ROBIN OUZMAN HISLOP: Born UK. Childhood in Lyme Regis & Poole Dorset. Lived Scotland & Scandinavia, The East & Spain. A great deal of my life has been spent out of England, my mother's side is Scottish & I take the name Hislop, as writer's name from her family name.

Bachelor in Arts (Hns). Philosophy & Religion. Manchester University. Resident at Pakistan, Lahore. Studies at Punjab University, New Campus, Lahore: Sufism (Tasawuf), Jalal-U-Din Rumi & Ibn Arabi. Sheffield University: Spanish & Latin American Cultural Studies. Resident in Spain from 1985 until December 1998 (Madrid and Salamanca): Resident at Salamanca, 1996-98: English Language teacher and translator for “El Ateneo”. Organisation of bilingual poetry readings at Casa do Brasil, Madrid Complutense University, Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, (Madrid Official School of Languages), Cafés Manuela and Magerit, O’Connors Pub, Madrid, El Ateneo and El Corrillo in Salamanca.

Translations of poetry include 1927 Spanish Generation Poets: selections of F.G. Lorca, Luis Cernuda, Rafael Alberti, M. Altolaguirre, Miguel Hernandez and Vicente Aleixandre’s poems; and the Chilean poet Andres Fisher, Las Diosas Blancas an Anthology edited Ramon Buenaventura, an anthology of poetry Alchemy by Tessa Duncan from Spanish and James Stephens Fairy Stories into Spanish have been more recent activities. I hope to feature these, as well as introducing new translations with originals on my web page soon to be opened IBIS. I am interested in revivalist movements in modern poetry.

Appeared in Dawn Millenium Anthology published by Kedco Studios & this year appeared in their Crystal Dawn Anthology. Frequently featured in the E zines Poetry Life and Times, Autumn Leaves, Sonnetto Poesia, Canadian Zen Haiku, appeared on Artvilla, Poetry Repairs, the Celtic Pagan Poetry Pages Journal, as featured poet in the Beltane edition & Ancient Dawn E zines amongst others. This year will publish own anthology Blue Corn which will incorporate performance, on web cam and voice recital with Kedco Studios. My present book After the Cave the Comet was published this month by Mystic East.

Became a Resident Poet of Poetry Life & Times in January 2005.

More of Robin's work can be found here:

Amparo Arróspide's Gift of Tongues:
www.giftoftongues.co.uk
(Co-editors Robin Ouzman Hislop and Amparo Arróspide)

EXCLUSIVE NEWS UPDATE: Some of Robin's poems are due to appear in an anthology "Blue Corn", to be published by Kedco in 2005.

Also Robin's exciting epic "After the Cave, the Comet" is now available for purchase either as a CD or Ebook at www.giftoftongues.co.uk

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Richard Vallance Sonnet Aki-Fuyu sur Les Cents Poèmes Japonais with a translation into English linear prose, NOT a sonnet, at the end. I will eventually rewrite my original French sonnet based on “The One Hundred Japanese Poems” sometime in January 2006. Meanwhile, here is my original French sonnet based on 7 of the autumn-winter waka from the collection, “The One Hundred Japanese Poems” (ca. 1162-1142). Note that I have rearranged the original waka to create a unified sonnet according to the thematic contours I wished to paint. Sonnet Aki-Fuyu [1] sur Les Cents Poèmes Japonais [2] Vois-tu la hutte en paille au pied du Mont Uji ? J’y demeure où je pleure à la lune isolée qui parcourt les longs champs célestes après la pluie et surgit sur les pics à Kasuga doré ! Le souffle, l’entends-tu, du fuyu qui flétrit les bois effeuillés d’automne aki *, norois nommé orage, orage issu des bois la nuit sans chemins au fond des monts plus profonds à moi ? L’entends-tu là-bas, le cerf qui brame aux vallons noirs lors que les feuilles s’envolent à son insu ? Si l’on entend ce cerf, l’aki est triste. Allons voir si la neige enduit ces bois à perte de vu, Si les pins irisés de son tapis blanchi prient aux dieux et l’hiver me susurre, « c’est leur nuit ! » © par Richard Vallance le 22 décembre 2005 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Notes et éclaircissements : [1] Aki-Fuyu = symboles kanji qui signifient respectivement « autumne » et « hiver » ... donc, Aki-Fuyu = automne-hiver et le titre de ce sonnet se traduit ainsi : Sonnet de l’automne-hiver sur Les Cents Poèmes Japonais [2] Les Cents Poèmes Japonais ont été composés aux environs des années 1162-1242. [3] Mon nouveau sonnet, soit le tout premier que j’ai jamais composé à partir de vers japonais historiques, est basé étroitement sur les textes intégraux des poèmes suivants tirés du recueil Les Cents Poèmes Japonais, dans le genre dit « waka », précurseur du genre « haïku » . Ce recueil a été composé, paraît-il, par un certain Fujiwara no Teika ou Sadaié aux environs des années 1162-1242. Selon le livre, « Mille ans de littérature japonaise » (aux Éditions Philippe Picquier Poche, © 1982 & 2005, ISBN 2-87730-818-9, « Indépendendamment de son aspect attrayant et divertissant, ce recueil est probablement la meilleure anthologie poétique jamais constituée au Japon... » (page 154). Les Cents Poèmes Japonais se trouvent aux pages 155 175 de cette magnifique oeuvre que je recommande hautement à tout lecteur des vers japonais en traduction.       Richard Vallance le 22 décembre 2005 [4] Les waka tirés du recueil, Les Cents Poèmes Japonais, sur lesquels j’ai basé mon sonnet sont les suivants, dans l’ordre selon lequel je les ai réarrangés : 8 J’ai pour clair gîte une cabane au sud-est de Kyoto Mais on dit que je demeure au mont Uji où j’isole mes pleurs du monde. Moine Kisen 7 Mes yeux parcourent les champs célestes : est-ce la lune Qui pointe * sur les monts de Mikasa à Kasuga? * dans le contexte = apparaître + anglais = “rear up” (pointer) or “peak” Abe no Nakamaro (689-770) 22 Son souffle flétrit les feuilles d’automne : Le vent des montagnes a nom « tempête » . Funya o Yasuhide 83 Il n’est pas au monde de chemin, et j’ai cru pouvoir choisir les profondeurs des montagnes, Mais j’entends au loin la brame * du cerf ? * howl Fujiwara no Toshinari (1114-1204) 5 Quand au fond de la montagne les feuilles mortes sous les pas se dispersent Et qu’on entend l’appel du cerf, l’automne est triste. Sarumaru Tayu 24 Cette fois-ci, je suis venu les mains vides dans la montagne des offrandes Ce tapis de feuilles colorées (irisées !) et ce tissu de branches reviennent aux dieux. Sugawara no Michizané (873-932) 28 L’hiver est seul dans la retraite des montagnes ! Désertée la terre est nue. Quand j’y pense... Minamoto no Muneyuki (? - 939) Sonnet Aki-Fuyu [1] on The One Hundred Japanese Poems [2] Do you see that old straw hut at the foot of Mount Uji? There’s where I live and I weep at the lonely old moon which runs all over the celestial fields after it rains, and which rises over the peaks at golden Kasuga! Its breath, can you hear it, fuyu’s, which withers the leafless woods of autumn aki, the North Wind we call a storm, a storm rushing out of the woods on pathless nights in the mountain depths deeper to me? Do you hear him way down there, the stag who bleats to black valleys where leaves flit round him though he’s unawares of them? If you listen to him, this stag, the fall is sad.   Let’s go see if the snow blankets these woods as far as the eye can see, If the pins, iridescent with its whitened carpet, are praying to the gods and winter whispers to me, “It’s their night!” © by Richard Vallance December 22, 2005 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Explanatory Notes: [1] Aki-Fuyu = Kanji characters meaning respectively “autumn” and “winter” ... so Aki-Fuyu = autumn-winter and the title of this sonnet translates as: Sonnet of Autumn-Winter on The One Hundred Japanese Poems [2] The One Hundred Japanese Poems were composed ca. 1162-1242. [3] My new sonnet, the first one I have ever composed after Japanese historical verses, is closely modeled on the original texts of the following poems from the collection, The One Hundred Japanese Poems, written in the genre called “waka”, precursor to the “haiku”. This collection was apparently composed by a poet called Fujiwara no Teika or Sadaie ca. 1162-1242. According to the book, « Mille ans de littérature japonaise » (aux Éditions Philippe Picquier Poche, © 1982 & 2005, ISBN 2-87730-818-9, “Aside from its attractive and enjoyable presentation, this collection is probably the best anthology of poetry ever compiled in Japan...” (page 154). The One Hundred Japanese Poems follows on pp. 155 to 175 of this splendid volume which I highly recommend to anyone who is into Japanese verse in translation. The New Plieades CD ROM e-book - to be published in January 2006! Click the CD cover picture above for more information, also see Vallance Review. RICHARD VALLANCE was Born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, March 11th., 1945.  He holds an Honours B.A. and Master of Library Science, and is fluently bilingual in English and French. He also reads Spanish and Italian, ancient Greek and Latin well.  He wrote his first major poem at the age of 18, in 1963.  Richard has also distinguished himself in the field of library and information science.  In 1983, he won the $1,000 Data Courier Award for Excellence in Online Published Papers. Richard has composed over 2,500 poems.  He is the Chairperson of the Ottawa Chapter of The Canadian Poetry Association, website = Canadian Poetry Association: Affiliation Ottawa Chapter.  He is also a member of The Canadian Federation of Poets, where he is the Canadian Federation of Poets/ Featured Poet (January 2005).  Richard judges and pre-selects all rhymed verse poetry for CFP's official journal, POETRY CANADA. Richard's world class poetry page is Poesie’s laissez-faire Faire Foire, which showcases over 40 poets worldwide.  PLFFF features sonnets, haiku, contemporary and historical poetry.  PLFFF is a member of Phenomenal Men of The Web: Arts & Humanities. Richard is the Editor of 2 Canadian poetry E-Zines, Canadian Zen Haiku canadien ISSN 1705-4508 and Poetry in Emotion = La Poésie à s'émouvoir ISSN 1705-4516, and is the editor of the sonnet journal in print, SONNETTO POESIA ISSN 1705-4508, to be listed in 2006 Poet's Market and distributed online by OpenMic.com. Creativity Pays (USA). Richard's poetry and sonnets frequently appear in such in print poetry journals as POETRY CANADA, POEMATA (Canadian Poetry Association), The Neovictorian/Cochlea (Madison, Wisc., USA) and The Nisqually Delta Review (USA). His CD-ROM book, Canadian Spirit Voices, Kedco Studios, Las Vegas, NV © 2003, ISBN 1-878431-44-7, some 500 pp. long, contains over 130 of his poems, almost 300 haiku, 32 translations of poetry in ancient Greek, Latin, Italian, German and French into English poems by the author, a novella, DENIZEN, and the 100 + pp. essay, "The Historical Evolution of the Sonnet". He is the Editor-in-Chief of the all-new multilingual international poetry anthology, The New Pleiades Anthology of Poetry = le Florilège de la nouvelle Pléiade, Kedco Studios, ISBN ISBN 1-878431-52-8 to be published in the summer of 2005. Finally, Richard is co-editor with Sondra Ball of the USA, of the North American poetry anthology, The Human Face = le Visage humain, Kedco Studios, ISBN ISBN 1-878431-52-X, to be published in 2006. Richard Vallance moderates 2 major poetry discussion groups, The New Pleiades Mirror and Canadian Zen Haiku canadien. CONTACT:  Richard Vallance Back to top

Jan Sand SCHNOZ The nose. It is an instrument To catch the quality, intent Of where we go Or where we went Defined elusively by scent. There are odors most delicious Promising to fulfill wishes – Sauerkraut and sausages, Crisp fillet of toasted fishes, Or, simply, merely hot knishes. Then there is repellent smell. Airs that bode all is not well, Evil acid, burning vapours Steaming out of vents from hell Or maybe cheap perfume off a jezebel. So it goes, this needed nose Can generate when in the throes Of nasty colds, problems of its own. Glaucous fluids, mucus that flows So virtue lies in that it blows. AVANTI Christmas glitter, New Year’s fire Incinerates year’s end entire. All those crazy things occurred Should disappear without a word. Looking back we’ve no regretter. How can the future not be better? Tsunamis, earthquakes, genocides, Demented bomber suicides, A government incompetent, A total world of discontent. I’m hoping for a world more sunny Awaiting eagerly the Easter bunny. THE EXPERIMENT Each day that slides around the world And leaps to history after one spin Says something of the universe, This place we’re in. It says we’re here and all else here Is cosmos stuff, including us. Though we wiggle, twist and groan When we fall, we fall like stone. This stuff we are was conceived Within a star. This universe wherein we swim Concedes to every legal whim. Each of us is a thought, a try And though we each keep dying The universe keeps trying. © Jan Sand, November 2005 JAN SAND is a poet and illustrator from New York (now residing in Helsinki), is a regular contributor to Poetry Life & Times and the newsgroup alt.arts.poetry.comments. A great deal of his work is about animals, or science fiction. Recently Jan was published by Kedco Studios Artist Profile Press, on their latest CD ROM e-book, "A Way With Words (Poetry Real and Surreal), which also includes complete books by Dale Houstman, Sara L. Russell and Keith Gabriel Hendricks. Jan's illustrated book on the CD is called "Wild Figments And Odd Conjectures", which is also sold separately, in a limited-edition "single" CD. To see an illustrated article about Jan's poems, visit the November '98 issue of Poetry Life & Times, and scroll down past the Editor's Letter. He also has his own poetry pages on Charlotte's Web at Artvilla. Back to top

Sara L. Russell (Editor) The Hypnotist Come down into the warm billows of trance Where pillows of marshmallow couch the soul Whole worlds of ocean govern lives of chance Whose tides revive the lives that living stole. Let soothing words caress your drowsy ear Layers of sound, deep and mellifluous, That never more those eyes release a tear; Embrace indulgence, sense the sensuous. I spiral in your pearly aural shell Inspiring moments of infantile bliss Offering honeyed words of wishing well Light as a whisper, tender as a kiss. Come into trance, let tendrils of delight Guide you to restful sleep, with each new night. Dedicated to Paul McKenna, whose anti-insomnia hypnosis cassette has helped me sleep when all else failed. Where Wings Take Dream (Sonnet on the Wisdom of Bush*) I want to follow where all wings take dream, Where burning bushes quiver as they flame, Where politicians, pelted with ice cream, Live out the love that dare not speak its name. A budget has a lot of numbers in, Forsooth, the world is highly-dangerous, What is a referendum without spin, Where are the strings that levitate the purse? The substances I did as a small child Compare as nothing to Olympic cheats, Whereas, the rage of steroid stuff is mild, Against solvent-abuse that self-defeats. And yet, the difficult dichotomy Is trying to put food on family. * Some Bushisms, by George Bush: "Families is where our nation finds home, where wings take dream." "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family" "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it" "Rarely is the question asked, 'is our children learning?'" (Florence, S. Carolina, 2000) Taking The Mikado Nanki-Poo has got into a temper, Pitti-Sing's forgotten what to say, Mrs. Dobson's dog has got distemper, So she won't be on the stage today; Ko-Ko isn't speaking to Lord Pooh-Bah, Pooh-Bah was getting on his Titipus, Wile Yum Yum has more hot air than a hookah And nobody escapes her lofty views. Yum Yum is played by Gladys, housewife/diva, Who won't be told how she should play her part; She's lobster-red from two weeks in Ibiza And wears gaudy gold chains next to her heart. Still we rehearse, with gusto and bravado, With candles lit, as all the lights have gone. All those not here are taking the Mikado, We grit our teeth and say "the show goes on". But curtain-up is one week from tomorrow We can't afford too many bad mistakes Adjust your wigs, forget the real world's sorrow Come, singing, on the road that fancy takes. © Sara L. Russell, 2005 SARA RUSSELL Poet, cartoonist and short story writer. Editor of Poetry Life & Times. Newsgroup signature was originally 'Pinky Andrexa, Last Of The Cyber Vixen Poets From Outer Space'. Won Internet Arts Award from Kedco Studios Artist Profile Press. Runner-up in Capricorn International Love Poetry competition 1998. Her website Poetry Life & Times recently won the Alpha Poets' Poetic Eyes web award. Won Poet of the Week in the Poetry For Thought group (The Globe groups) for the week April 28-May 4th, 2001, with the poem "If You Were Mine". Inducted into The Poets' Hall of Fame, 2001, and included in its anthology for that year. Recently broke several bones after falling from a train; now fully recovered after almost a year, and walking without a limp following a recent successful hip operation. Published Works: 5 illustrated e-books published by Kedco Studios Artist Profile Press (most recent first): Worlds Inside The Head, Quickies, Spiders And Gliders, A Way With Words (in collaboration with four other poets) and Pinky's Little Book of Shadows. Also published in several Kedco e-book anthologies and Forward Press bound book anthologies. Back to top