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Sleepyhead. Koosi, 16 July 2012

The Cats Will Know
By Cesare Pavese
Translated By Geoffrey Brock

Rain will fall again
on your smooth pavement,
a light rain like
a breath or a step.
The breeze and the dawn
will flourish again
when you return,
as if beneath your step.
Between flowers and sills
the cats will know.

There will be other days,
there will be other voices.
You will smile alone.
The cats will know.
You will hear words
old and spent and useless
like costumes left over
from yesterday’s parties.

You too will make gestures.
You’ll answer with words—
face of springtime,
you too will make gestures.

The cats will know,
face of springtime;
and the light rain
and the hyacinth dawn
that wrench the heart of him
who hopes no more for you—
they are the sad smile
you smile by yourself.

There will be other days,
other voices and renewals.
Face of springtime,
we will suffer at daybreak.

Cat Poems at the Poetry Foundation

We love Blade Runner and quote it at every opportunity (“I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe…”), but artist Anders Ramsell has out-loved us, painting 12,597 frames of the movie with watercolors. via Boingboing

Anyone else watch The Counselor and think, “Ridley Scott should stay in the future?” (Alien, Blade Runner, Prometheus)

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The Writing Workshop participants will have an orientation at 2pm on Saturday, 23 November 2013, at the 7th floor, WSI Corporate Center, 1005 Metropolitan Avenue, Makati City. (See map)

If your first chapter is ready, please bring hard copy. If not, bring a general outline.

Publish or perish…literally.

A word from our sponsor

Book your tickets here.

Ms Celia Rodriguez at the screening of Gerardo de Leon’s Lilet, introduced by the Filipino pop cinema specialist and filmmaker (the epic Search for Weng Weng), Andrew Leavold.

Celia Rodriguez is a contravida in real life, but only to the mediocre and stupid. Listen to or download part 1 of our conversation with Celia Rodriguez at the podcast page.

Our favorite Celia Rodriguez contravida lines:

1. In Lipad, Darna, Lipad!, where Valentina is dining al fresco at the Manila Hotel and she spots the flying Darna and says, “Sino ang babaeng yan na mababa ang lipad?” (For non-Tagalog speakers: “Who is that low-flying woman?” Low-flying as in “tramp”.)

2. From Renly: In Joey Gosiengfiao’s Nights of Serafina, where the lovers have a tryst in a barn strewn with candles for that sexy mood. Unfortunately the hay catches fire (Tanga). The lovers burn to death, naked. In the next scene, they are charcoal in each other’s arms. As they are carried away, Celia says, “Yan ang nararapat sa naglalaro ng apoy.” (“That’s what happens when you play with fire.”)

3. From Louie: In Mario O’Hara’s Bulaklak sa City Jail, when Nora Aunor and Celia enter the prison and Zenaida Amador asks Celia why she’s back.

Zenaida: Ba’t bumalik ka na naman, ano na naman ang kaso mo? (“Why are you back?)
Celia: Ano pa, di pagpuputa, mayroon pa bang iba? (“Whoring, what else?”)

What are your favorite Celia Rodriguez lines?

With Drogon the cat, and have your picture taken with him…if he’s amenable (You can’t tell a cat what to do).

Drogon with his stuffed toy, Shai Hulud. Please don’t bring more toys for Drogon, he has enough. (Kibble or litter would be great, though.) In lieu of toys, what about making a donation to PAWS for their animal rescue missions in typhoon-stricken areas?

Bring books you’d like to exchange for other books, and get more books for free.

The members of our Camus Translation Group can pick up their books on Saturday.

Talk about books, cats and other things over

A treat from our lovely friends at

Thank you!

See you at the 7th floor, WSI Building, 1005 Metropolitan Avenue, Makati City, near the Makati Fire Station on Saturday from 4 to 6 pm. (Here’s the map).

The Writing Workshop participants will meet at the same venue at 2pm. (Bring hard copy of your first chapter.)

If you haven’t registered yet, drop us a line in Comments. Yes, you may bring a friend (who has no phobia of cats or nerds).