Artists for Goa hosts Poetry by Brian

At their ‘Point of View’ interface on Saturday, 20 October 2012, artists for Goa listened to Brian Mendonça’s poems.  Reading from both collections of his verse, viz. Last Bus to Vasco: Poems from Goa (2006) and A Peace of India: Poems in Transit (2010) Brian showcased his work – and his journey -- to a discerning audience at the State Central Library, Patto, Panjim. Opening with his signature ‘Last Bus to Vasco,’ Brian went on to read ‘Souza Lobo,’ ‘Requiem to a Sal,’ and ‘Sonya’ from his debut collection.

Looking breezy in his Vasco NoMoZo tee, Brian then displayed a map of India and asked the audience to mention any state on the map, to which he would oblige with a poem from that state. ‘Kashmir’ said a lady in the front row; and Brian broke into poetry instantly reciting ‘Srinagar 1998.’ The next choice was Meghalaya – which Brian had not visited yet. But he bounced back with ‘Lumding’ written in Upper Assam and ‘CNN-IBN’ written in Dimapur enroute to Kohima. Goa was represented by ‘Avalon’ written in Anjuna.

Vivek Menezes who moderated the event was struck by the passion in Brian’s poetry; ‘We need to set our own standards instead of waiting for someone else to do that for us.’ Vivek vividly recalled the life of Goan poet Joseph Furtado who like Brian also self-published his poems. Damodar Mauzo, who introduced Brian enquired whether family life had not affected his creative output. Brian replied that he continues to publish in the print media, but since he does not travel so often now the travel-poems are fewer. Besides, with time, it has become more challenging for Brian as he does not want to write the same poem twice. He would rather produce quality than clichés. He said there were many avenues to publish poetry particularly online.

Brian posts his poems and other work at www.lastbustovasco.blogspot.com  Teaching in Goa, Brian looks forward to mentoring writers of poems.  His next volume of verse memorializes the Delhi years and is tentatively titled Jasmine City –inspired by people in transit who flock the city spreading their fragrance like the Jasmine flower.

‘Point of View’ was organized by the curatorial committee of the upcoming State Museum at old Secretariat under the auspices of the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Goa. 
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All pix by Brian on his Canon PowerShot A2200 HD. Above - Brian retraces his journey; Below -Brian with novelist Damodar Mauzo, cartoonist Alexyz and an aspiring artist for Goa at the event on 20 October 2012 at State Central Library, Panjim, Goa.

A brief report was carried in Navhind Times, on 6 November 2012, pg. 5, and a pix  appeared  in Gomantak Times on November 1, 2012, page 2. Both newspapers are published in Goa.