ALL THE BELOVEDS: Alina Rastam Poetry Book Launch

Hey everyone!!

There's a Poetry Book Launch entitled ALL THE BELOVEDS by Alina Rastam happening this Saturday, the 21st @ the Annexe Gallery. It's from 6.30 -8.00 pm and admission is free.



Listed below is the programme for the night.

7.15pm - Jerome Kugan performs acoustic set of two songs.

7.25pm - Alina Rastam reads a selection of poems from All The Beloveds.

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, you can call this number - 012 232 9282

You can get more information of the author at the Annexe Gallery Website here.

Regards,

Alin and June

Story: Revelry Queen sees the Empty Tomb by Raina

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.5 Malaysia License.


Story: Revelry Queen sees the Empty Tomb by Raina

Name: Raina
Pen name: Ymber
Title of Story: Revelry Queen sees the Empty Tomb
Genre: Real Life, Fiction
Summary: Emptiness is a large part of our lives and most of the time what we do revolves around filling in that space.

City lights a-fading. That's how the view is from here. I watch as the thirsty faces seek to fill their hollow hearts and I see their hollow eyes bleed tears. Where would they seek solace for their lonely souls? The loud music causes an echo in the depth of their bodies. It scares a lot of them how quick this moment of slight pleasure that tingles their happy nerve will fade, and then they are left alone, hearing the echo of their own voices calling out for someone to hear them. My own heart turns and I feel it shrink to hide under my belly. It fears something real and raw.

I close my eyes as the music gains an auditory strength that shuts all things out. I retreat back to the space where no one can touch and I look around. Does love live within me?

See her run, she runs after love. But she runs not for love himself, she runs for the pleasure she may gain when she possess love. Love runs from her, for her pursuit of him is but artificial, she is unwilling to sacrifice for love himself. She is after his gifts. The pleasure, the romance, and when she exhausts the very well love himself is, she moves on. She sits in despair for she understands not, love must be obtained not for his gifts, love must be sought for the sake of himself. Love himself.

She closes her eyes as the music gains an auditory strength that shuts all things out. She is unable to retreat for she knows not how. Her heart has shut out all things good while shutting out all things bad. The calloused wounded entity in her chest cannot shout out its loneliest cries, the ones she screams silently in the darkest pain. It is heard not. Not by her, not by anyone. She continues to run, but she stands still. Motionless in motion.

I watch her light her fourth cigarette in such an urgency as if in it she would finally obtain a certain answer. I watch her kiss him with such an abandonment as if in him she would find a certain salvation. I watch her down her alcohol with such a thirst as if in it she would find a certain joy. I watch. I watch. I watch her give herself to him with such passion as if in it she would find a certain love. Love stands still watching.

I watch her light her fifth cigarette. Her hollow eyes searching around for something. Something is missing. She placed her palm on the face of him who lay beside her and sighed. His hand ran up and down her thighs as he sighed. The morning makes us see more clearly. The night of abandonment to each other had done less than fill the chasm within the each of them. The feel of another's skin on their naked bodies did nothing but make them feel completely used, they feel completely cheated for when morning came and as they looked at each other they only saw hollowness in the other. Nothing glorious such as love. Nothing sweet such as joy. Nothing fulfilling such as wholeness. And they thought the revelry was supposed to fill the deep chasm of emptiness.

I sighed a sigh that only can be sighed from a pain that is born so deep within my being. I watched. City lights a-fading. That's how the view is from here. I watch the thirsty faces seeking to fill their hollow hearts and see their hollow eyes bleed tears. I watch without them waiting. I stand about them waiting. I nudge them but that which concerns them blinds them and they heed me not. I am dying. Dying to tell them. Something is missing, she looks. She laughs. I touch her beautiful face and look at her eyes, and then wait until she turns to see me.

Of course something is missing.

I am outside of her.

©Raina2009
...Read more

Events to Keep a Lookout for !!

IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for Yound Malaysians 2009


Topic: "The Best Things In Life"
(Write either a factual or fictional account inspired by this topic)
Essay language: English
Length of essay: 800 - 1,200 words
Eligibility: All Malaysian students aged between 14 to 18 (as of 31st March 2009)
Closing date: 31st March 2009


Prizes:
• Best Overall Essay Trip to Dublin, Ireland (1 winner & parent)(to attend the gala ceremony for International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the world's richest book prize and associated events)
• 9 Merit Awards
• 1 Special School Prize
• 10 Consolation Prizes
• Certificates for 20 short listed entries and the winning school.

For more contest details, please visit this page at theStar Online.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Revisiting Your Short Story by Daphne Lee

Date : 7 March 2009 (Sat)
Time : 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Venue: Booker Room, MPH Megastore 1 Utama
For participants aged 13-18 years old only.
Note :This is especially helpful for those who are taking part in the MPH Alliance Bank National Short Story Competition.


Making Your Story Move by S H Lim

Date : 22 March 2009 (Sun)
Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Venue: Booker Room, MPH Megastore 1 Utama

For further details on these two events and how to sign up, please visit the MPH event webpage here.
Scroll all the way down. It's the last two events on the list.

That's all for now. Enjoy!!

Regards,

Alin and June

Poetry:Within You by May

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.5 Malaysia License.

Poetry:Within You by May

Name: May
Pen name: -
Title of Poetry: Within You
Genre: General,Reflections
Summary: A poem about looking deep within yourself to find the blossom of spring.

When you plant a seed,
Water it,
Take care of it,

So,
As it Grows,
You must Love it
and Cherish it,

So...
When it blooms,
you will smell
the blossoms of the most beautiful flower ever.
Deep within you...

Appearance is not a factor.
Be proud of who YOU are.

©May2008

KAP wishes a Happy Belated Chinese New Year and Valentines Day!

Yikes! We seemed to have missed much of the celebrations in the past few weeks! First off would be Chinese New Year! It's the Happy Year of the Ox! May the coming year be prosperous for all despite the words tossed in the wind.

We are welcoming stories especially in regards of this celebration. If you have a tale to tell, do share! Colour it, describe it, soak it in angst, joy or any tone you wish. It would be wonderful to allow the congregation of different interpretations of this festival on this page.

Another would be Valentines. Well, Happy Valentines to those who are celebrating, Single Awareness Day to those who aren't and well, Happy Merrymaking for those who can hardly care less. Express your thoughts through words and do share them with us. It would be our honour to place them here.

Onto news of updates. We are currently in the process of revamping the site. We realize the basic look has served its purpose and now wish to expand the possibilities of the site. If there are any suggestions or perhaps volunteers, do drop us a line. We would be more than happy to receive aid!

The third is a reminder that the Short Story for MPH is due on the 31st of March. It isn't too late for a last minute rush of 2000 words! All the best to those who are trying!

That's it for now. Thank you for your patience!

Alin and June


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