Above: Composition for Jazz, Albert Gleizes (1915), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday 24 July 2024 Last Sunday evening at Starbucks with a new student after my classes at the school have ended. He is an educated man, a well-seasoned man, despite being half my age. Not that unusual. But to… Continue reading Of a jazz that I feel
A trick of the light
Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday 17 July 2024 “When you have a cause, the best way to express yourself is artistically.“ Hani Abbas Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to intellect, sense or emotion. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations and modes of expression, including music and literature. The meaning of art is explored in a branch… Continue reading A trick of the light
The port of refuge
Sunday 7 July 2024 Eskişehir, Türkiye “The primary concern of religion should be to provide a practical solution of life. The heavenly reward is too remote. The return should be brought within the earthly span. People can now understand as universally accessible the miracle of the renewal of possibilities. Hence, either the hand of the… Continue reading The port of refuge
A separate Málaga
Tuesday 2 July 2024 Eskişehir, Türkiye Fair land! of chivalry, the old domain,Land of the vine and olive, lovely Spain!Though not for thee with classic shores to vieIn charms that fix th’ enthusiast’s pensive eye;Yet hast thou scenes of beauty richly fraughtWith all that wakes the glow of lofty thought. Felicia Hemans (1793 – 1835), Abencerrage… Continue reading A separate Málaga
An extraordinary woman
Monday 22 April 2024 Eskişehir, Türkiye The lemon-coloured MG skids across the road and the woman driver brings it to a somewhat uncertain halt. She gets out and finds her left front tire flat. Without wasting a moment she prepares to fix it. She looks towards the passing cars as if expecting someone. Recognizing this… Continue reading An extraordinary woman
Along the avenue
Sunday 8 April 2024 Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Türkiye “What are the odds so long as the fire of soul is kindled at the taper of conviviality and the wing of friendship never moults a feather? What are the odds so long as the spirit is expanded by means of rosy wine and the present moment is… Continue reading Along the avenue
The Donkey Trail 3: A view to die for
Eskişehir, Türkiye Friday 31 May 2024 Above: Mount Säntis, Switzerland Here is my problem. Two problems, actually. I have the workings of a plot, but I cannot decide what details to include or exclude from the story. I also want to capture the emotions of the characters by showing, not telling, what they are feeling.… Continue reading The Donkey Trail 3: A view to die for
Dreams of Fielding
“A comic writer should of all others be the least excused for deviating from nature, since it may not be always so easy for a serious poet to meet with the great and the admirable. But life everywhere furnishes an accurate observer with the ridiculous.“ (Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews) Above: English writer Henry Fielding Eskişehir, Türkiye Monday 21 April 2024 Henry Fielding is one of… Continue reading Dreams of Fielding
The house of the rising sun
Eskişehir, Türkiye Sunday 21 April 2024 “The brevity of life, the failing of the senses, the numbness of indifference and unprofitable occupations allow us to know very little. And again and again swift oblivion, the thief of knowledge and the enemy of memory, makes a void of the mind, in the course of time, even… Continue reading The house of the rising sun
The moon is dark
Eskişehir, Türkiye Sunday 21 April 2024 Your love did not leave me. I was hungry. I was thirsty. Oh, the night was dark. My soul is strange. My soul is silent. My soul is shattered. And my hands are in handcuffs. I am left without tobacco. Sleepless. Your love has not abandoned me. (“Love Me“,… Continue reading The moon is dark