Literary Conference at the UN

An international literary conference co-organized by Poetry International--Rotterdam involving acclaimed Australian poet John Kinsella, David H. Lynn, editor of the Kenyon Review (USA), and editors from around the world. To investigate ways to stimulate dialogue among cultures through poetry using new technologies and international resources. The central focus is the development of an internet portal for poetry through Poetry International Foundation in Rotterdam [ more ]

Dialogue Through Poetry Week

In addition to the reading at the UN, there were over 200 poetry readings in over 150 cities worldwide. Participants included the Guild Complex in Chicago, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the 14th Street Y in New York City. Individuals living in the city where the events will be held coordinated each reading. Most of the readings occured during the last week in March 2001. [ more ]

Mt. Everest		Antarctica		West Philippines Sea

There were sveral readings on "international ground." Like the United Nations building, these locations are not owned by any country, but owned by the peoples of the world. The poem that was read was P.K. Page's, Planet Earth, which was selected by National Book Award winner Marilyn Hacker and submitted by Susan MacRae. The poem was read at the United Nations, Mt. Everest, West Philippines Sea and Antarctica.

ANARE Casey Station, Wilkes Land, Antarctica at 0130 hours Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on Friday 30 March 2001. The reader is Paul Cullen, Station Leader, Casey Station 2001 The cameraman and sound recordist is Henry Banon, Communications Technical Officer, Casey Station 2001

ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition) operates three permanent continental bases in Antarctica, and one at Macquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic. The purpose of our presence is to help preserve Antarctica as a haven for peace and science, to better understand our global climate, to protect the Antarctic environment and to maintain the Antarctic Treaty system. Casey is located at 66º 17' S, 110º 32' E - just outside the Antarctic Circle - and is the third Australian station to occupy a site on Vincennes Bay. Watch the video (Windows Media)

The reading was held on Friday March 30 at 7 pm local time in the West Pacific ocean at about latitude 17 deg 41 min N, longitude 137 deg 55 min E in transit to our next drill site. Dr. Carl Richter with the Ocean Drilling Program organized the reading. Photo: Anastasia Ledwon and Carl Richter

The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and 22 international partners (JOIDES) to conduct basic research into the history of the ocean basins and the overall nature of the crust beneath the ocean floor using the scientific drill ship JOIDES Resolution. Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Inc. (JOI), a group of 14 U.S. institutions, is the Program Manager. Texas A&M University, College of Geosciences is the Science Operator. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University provides Logging Services and administers the Site Survey Data Bank.

Planet Earth

It has to be spread out, the skin of this planet,
has to be ironed, the sea in its whiteness;
and the hands keep on moving,
smoothing the holy surfaces.

--In Praise of Ironing Pablo Neruda

It has to be loved the way a laundress loves her linens,
the way she moves her hands caressing the fine muslins
knowing their warp and woof,
like a lover coaxing, or a mother praising.
It has to be loved as if it were embroidered
with flowers and birds and two joined hearts upon it.
It has to be stretched and stroked.
It has to be celebrated.
O this great beloved world and all the creatures in it.
It has to be spread out, the skin of this planet.

The trees must be washed, and the grasses and mosses.
They have to be polished as if made of green brass.
The rivers and little streams with their hidden cresses
and pale-coloured pebbles
and their fool's gold
must be washed and starched or shined into brightness,
the sheets of lake water
smoothed with the hand
and the foam of the oceans pressed into neatness.
It has to be ironed, the sea in its whiteness.

and pleated and goffered, the flower-blue sea
the protean, wine-dark, grey, green, sea
with its metres of satin and bolts of brocade.
And sky - such an 0! overhead - night and day
must be burnished and rubbed
by hands that are loving
so the blue blazons forth
and the stars keep on shining
within and above
and the hands keep on moving.

It has to be made bright, the skin of this planet
till it shines in the sun like gold leaf.
Archangels then will attend to its metals
and polish the rods of its rain.
Seraphim will stop singing hosannas
to shower it with blessings and blisses and praises
and, newly in love,
we must draw it and paint it
our pencils and brushes and loving caresses
smoothing the holy surfaces.

Planet Earth was taken from Ms. P.K. Page's collection, The Hidden Room (in two volumes), published by The Porcupine's Quill in 1997.