Raghib Al-Isfehani ( Abul-Qasim al-Hussein bin Mufaddal bin Muhammad)

from ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʼib al-mawjūdāt (The wonders of creation, or literally, Marvels of things created and miraculous aspects of things existing) by Zakriya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (circa 1203-83) is among the best known texts of the Islamic world. It is often referred to as “The Cosmography.“ 

In 1917, Janet Collins, a Black ballet dancer and painter, was born.She moved with her family from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Los Angeles as a young girl, attending Los Angeles City College and the Los Angeles Art Center School. As an accomplished painter, she was able to finance her relocation to New York to pursue a dance career. In 1941, she performed with the new but world-renowned Black dance troupe formed and directed by Katherine Dunham.

At the age of fifteen, Collins successfully auditioned for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo at the Philharmonic, but after being told she would have to paint her face white to perform, she declined the offer. She told her aunt what happened and was advised, "You get back to the barre and start your City exercises. Don’t try to be good, be excellent." In 1949, Collins made her New York debut in a solo concert. As a Prima Ballerina in 1951, she became the first Black artist to perform on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Starring in the 1951 production of Cole Porter’s Out of This World, Collins won the Donaldson Award, signifying the best dancer on Broadway.

This is by a patient of mine with early late stage dementia, who was a poet for most of her life. Her new poems are dictated to me during writing workshops I run at my hospice job. She hadn't written since her diagnosis. This is one of seventeen poems I've written with her so far.

I’ve been doing poetry since I could write but I do think she was my only teacher.

Working with her was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I mean it when I say you all are so lucky to get even this glimpse at the majesty of her work.

In her words from another poem (not posted):

I am not the only creature watching

All of this,

Drinking it in.

I have a companion,

The cat who sleeps in the backyard

Is watching, too,

Eastern greek fluorite carved idol: Owl.

4th - 3rd century BC.

Nishiyama Hoen, Insect Procession,