Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae | Tree Being

Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae

Vocals: Sharada Eswar
Written by Subramania Bharathi
Raagam (Melody): Jaunpuri
Taalam (Rhythmic Beat): Aadi

Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae is poem written by Subramania Bharathi, fondly referred to as Bharathi or formally with as "Maha Kavi" Bharathiyar. So many of his poems are written with a passion for Kannan, an interesting term used in the Thamizh culture. While it is a direct reference to Lord Krishna, who is affectionately called Kannan, the term equally applies to that special someone or something in your life that you love or are fond of. This poem laments the loss of a picture of his mother, however the poet plays with words, specially using the term Kannan to allow dual references thus, allowing the listener to apply the meaning appropriately. For me, as an immigrant and a guest on Treaty 19, the poem holds the memory of a near-lost land, its waters, its culture and language.

Tree Being

Aug 27-28 and Sept 10-11: 4:00-5:30pm
Dance installation by Julia Aplin performed by Terrill Maguire (Aug 27 & 28), and Mai Duong and Suzanne Barnes (Sept 10 & 11).

This moving installation, is a collaboration with a beautiful Basswood Tree whose heart shaped leaves, zig-zag twigs and expansive canopy seem to create an experiential haven from the urban landscape. In opposition to anthropomorphizing, a dancer takes on the invitation to treethropomorphize; to be more grounded, to move more slowly, to feel space more expansively and to patiently witness all kinds of wild and domesticated visitors.

“Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer

“ Humans are just one way of being a person.”
Gavin Van Horn