Island of Strangers
Island of Strangers
This is an Island of Strangers,
each one
with their own small pile of stones.
They don’t speak to each other.
They don’t need to.
The intention is shared,
unspoken.
The pile is always there.
Each stone
smoothly worn.
Familiar in the hand.
They don’t always throw.
Sometimes they just stand,
watching.
Sometimes silence
is their cruellest signal.
But the stones
are not decorative.
They are ready.
And the Black body,
the one in the centre,
(always in the centre)
must read the air,
must anticipate
who will lift first.
Who will pretend
not to understand
what they’re holding.
On this island,
the strangers do not touch.
But together,
they‘ll take aim.
Watching a theatre go dark
What we lost with the Blue Elephant Theatre
Waste not, want not
The cultural politics of waste
Frank Bowling
An interview with one of the foremost artists of his generation, Sir Frank Bowling
RENDANG
A magical reclamation of individuality from the mass of some of the world’s largest cities
Granta 173: India
A look at four short pieces of fiction from Granta's latest edition showcasing Indian writing
The Thing with Feathers
Dylan Southern’s film adaptation puts masculinity front and centre
Reggae Story
Hannah Lowe reads her poem, 'Reggae Story' inspired by her Jamaican father, Chick. Directed by Matthew Thompson and commissioned by the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation.
The City Kids See the Sea
Roger Robinson reads his poem, 'The City Kids See the Sea'. Directed by Matthew Thompson and commissioned by the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation.
Illuminating, in-depth conversations between writers.
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The series that tells the true-life stories of migration to the UK.
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Afro-Caribbean writer Frantz Fanon, his work as a psychiatrist and commitment to independence movements.
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