Cosy and rhythmic: Reminiscing of home from lands afar

ISLAMABAD:

A select gathering listened to the Australian-Pakistani poet Jocelyn Ortt-Saeed at Serena Hotel on Friday as she mesmerised them with select verses from her recent book of poetry “Distant Horizons”.

Saeed who has published seven books, has close affinity to the country she inhabited many years ago. She has lived in sugar-mill towns in different parts of Punjab. Her love for the land, whether it is deserts, salt ranges or the hills, comes through in the poetry as well as the way she recites it.

While some poems talk about places that have influenced the poet deeply, such as Murree, where “wind drives through all I try to hold, and lifts me like a feather” others like ‘Beyond Beyond’ are reminiscent of intimate reflections, as “I go into silence, I go in
time-space, I learn you, in loving, the veil that hides your face.”

What started out as a solo recital turned out to be an impromptu session, with the poet’s family members reading select verses and singing along to some of the songs she has penned. The session was moderated by social scientist Atle Hetland.

According to her eldest daughter Maryam Ortt-Saeed, who has edited the book, Jocelyn’s life is interwoven with her poetry, her art enabled her to befriend an unfamiliar environment and make it her own. The essence of her poetry touches on the universal themes of the human spirit.

The cosy indoor feel and the aroma of freshly-grilled steaks accentuated the ambience as guests took in the words of the poet, who feels that one should always read poetry aloud in order to feel the beauty and the rhythm of language.

The session, titled “poetry after sunset”, was held by Base Camp at Rakaposhi (BSR) in collaboration with the Pakistan-Norway Association.

BSR is an initiative that aims to recreate the mountaineering hub, where everyone gets together between their journeys and exchange tales through verse and music.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2013.