a poem. Imagine, in place of every war, anthologies. “Not possible,” the ex-mercenary replies. … Read More
Reading a poem by Ethelwyn Rebelo in the garden of Deerpark Café
The poem was read aloud. Children were everywhere, with balloons and puppies and birthday cake. It was the end of … Read More
Reading a poem by Ingrid Jonker in Buitenkant Street
The poem was read aloud. Construction workers stopped with their hammers and then started up again when the recitation as … Read More
Reading poems by Robert Berold & Eugène Marais
The poems were read aloud as the banners were unfurled outside parliament, protesting the proposed fracking of the Karoo. Questions … Read More
Oh my sister, Karoo
The poem was read aloud during the recent protest, held by deeply concerned citizens, outside parliament, against fracking in the … Read More
‘The people admired literature and art over gold and jade’
Standing on the steps of Cape Town’s Catholic Cathedral, reading aloud the opening speech, given by John Ralston Saul, at … Read More
Reading a poem by Jane Fox outside Atlas Trading
The poem was read aloud and seemed to touch everyone, but in different ways. Some people looked down as they … Read More
Reading poems by James Matthews
The two poems were read aloud outside the District Six Museum, opposite Caledon police station. Traffic noise was heavy but … Read More
A poem by Charlie
The poem was read aloud in Riebeeck Square. A man among the group of listeners asked whether I was Mrs … Read More
Reading a poem by Lucas Zulu
The poem was read aloud outside Ajmer Store in Woodstock. It started to rain hard and the drops fell like … Read More
Reading Takawira Dururu
The poem was read aloud outside Kwikspar in Vredehoek. People were rushing in and out of the shop, after work, … Read More
Reading a poem by Siyabonga Sibiya
Sitting on a red sofa at The Red Sofa in Derry Street, reading a poem by Siyabonga Sibiya. The poem … Read More
A second poem at the highway bridge
Patricia, reading a second poem under the Mill Street Bridge highway, from the soon-to-be-published manuscript of Africa! My Africa! The … Read More
Reading poetry aloud in the streets of Cape Town
Patricia, reading a poem from the soon-to-be-published, final manuscript of Africa! My Africa! at the base of Mill Street Bridge … Read More
Wendy Woodward Gail Dendy Jewels & Beads
We are getting close to launching Africa! My Africa! What a worthy gathering of voices it has drawn together, a … Read More
Magical realism
Magical-realism presents credible worlds, with all the gritty realism of actual life, but allows for the addition of improbable elements, … Read More
Literary Feasting at the Grande Roche Hotel
I’m not a great cook, but I certainly enjoy good food, having grown up with the smells and tastes of … Read More
Found poems
Found poems are unintentional poems that are ‘uttered’ in the course of everyday life by a person or event. They … Read More
We bless you, Mandela!
We bless you, Mandela! To you honour belongs. Earth’s ochres colour you, birds praise you with song. Yellowwoods lean to … Read More
Crossing the Pungwe River
Sometimes, when I was a child, over long weekends like Easter or Rhodes and Founders, we would head off for … Read More
My parents and books
My father was an avid reader of literary fiction and owned a small collection of novels. He also had a … Read More