Now, some time back, good people, I told you of my discovery of a wonderful poet by the name of Kaneko Misuzu. Well, since that time I have translated a number of her poems, and one of my translations has been published in Magma Poetry Magazine. I went along to the launch of issue 32 and gave a bilingual reading of the poem in question. It seemed to be very well received, which was heartening.
I did not choose to translate this poem because it is topical, although, of course, it is. Hopefully the fact that this is arguably an anti-whaling poem written by a Japanese poet should help to defuse some stereotypes.
As for my own position on whaling, well, I am a (not very disciplined) vegetarian, so currently I do not eat any meat. I find pictures of whaling rather repulsive, but I don't think it's any worse than what happens in any abbatoir bringing people their daily helpings of pig, cow and chicken meat.
Do I support a lift on the whaling moratorium?
In a word, no. Animals need all the protection they can get.
Now, for the poem in question, please click on this link. If it doesn't work, you may have to register with the Magma Poetry site.
If all else fails, scroll to the bottom of the front (home?) page, and you will find my name there, next to the title 'Whaling'.
Off-setting your pessimism, which at times I do glumly share, is the general point that catastrophists have always prophecized total doom – and mostly got it wrong, and particular points of hope to do with science and technologies, and that intellectually such matters are now perhaps clarifying themselves. Personally, I know that I am no prophet, so go on with such uncertainties.
Thank you. I hope to publish some more of the translations I have made sooner or later. If nowhere else, I shall publish them on this blog.
Very optimistic Eve. Personally I’m terrified, and more persuaded, by the list of links at the bottom of this page http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html
HI Q,
I loved the poem and the cause is well deserving of any beauty .
I use to go whale watching in New Hampshire and I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see a whale up close and have those huge soulful eyes looking into yours.
The world is full of love and devoted animals if only humans would learn to blend and live with them all.
Thank you for caring.
Gracefully yours,
Eve
Thanks for the link. I think people should take a look at it, and just to make it easier, I’ll turn it into a http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html">hypertext link. If there are people out there who are wondering why I sometimes seem somewhat misanthropic, you only need to click on this link to find out.
As Bill Hicks said of us human beings, we’re a virus in shoes.
That was an interesting read. I didn’t know about Diclofenac before, though I knew about various other chemicals affecting bird populations.
These kind of things do really depress me, but I think it’s important to be aware of the damage we’re wreaking day by day.
I think the planet’s immune system is beginning to kick in, though, as evidenced by the freak and violent weather we are beginning to experience. Either the immune system will vanquish the human virus, or the human virus will be too successful and destroy its own host. Either way, it looks like we lose.
Yeah. What a work of art man is.
Still, I did get a http://cityfist.blogspot.com/2005/06/vultures.html">blog entry out of one of the stories, if you’re interested.
I’m not one of these people who will be happy to say, “I told you so.” I hope that I am wrong.